Surry Hills, Sydney

On this last day of the year, at last, the weather has improved! This morning I went for a swim in the pool that's part of the apartment complex where I'm staying. This is where Adam and Joe's friend Trevor lives in Surry Hills in Sydney - we've been here for the last few days, but haven't had much sunny weather. Today the water was lovely, but I decided I'd been in London too long and it was time to catch some rays so I sat sunbaking by the pool and looked after Adam's hat and sunglasses while he and Joe went for a dip. We're looking forward to the New Year's Eve fireworks display on Sydney harbour - we will watch them from a friend's rooftop in Potts Point so we will have a fantastic view of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. I can't wait!

Rainforest, Australia

I'm out of focus in this picture of the rainforest near Mt Tamborine because Adam wanted to capture the strangler fig growing up the tree in the background. Adam, Joe, Joe's sister Sue and her daughter Jackie and I all went for a short walk through this forest on Xmas Eve. We saw figbirds and a brush turkey, as well as heard the song of many other rainforest birds. This forest is in the hills behind the Gold Coast where Sue and Jackie live.

Tamborine National Park, Australia

Finally I found some time to send some news from this great continent, Australia.
This is Jackie, Joe (Adam’s partner) 's niece, at a cafe in Tamborine National Park, 45 km south of Brisbane.
Although it’s summer here, unfortunately, it hasn't been very sunny here at all. We only had two really sunny days out of the last ten!
La Niña (the opposite of El Niño) has set in and this always means a wet summer for the south west Pacific.

Merry Christmas

At moment I am touring with Adam in Australia but found not time yet to publish pictures.
So keep in touch, I'll be back soon.
In the meanwhile, a Merry Christmas everybody !!!
Stay on tuned.

Lab rat saying goodbye to Robin ...

After a vigorous afternoon of being a lab rat for Robin (see pictures of my incredibly huge rat brain in the background) it was time for me to meet Adam.
Here is a picture of him. He looks like a nice chap, has a great Aussie accent too.
I can't wait to learn more about his home country and experience my first warm Christmas!

So Long Robin ... Thanks for everything. I'll miss you!!!

So long Elisabeth, Madeleine, Robin & Steven

As a final goodbye to Madeleine and Elizabeth, we got dressed up and did a little elf dance. We invited one of the neighborhood rats to join us (there are a lot of them here in London!).

People say we look like twins- but I don't see the resemblance... Have a look: http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1297454371


Also, here is a final shot of Elizabeth saying goodbye to me. I am sure going to miss her, but "When the rooster crows at the break of dawn - look out your window and I'll be gone..."

Yep, it is time to move on… to another continent… So long Elisabeth, Madeleine, Robin and Steven ... It has been good to know you. Thanks for everything !

Today I will meet Adam who will take me to Australia for Christmas-- yippeee!

Back in London

After Thanksgiving and this wonderfull picnic it was time to head back. I barely did fit in the car seat after eating for 3 days straight. You know a rat can't say no to food!
I did spent a few more days in California with Robin, Steve (who is not in any pictures because he has a dreadful fear of rats and cameras), Elizabeth and Madeleine before we moved back to London.

Take a look at me next to the Christmas cactus.
Don't you think the pink flowers bring out the color in my cheeks?

California Picnic

You can't believe how perfect the weather was in California. I actually went down to the beach and also had a wonderful picnic outside with Robin's niece Brandy and her sister Janet.

Brandy is so cute I asked her if she would want to go out some time-
but she said she had already dated enough rats!