The whole promptness thing seems to be sliding a little here...is it that after 4.5 months I've reached a certain level of indifference to sitting in front of a computer (...my work here is almost done. Soon I will be totally unemployable). No! Never! It's just that, for all there is to do and see, Australia isn't really very interesting. Geographically it might be hugely varied, on the other side of the world, etc, but politically and culturally it's firmly in the mid-Atlantic.

Any roads, since leaving Arapiles I spent 3 days back in the Grampians (including an excellent day soloing Threadneedle (10) and summitting Stapylton), then went back to Araps and did a bunch more excellent routes with American Gypsy Paul. Also caught Ross Noble performing in a church hall in Horsham near Araps (he was clearly puzzled by the smallness of that particular gig a day or two after playing Melbs Town Hall).

Then headed down to the SE Victoria coast to check out the Great Ocean Drive and see the 12 Apostles (of which only 8 seem to remain). Rubbish, really. Substantial stretches of the Cornwall, Devon, Yorkshire and Scottish coastlines are far more impressive. Tried a bit of surfing, ate fish and chips, etc.

Am in Melbourne today. Melbs features lots of old Colonial architecture, restaurants, cafes, happenings and and Cultural Stuff In General, and is a Very Good Place. There are some sort of Games going on here, apparently. Leaving for Christchurch (S Island, NZ) tonight.