We've got the Internet at home now. I'm only meant to use it for homework, but I bring up two screens and chat at the same time. Some of the other people in the chat room were talking about a big party they had where they all met each other for the first time. I could never do that - I have friends in real life thank you.

A friend at school told me about a chat program she uses. It's a lot of fun, you can talk in more that one channel at a time and there's channels for every subject imaginable.

Brad, one of the guys in the wrestling channel I chat in regularly wants to meet me. I'm not too keen on the idea. I can't explain why but I just have a feeling that once we meet, he won't want to talk to me anymore. Eventually we made a bet on a wrestling match. If his favourite tag team wins, then I have to go to Melbourne within a month and if my favourite tag team wins, then he has to come and see me. I spoke to Claire, my best friend about it and she insisted on coming with me. I'm glad for the moral support.

Brad came up to Bendigo. Claire and I took the afternoon off from our courses. It was weird, Brad and I recognized each other straight away. We spent the afternoon walking around Bendigo. It was really awkward and uncomfortable. We agreed later that we get along a lot better when we don't actually have to see each other.

There's three people in the channel that I talk to a lot - Jen, Jason and Karina. Jen lives in Canberra and the other two are engaged and live in Sydney. We've all got each others phone numbers and call or text message each other nearly every day. Jase rang me tonight to invite me to his New Years Party. Jen's catching the train from Canberra to Sydney to go. I'd love to, but I simply can't afford it.

Today’s my 19th birthday. I received the best present I could hope for - a job. By 11am Jen had sent me a text message to say 'Happy Birthday' I messaged her back and told her about the job and got an answer saying 'Come and visit me in Sydney.' (She and her mum moved there in January). All through the day, people from the channel called or messaged me to say 'Happy Birthday' and congratulate me on the job. News sure travels fast!

One of the channels I chat in regularly is having a lunch meeting in Melbourne next week. I'd like to go, but the disaster that was meeting Brad keeping coming back to haunt me. Speaking of Brad, when he found out I might be in Melbourne, he said he'd take me for a coffee.

I went to the lunch meeting yesterday. I was so nervous that I nearly didn't get off the train! I met Brad for a coffee, then he walked me to the meeting point. I felt more comfortable with him than last time. At Fast Eddy's, I stalled about going inside, till the owner of the channel, Paul, came out and literally dragged me in by the wrist. Once everyone relaxed and started talking, we all enjoyed ourselves. After lunch we walked down to Moomba and had a grape fight while misquoting Shakespeare. I had so much fun that I didn't want to leave and only just caught the last train back to Bendigo.

I did it! I booked my plane ticket to Sydney! I'm spending two nights at Jen's then two nights with Jason and Karina at Jason's place. I can't wait, despite the constant claims of "B, you're crazy." from my friends.

I caught a train down to Warnambool for the weekend, to stay with Mel, a woman from the channel I had lunch with last month. Five of us went down for the weekend We had an Easter egg hunt, played Celebrity Head and just kicked back. Before I went down, I got Mel's address and home phone number for my mother. I think Mum's using this as a trial run for Sydney. She read an article last week about a girl who went to Sydney to meet a couple off the net and they held her for ransom.

I flew to Sydney today. Mum cried at the airport - her little girl is all grown up and flying interstate to hang out with what was previously words on a computer screen. As soon as the plane took off I started panicking. "What if I hate her? What if she hates me? What if her mother hates me and kicks me out?"

Jen and I recognised each other straight away and I instantly felt comfortable with her. When her mother came home from work, I gave the prepared thank you speech. "I know it's a lot having a total stranger come in from interstate to drop in for a few days."

"Actually, I think you're quite brave to come and stay with some total strangers." Sue replied with a smile.

Later that night, Jen bleached the front of my hair and we made extremely vague plans for my first full day in Sydney.

Today Jen and I walked through the centre of Sydney, then caught the ferry over to Manly, where we sat on the beach for three hours and talked. I must have talked about Claire a fair bit because when she was dying the back part of my hair black, Jen said "You'll have to come again. Bring with Claire with you if she's up for it."

Jen and I met Jason and Karina in the city, had lunch, then came back to Jen's place (a 3 minute walk from the monorail) to get my bags. It was decided that Jen was going to stay the night at Jason's place. We kicked back and watched videos until Karina fell asleep. I think I'm starting to feel homesick.

Jen caught the train back to her place. Before she left, she said she'd try and get to the airport to say goodbye. Jase, Kaz and I went shopping, then to the movies. That night, Claire called to see how I was faring. I'm definitely feeling homesick.

I'm back in my own house again. For some reason I was feeling really homesick today, but now I just want to fly back to Sydney. Mum and Dad looked shocked at my hair, but I reminded them it could've been worse. I had a lot of fun and I adore Jen, Karina and Jase, but it's good to be home.

Claire's decided she wants to come to Sydney with me next time. I'm planning to go down to Melbourne for a weekend with a 'net friend', as Claire's started calling them. No matter where I go though, I always make sure my parents know where I am, and where they can contact me. If it's just a day trip, I make sure it's in a public place and that I have my mobile with me. People think I'm crazy, or call me an Internet geek, but I'm having fun and to me it's just another way to meet new people.