In the skies again! Days seem to be passing at more than the recommended 60 mph (minutes per hour) rate, I tell you!

Travelling isn’t so bad, y’know? I know a lot of people who don’t like flying, but long-haul flights are pretty fun. Unless, of course, you get the same film (say, Stuck on You) on every leg of your journey! Other than that, though, it’s pretty good; you get to press a little button and a nice lady or a camp gentleman will deliver you beer. The sun is likely to be over the yard-arm in either your departure point or at your destination! Aeroplane food isn’t so bad, either; the portions may not be the largest, but you get three courses in a tiny little tray. Plus about three drinks. These, I guess are to encourage you to walk to the back of the ‘plane and back, from to-to-time.

And so Perth is a tiny spot on the horizon to our rear. We’ve said our farewells to T and A, who have been wonderful. I’m sure it won’t be long before we see them again, whichever hemisphere we happen to be in at the time.

In a couple of hours’ time, we’ll be meeting up with more friends on the opposite coast of this vast country. We’re staying with M‘n’N at N’s parents’ house, to the North of Sydney, NSW. It’ll be great to see them. N and I worked together at $PETES_EMPLOYER-1, until the time came for her and M to move home to get married. I’ve only met M a couple of times, but we got on like the proverbial burning residence.

I’m also looking forward to being back in Sydney. Last time I was there with R and M we saw lots, but I still feel like I have so much more to see. Mrs J and I intend to do the whole bridge-climb thang. Apparently at the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge there is a stamp that reads, "Made In Middlesbrough", so we have to witness that. N’s Dad has kindly offered to take us walking in the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains are among the most scenic places I have ever been, so we’re both very much looking forward to doing some walking in between all of those lovely-smelling eucalyptus trees.

I’ve come up with a solution to the poor quality audio problem that I seemed to be suffering from during the first leg of this trip: I need to buy an iPod. They’re nearly £100 cheaper in WA than they are in the UK. If I find a similarly-priced one in NSW (or perhaps Tokyo, if I can wait that long), then I shall go for it. The batteries should last for longer on a flight than this ‘ere laptop, which I have to say is serving me very well. I promise I’ll let K have it back when we arrive back in England, though ;-)

Technology is great, isn’t it? Last night, I took some pictures of the City by night. Within minutes, they were on the laptop and a few minutes later, they were online for my friends on the other side of the planet to marvel at. I heart the Internet!

Are we there yet!?