spent all day driving from lookout to lookout in the Blue Mountains which are west of sydney and are full of weekending sydneyers, is that syders? some fabulous views and lots of tourists, tho less buses, more individuals and small groups but still lots of people. quite cold ie Manchester stylee – i wore a jumper for an hour.

In a town called Lithgow we found the remnants of an old Blast Furnace that was largest in Oz and gave Oz it’s own supply of Pig Iron for the 1st time. the Equipment came from Sheffield originally. It’s been derelict since 1928 and was all completely open to anyone who wondered in including the tunnels and 15ft drops. health and who?

Evening meal was at the biggest pub in Blackheath which had a bistro – Bistro in Oz means school canteen. I had locally produced garlic and mushroom sausages which had the texture and taste of the elephant foot you see spinning round in english kebab shops. Neil had the lamb shank, it was rhyming slang apparently! i know we arent eating in expensive places but the food in oz has generally been pants so far and compared to food of a similar price in Britain it’s pretty shit. Even i’m craving vegetables.  No wonder that bloke on MasterChef left here.  how much do you have to pay for decent food? thousands!