Chief bridesmaid Tracey (still in her outfit from the day before) doing a one last pyramid. The stubby holders in the front were gifts from the bride and groom to the male guests (much to Ian's delight)

My bestest friend Wendy and her fiance Darryl at the Wedding

The bride Liza, with her stubby holder, keeping her Jim Beam drink cold

Ian and my Vietnam tailor made outfits for the New Years Eve Wedding

Lisa's Birthday dinner in St. Kilda

My brother Marcus and his wife Lisa at the Melbourne Botanical Gardens

Ian in "Ramsey Street - Neighbours"

Ian and the Australian wildlife

Australia - Ian meeting the native wildlife

Victoria - Australia

Had the month in and around Melbourne (over Christmas and New Year), family and friends, which was great. Ian got along with the family just fine and even went sailing with my dad. We divided up our time staying with my parents and showing Ian some of the sights, like the penguins on Phillip Island, Melbourne staying with my brother and his wife (he is so into the English television series "The Office" that he made us watch every series plus the Xmas special!!!), The Great Ocean Rd, Mornington Peninsula. Had heaps of BBQ's. Even had one huge one at Mum and Dad's and invited about 30 people, some of whom we'd already caught up with and others that I hadn't (which was ideal and made it easier than racing around like last time). Went to a Wedding New Years Eve and had a brilliant time. The Vietnam tailored outfits went down a treat. The honeymooners were in WA (Western Australia) at the same time as us, but unfortunately our paths didn't cross.

Penang - Malaysia

We spent 6 nights with Cyndi, in her amazing apartment in Penang. I already knew Cyndi before leaving Australia and had lived with her in London, with Sarah. Ian and I met each other at Cyndi´s 30th Birthday weekend away, so she takes much credit for us being together. She is now living in Malaysia for 2 years teaching at an International Primary School. Well there´s the context! Our time spent with Cyndi was quite lazy. She had a album full of DVD´s so we watched heaps. We seemed to have brought the rain with us, so this was our excuse to sit inside and enjoy her apartment (somewhere on the twentith floor, overlooking a huge swimming pool, and the sea). Even on the day she left us her car to explore the town, we only managed to get out of her place an hour before we needed to pick her up from work! Lazy and lov´n it. She did take us to a fantastic locals food market for dinner one night. The Indian meal was sooo yummy, and cheap. We also got very creative for her Teachers Christmas Pub Crawl (that we only stayed in the first pub! Not what we know as a pub crawl!), as we had to go in feative costume. I´ve never seen Ian be so artsy, craftsy! It was great. We practially spent a day cutting, pasting, major glittering (to the point that it wouldn´t dry and we had to use two hair dryers). Ian made large cut out Christmas trees and decorated them, mine was cut out Christmas crackers (bon bons), which we had one on the front and back of us, attached with string. In the pub we both quickly discarded the ones on our backs - not that comfortable or practical in a packed bar! Cyndi wore a striped silver dress that we attached bells around the hem, and tinsel around the bust. She made a wire tinseled angel´s halo, and a little wand. With her huge silver platform boots, she looked great! Can´t say that we actually saw any sights. Doesn´t matter. It was a great catch up.

Ian partaking in a Christmas cigar (what's with the tree bobble earings??)

Penang, Malaysia in Cyndi's apartment. We joined her and her work for their Christmas party. We spent all day making our costumes

Cyndi and I at the Christmas Party Pub Crawl (that only managed the original pub that we arrived at!)