Australian Day

G'Day

Ozzi day was great. Walked from the Cross to the Cathedral for the Bell towertour. The best one yet. The usual winding till you dizzy little steps than you get to a small door where you are now on top of the Cathedral. A cat walk over roof tops steps up to another small door and wow a hughe room with carpets and a ref. no less. There are 12 bells and the ropes are in the centre for the ringers. Most of the ringers were there and showed everyone how they do changes ect still don't know what they are talking about. This took about 1/2 hour when anyone who would like to see the bells was announced by this guy to follow him. There in the corner was more step ladder like things a hugh trap door in the ceiling and than another one further into the darkness. Finally after reaching the second dark spot there was light. They are incrediable bells. Crawled up another ladder to get some good pictures hope they come out. After all done and back in the Cathedral again the hughe organ was being played. Great morning. Got a day tripper pass and went out to the Olimpac Park which is about 1/2 hr outside of Sydney. The celebrations there for the Australian Days was unbelievable. There were many shows, stages and the talent in all was like paying for something you would see in New York only this was all free. I left before dark as I'm in a dodgy area and did not want to walk around alone.

When I arrived back to the hostel a couple I had met two nights before had extra food they cooked and asked me for a meal. Great why not. After we walked ( about 8 km) to Darling Harbour to see the fire works. The Sydney Sympathy orchestra with a the chorus was in the middle of the harbourr on a large boat. There were speakers everywhere so you could hear the orchestra. The layout of Darling harbour is shaped like a horseshoe a flash place as well. We got up onto a bridge so we could see the show of fireworks. Everything was syn. with the orchestra and chorus in the background ending with the Australian Anthem. From there naturally we were thristy so went to one of the many bars for a drink ended up dancing to Techno music for the rest of the night. The walk back was long as it was all up hill. The Cross was busy at that time of night with all the working girls hanging about but no queens. Tonight is the night for that. I'm def. going to get a pic with one. Remember them Darb when we were in the Cross?

I leavetomorrow at 7:15 am for a 14 hour journey mostly by train and about 4 hours by bus to Ballina. The hostel is picking me up when i arrive in Ballina and Thrusday the next adventure begins.

By the way temp today is 28 (about 80 F). blue sky nice breeze no humidity. Just want to rub all that in. Heading to Bondi Beach will find no frozen pipes there now will I.

All of my roomates have left except Dave from Wales. Roma from Italy left this am to go back home. Nice just having one other in my dorm. No ques for the shower or toilet. We even have a tv in our dorm a large ref., wardrobe and two bureaus. The place is really elegant for a hostel and only 20.00 a night ozzie money.

Food shopping now for the trip a coffee at one of the bistros on my street and off to Bondi Beach. I can hear it calling me so gotta go.

Jude move to BC I've only been in the airport would love to visit you there however Hallifax is nice. Good luck on your S. American trip. Keep me posted and send pics. Are you taking your bear like in Ireland?

Elke I can't waite to see you it will be like old times. Matt Matt leaves for the UK on Friday I have his home number in Portsmouth will go there for a bit and we will probably leave where virgin blue or ryan air flys from for Holland. Will keep you posted.

Shana where are you in Italy maybe after Holland can meet up with you there.

Mark will call you from North Hampton where I'll be staying in the UK when I get there. I lost your phone number where to call you have the London address I think are you still in London?

For the rest of you keep in touch good to get mail from friends and family.



Keep good thoughts.

Me.................

First Chance Since Canada Margaret Does Not Have A Computer

Hello my free spirit followers,

First chance since I got here to get to an internet. The flight was great from Vancouver. I got an upgrade of all things rode first class all the way. Stoped in Hawaii for a few hours actually was able to sleep who couldn't just about had a bed all the way. Sat next to a high mucky muck. Magristrate from the high court. Why not a backpacker next to one of these guys. At the end of the trip got all the infor I needed in case I need assistance if ever in Vancouver. Margaret picked me up in Sydney.Worked on her chicken farm. 180,000 bloody birds. Did the dead bird pickup in the am and ran sheep in the afternoon and at night Margaret and I drank. She now has a boyfriend which made things different from last year. In the meantime I had to get in order what I'll be doing starting on Thrusday which will get into later on. Yesterday afternoon I thought I was back in Darwin again. Never did I see a thunder storm like this one. The entire sky was a blaze with lightening and the thunder shook the ground. The wind knocked out everything in it's path including the electric. Hale the size of iceblockss rain like it was a northeaster at home. This went on for over an hour. It was really scary. I left this afternoon from St. Mary's to here in Sydney and the electric just came on. The only electric was for the birds as the generator was turned on. This am brought down the electric kettle and plugged into one of the chicken sheds so we could have a cup of coffee. The aroma of the coffee unfortunately did not take over the aroma of the bird shit oh well.

I am in Kings Crosss at a great hostel now. Just booked in found a empty bunk only met two of the roomies two guys one from Wales and the other from Germany. The other four were not there noticed the big shoes under their bunks however hope I have at least one female .This place has it's own laundry, huge kitchen and an unbelievable court yard. It's on a street with alot of other hostels and bistro's. It almost looks like Europe. Two street's over is where all the queens hang out. Still want my picture with one of them before I leave. Quite an interesting place. At least it's not dodgy where I'm at.

