Tuesday 21st Oct. Surprisingly it's not a hot sunny day - overcast and windy. All Australia will be down in the dumps as they lost the second test against India by over 300 runs. An excursion has been arranged to visit the Reptile Zoo which is an hours coach ride back up the highway that we came down on Sunday so won't be seeing fresh countryside. Tthe star attraction at the Zoo is not a reptile but Tasmanian Devils which are becoming an endangered species due to a very contagious epidemic of facial cancer. they appear to be very bad tempered but we are assured that this is all part of their usual behavour. The most popular animals are of course the Koala bears and the Roos which are very tame and allow you to stroke and feed them from hand. Can't say we got very excited by the Crocs Aligators and venemous snakes. Spend the evening at the Warriewood Surf Life Saving Club on the edge of the beach under the cliff. Felt very much at home as the club house has been built by the members themselves and do all the catering and bar staff with volunteers. The only paid employee is the administrator. The principal activity is safety patroling the beach but they do all the traditional life saving drill competitions rowing boat races through the surf (four oarsmen and a steerer) Surf boarding etc. Met the Captain returning the boat on a road trailer to the boathouse in the basement of the clubhouse. A lot of the rowers are rugby players in the winter months so you can understand that I felt we had a great deal in common. A beach BBQ had been planned for the evening but the weather was against us so 170 of us moved inside the club for a very good cold meal followed by a disco. The kids are all mixing well and having a great time. Pity about the weather. As I write this on Wednesday morning it is cold wet and windy!! Cheers for now.