Well I'm home safe and sound, jet-lagged but good.

What an adventure! 33 hours of flying, sitting in transit lounges, more flying, more tansit lounges and a lil' more flying. Got to Athens and flaked it across the road from the airport at the Sofitel Hotel.  Early start the next morning to catch another flight up to Thessaloniki, then a coach to Katerini and then a cab to Paralia. Got to Hotel Kymata and hit the shower then the shops for some groceries. The hotel room was small but pleasant and right on the beach. Beautiful place, with heaps of shops and stores to browse. They have shops selling fur coats and leather jackets like we have shoe stores, they're everywhere. The usual touristy stuff for miles.

The next day the team grouped and we went to the Mediteranian Hotel to register. Everyone had to register alphabetically by Country, so Australia was in and out of there pretty quick. 2 of the male team members had been struck down with food poisoning for 2-3 days prior to registering, but they pulled through ok, poor buggers, they were really sick.

On the day and it was a hot one at that, competitors had an outside dressing anfd pump up area, good in one way, stifling in another. But we had plenty of room.

I was first up for the Figure Class1 and during the judgeing and comparisons I was called up twice out of the 3 call outs. It was looking pretty good for me.

Once the morning show was out of the way we had a few hours to relax, the heat was starting to knock a few of the competitors being dehydrated.

The evening show kicked off a lil' after 7:30pm but the running order was changed so I didn't get back on stage till midnight. I tell ya, my tongue was hanging out, I could have sucked moisture out of an old sock, lmao.

Getting into the top 6 was great, placing 3rd was the bonus for my first International competition. Could have knocked me down with a feather and it wan't just from being so thirsty either.

Unfortunately I was the only member of the Australian team to make the top 6. The guys still put in a gallant effort, considering 2 of them had been bed ridden with upset stomaches for 2-3 days prior to the show. They still got up there and gave the boys a run for their money.

Lucky Hatzipantelis, was upgraded from juniors to Class2 on a technicality with his birthdate, but was certainly not disgraced and held his own against the older more experienced competitors of that class. He's made himself known now and they others know he's coming up in the near future. I was talking with a couple of the judges the next day and they were very impressed with him as a young up and coming. They'll be keeping an eye out for him.

While I was talking with the head judge the following evening he gave me great encouragement and want to see more of me on the International circuit. Yes I'll do it again for sure, just where and when is the next question.