We pulled into Sydney just after new year and caught up with Michelle and Mark who were over on holiday. See front to back, Vicki, Gandalf, Mark and Michelle. We were able to enjoy several drinking sessions as well as a trip to the SCG to see the English getting thumped. As scant revenge, we went to the Aussie Stadium to see Sydney FC get beaten at home by bottom the the league New Zealand Knights, in their soccer 'A' league. The standard was woeful. We stayed just outside the city centre in beachside Coogee, pictured, which is a bit like Bondi Beach without the kudos. This also allowed us to stay in perhaps the shabbiest hostel in Australia, Coogee Surfside Backpackers, just across the road from this beach. Don't go there. We had a fabulous time, however, in Sydney, and thanks to Mark and Michelle for getting Ashes tickets and generally allowing us to invade their holiday.