After a hard day's slog at work, we love nothing more than to settle down to watch the soaps with a cup of tea in hand. Maybe Eastenders is your favourite or you love the drama on the Coronation Street cobbles but we're firm believers that Home and Away wins the battle of the soaps. Here's a few of the reasons why... The Braxtons... Let's face it, they need a paragraph all of their own. It was a sad day when Heath went off to "the city" a couple of months ago but that was nothing compared to the tears we shed recently when Casey was shot. We're just hoping Brax and Kyle stay put because the Bay needs a Braxton or two about the place. Who's your favourite? Sun, Sea and Sand The idyllic location of the Bay means we can escape into our own little sun holiday for a half an hour each day. It's back to reality with a bang as soon as the show is over but we're quite content to keep daydreaming about golden sands, blue skies and sunny days. Take us there NOW.. Lunch Break Oh to be back in college with midweek nights out and Home and Away on the box of a lunchtime. You might return home between lectures to get your Summer Bay fix and of course, there was the odd day when the lure of the duvet proved too much and you opted to spend the full day on the couch. Can we go back...please? Shhhhh... Home and Away is on! Beautiful People It's pretty easy to develop crushes on the lads and ladies in Home and Away when they walk around wearing very little. We have fond memories of Kim (Chris Hemsworth) who may even be making a return to the soap and lately the local doctor, Nate, is proving a great man to have around in a crisis. Oh Kim! Completely Bonkers From time to time the soap can be more than a little crazy featuring plots that are completely off the wall. Remember the time Kyle kidnapped Casey and nearly killed him only for Tamara to rescue him in the nick of time? As for poor Brax when Charlie died, our hearts broke for him too. It may not translate to real life but that's one of the reasons why we enjoy it so much. Familiar faces In recent years, huge numbers of Irish people have emigrated to Oz and if you scroll through your Facebook feed on any given day, you're practically guaranteed to see someone you know share a photo with John from the surf club or Irene at the diner. H/T to Tara Cooney from Bullaun, Loughrea, Co.Galway (besties with John Palmer) Disaster after Disaster Leah's had it very tough, she lost Vinnie and only recently was followed around by stalker Jamie but we're hoping they might give her a break now Zac is on the scene. Roo has also been unlucky, she's had money issues, a difficult break-up with Harvey and only last month, she was in hospital after contracting a serious bug. So when you think you've got it tough, just be glad you don't live in the Bay! Jamie was very creepy...