A week ago south Australia was gripped by exceptional heatwave, as you probably heard from the reports of Bushfires. Further north here in NSW we were also touched by the heatwave, enduring two weeks of consistent 35+ teperatures and not a cloud in the sky. Although the heat of the midday is not pleasant, these high temperatures do have the advantage of beautiful balmy evenings. This past week however has been grey, overcast and constantly raining, although still a nice temperature at degrees. Means I can sleep properly at night at least!

But enough of the weather report. I have to report on all the fun stuff I’ve been doing!

Over two weeks ago I came into work and one of the first things Jarrad said to me was ‘Salsa congress at the weekend!!!’. I didn’t have a clue what he was talking about, but after sendin me a link I thought it would be fun to go along with him to one of the night sessions so on the friday I met up with him at the Olympic park stadium for a night of salsa! The night kick started with some shows – just to make me feel completely inadequate! Lots of amazing performances…most memorable being the samba girls who came out wearing practically nothing shaking everything about in a way which made me wonder how on earth they DO that with their bodies, and made Jarrad drool! Then it was our turn and we danced together for a hour or so. Good practice for me to try and follow a lead. And yeah, I’ll admit it is fun to dance with a good looking younger man!

On the saturday I met up in the early evening with a group of girls from work. I was the only physicist – there being a dstinct lack of female physicists! They were all therapists, and it was the first time I’d been out with any of them. It was prompted by the boy’s regular poker night hosted by another of the therapists, and this time the girls thought why should the guys have all the fun. We’ll do a girls night out too! I enjoyed it, and got to know some of them a bit better and hopefully they got to know me better too. We started the night with a few drinks in Darling Harbour and then went for a meal. Afterwards we weren’t too sure where to go, and being a big group of us (8 or 10 I think) it is hard to make decisions so we went back to Cargos for some dancing. I’ve been there a few times and it is always a disappointement. The music they play is just bland and it’s not just my taste, I think everyone was in need of some cheese or floor filling anthems to get it going but it never did.

We all got too hot. The club is completely open to the night air on the water’s edge, but this didn’t stop it getting too hot in there and we all made it to the exit in by midnight and without any good ideas of where to go next went home.

On sunday I went round to Dave’s place for a BBQ – amazingly the first BBQ I’ve had since I arrived in Oz a year ago!! Also, an old uni friend of mine, Duncan, arrived in Sydney the day before and plans to live here long term.  I brought him along to the BBQ too – he also knows Dave anyway from skiing. I just spent the day chilling in the sun drinking beer. I spent so long chatting that I didn’t make it to the pool! Oh well, it was a nice day!

On monday I started salsa classes again, and we spent the whole session practicing how to hold a good frame. You have to hold tension in your body to give your partner something to work with. A guy can’t lead you if you feel as limp as a rag doll. We rotated round the class and Gary, the teacher, danced with each girl in turn to see what they were doing and he actually had some good praise to say about me which I was chuffed about. He said I had a good frame and corrected me on one aspect which a lot of the girls in the class were doing as well. He then watched us dance with other partners and actually pointed me and Daryl, mine at the time, to the class with loads of praise. That was really nice!

On tuesday I went to the cinema with Farz and Duncan to watch Milk, a film about the first elected Gay senator in the US. Despite it being a subject I don’t relate to, I found a it wonderful entertaining film. The characters were all likeable and realistic,the acting was brilliant and the plot gripping and interesting. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone. (Tuesday night is cinema night for me and Farz as it is cheap night! Since xmas we’ve gone every week – there’ been so many good films out recently).

Don’t think I did anything else until last friday night, when I went to see the Top Gear Live show with Jarrad plus his brother and two friends from Melboune. The live show is not the TV show, it is an arena show with cars and stunts going on (and very hot fireworks which we could feel up in the gods!). Jeremy Clarkson and the Hamster presented it, as did one of the presenters from the Australian TV show. It was good fun, an entertaining way to spend an evening! The best bit was the car football match, England v Oz, in which I was definately a minority supporting the poms! Lots of skillful driving went on, but two did manage to have a crash in the middle of the game! England lost 5:2.

On the saturday I went and got my haircut again. My hairdresser did a particularly good job this time – she usually does but even her collaegues were walking past giving admiring glances and as I went to pay one said ‘wow, what a beautiful haircut’. The praise was aimed at my hairdresser – but I sure felt good walking out with it! After doing a bit of shopping I gave Duncan a call, since I was in the city close to where he was living. We met up for lunch, and had pizza in the rocks. We sat outside in the shade, since it was bearable there, and drank lots of water, lemonade and cold beer!

We arranged to meet up and do something in the evening, since havin just arrived Dunc was keen to try out the Sydney night-life. I got in touch with Dave to see what he was up to, and there ended up being quite a big group of us meeting up in a bar in Surry Hills (great for me as it was a short walk home!). When we got kicked out at midnight the rest went on the the cross for come clubbing. However since I could walk home, and I don’t really like clubs no matter how much I try them I s more than happy to leave them to it.

Duncan had also mentioned he wanted to go and see the cricket the next day – a one day international Aus vs NZ. I’m afraid I’m a bit peed off because this is the 3rd time I’ve had to write this up since my STUPID bloody internet keeps crashing and loosing half of what I’ve written so I really can’t be bothered to write this ALL over again. Lets just say it was HOT until 5pm when the crowd got lively. Some fun crowd games of mexican waves and inflatble penises and a dramatic end to the cricket with Aus winning. (my original post had so much more to say but stuff it, my wrists ache from typing so much).

I’m also having to re-type the re of the week. You’re just going to get s short version now.

Tuesday – went to watch Changeling. Was disaapointed (Joile can’t act, I thought she would be good).

Wednesday – went to see a film at the open air cinema with Dave as he had already got tickets but Kirsty couldn’t make it. Was very beautiful to watch a film in the open air with the cityscape to one side, the opera house framed by the bridge on the other and bats and possums adding to the entertainment! The film was great too – Vicky Christina Barcelona. A typical quirky Woody Allen film.

Friday – went out to celbrate a sailing friend’s birthday. Haven’t seen Ash for ages so good to catch up, an I lots of new people. I got very drunk, since I started the night on cocktails and also wine seemed to get poured constatly throughout the meal!

Saturday – Valentine’s day! Spent most of the day trying to get rid of my cocktail headache! Went out for a singles meal in the evening with Farz, Alice, two of Alice’s friends and Duncan (who has now found a place to live quite near me). We went to a beautiful Thai place with pink chanderliers and wicker egg swing chairs! Had a yummy meal, and delicious South Australian wine which we have madea  of and will buy again! We came back and watched a beautiful Korean film together.

And today….I spent hours writing this blog….twice. And enjoyed being in out of the grey skies drinking tea!