For those weak at heart do not come to Australia as the bugs, spiders, snakes catapillars, you name all can kill you. I had the usual spider in my room that it's body is spread out as big as a coffee cup. He is harmless actually you want him there as he eats the white tail that like to get into peoples beds and the occasional red back. Outside on the lawn are the burrows where the Sydney funnel web lives. He is deadly huge in size and aggressive. Disturbed he stands up on his two hind legs and thows the rest of his legs in the air. You can actually see his fangs. I took one out of the pool at Maragarets the other day (dead of course) and had a good look. Ssnakes are everywhere in the country however you are lucky to see one.

I leave Sydney at 7:15 am on the train to Grafton than I have to take a bus to Ballina which does not arrive until 8:30 that evening. I have a hostel booked plan on going to Bryon Bay to the beach the next day and get picked later in the pm by one of the people I shall be working with. It's a retreat house that houses runaway's. Part of my job will be planting trees and bushfood what ever that is. Working with the kids with the animals mostly cows I guess and one horse. I don't know how long I'll be there but will give it a try.

Tomorrow is a holiday here like Canada only Australia days. Have it already planned. St. Mary's Cathedral is only down the road from where I'm staying. They are having a climb into the belfreys at 10 12 and 2:00 pm.. I hope to get to see the bells. I climbed all over the Cathedrals in England so why not one here. Like the steeples thing kinda creepy but good. And for you Bob I shall be hearing the whole nine yards again at 2:30 pm at the Cathedral. I already got you a CD of the organ. Shall be thinking of you while I listen to that amaziing choir. The rest of the afternoon going to Sydney Harbour for the fireworks, plays ect and of course the pubs. HOpefully will have some new friends I haven't met yet that will go with me.

Shana if you are leaving in May for Italy maybe I can catch up with you in Scotland. Where abouts are you. Give me a contact number.

Darby I went through RootyHill on the way to here saw our rollercoaster. Will call you this week.

Will also go to the place in Bryon Bay to have one of the veggie burgers and of course will stop in at the railway pub for good times sake. Won't be the same there without you.

Dave and anyone else my mobile number here is 0439854487. I think the country code is 61.
I believe the time change here is 16 hours ahead and again will change when I get to Ballina.

Jude I have been invited to go to South American with one the women I worked with in Darwin. Maybe we can meet up there. Traci wants to meet up with me in September.

Elke I shall be coming to Holland with Matt Matt. He is back in Darwin. Traci and the squire from the blue heeler say hi to you. It will be great to be all together again.

Mark seems odd going to pubs here in Oz without you. Need to find a place to dance on the bars.

Joan so glad that your session was a good one with your students. I shall be using my reiki where I'm going on Thrusday.

Mary I shall visit you when state side again. Never did see Penn. How about meeting up in Ireland again.

John do take care and don't eat any yellow snow that is for you Dave as well. Dave I don't know how to get into my messages yet. Have to waite until Tuesday to go to Testra to get it figured out.

Wish I could answer you all indivudally but can't. Will be on again before I leave God only knows what is in store in a few days wether or not there will be any internet access as I shall be out in the willy wags again.

And to you Chris maybe you could take the exam here in Oz and take the family out of the Bangor winters. Please say hello to Fr. Harvey for me.

Wally what's happening. Give me one of your great letters.

Keep in touch love to get mail from all my friends.
Face your fears and live your dreams.
Love and hugs to all
Bridget Phyllis what ever you want to call me.

What a Beginning

Hello,
At this very moment I'm sitting in Montreal waiting for my flight to Vancouver. Before I arrived here however the trip to the airport was the trip from hell and driver I think escaped trom a crack house. Because I was the only one going to the airport they decided they would send me off in a car so small Stewart Little I think drove. The overweight man never stopped coughing, wipiing his nose, blowing his nose and when either of these were not being done he was picking at it. I asked him as I coverd my face if he had a bad cold "no" was his answer it was the heat blowing in the vehicle he was allergic to. With that he shut off all heat and proceeded to drive like a mad man. My face froze not from the cold. the weaving round trucks if there were 4 lanes on the highway he made another one. I was never so glad to arrive even eairler than expected and alive that was the better one alive. My flight to Montreal had been delayed and delayed and delayed so instead of arriving into MOntreal at 9:00 11:30 was the touch down. I got an upgrade which was even nicer this am so this trip is now looking even better. I did have a surprise about one this am at the hotel (it was a nice one) a small little knock on my door startled me as I was expecting no one. Looking through the peephole I saw a young lady ( a night one) after speaking to her through the door she realized she had the wrong door and def. the wrong client. The little tap tap went immediately to the next door of course I had to open mine to really have a look at her. I really wanted to have a peak at him oh well.

This is the land of the frozen tundra. Snow banks abound here no one sees anyones faces as they are completly covered like Arab women with layers of woolen scarves. I'm sure the next flight shall be interesting. They usually are. As long as I don't meet dumb and dumber on this trip like past ones it will be great.

Enjoy the cold loves -33 here heading for 33+ plus there.

The wanderer