Australia's most wanted

usually, when we enter the New South Wales state lines, we begin to feel like australia's most wanted...and this time is no exception...

we have had a very busy week catching up with some of our dearest friends and family, who all just happen to live within the 2hr radius between sydney and newcastle.

In reality, though i sometimes claim queensland roots due to the fact i grew up there in the main, I am, in fact, sydney born and bred. My aunt and my 3 gorgeous cousins, their husbands and children, still base themselves here...but on the 27th we found them all at thier favorite holiday spot, their waterskiing cabin on the scenic banks of the hawksbury river...my family have always been keen waterskiers but somehow matt and i have, until now, missed out....however, that day matt gave it a go (i was happy to sit in the speedboat driven precariously by my cousin soph...!)...matt, being the talented sportsman he is managed to stand up and ski 3 times before calling it quits in utter exhaustion...

the next day we headed up the coast to newcastle...a working town, gritty and tough...but with some of the most beautiful beaches and, therefore, keen surfers, on this part of the east coast. newcastle is home to some very good friends of ours...'the boys' whom i've written about before...ashman, dane, bundy, toad, jbot....and their assorted mates...many of whom i've met on past trips. They are all hard working tradies, surfers, hardcore partiers...and some of the most genuine and caring guys ive ever met. NYE began quietly...breakfast with ashman, mitch and elise at nelson bay...overlooking the yaghts at the marina followed by a swim at secluded box beach....heading back to ashman's apartment - smack bang in the centre of town with amazing views of the harbour - we found that the party was already well underway by 12pm...more and more people kept arriving until the apartment was well and truely pumping...many drinks and much banter later we wandered downtown to the 'brewery' and danced the night away to some talented aussie bands...

The following days have been a bit of a blur...catching up on much needed sleep back in sydney at my aunt's house on the north shore, pizza at a local italian overflowing with celebs in newport with my cousins jane and bee and their husbands, kids and a very beautiful pregnant belly!...brunch at our friend mel's apartment in manly, overlooking the harbour there with our close family friends the smiths...back to newcastle for drinks out last night with the gang and down to the beach this morning to watch ashman go fo his morning surf....it's no wonder that i'm quite happy to be sitting here, in his apartment after popping matt on a plane bound for queensland...taking a deep breath and catching up on emails and blogs....! it's been crazy but so much fun...I love being in NSW...I love our friends and family here...and I love being australia's most wanted...

stay tuned...xxx