Friday 28 Feb - Raining!

Off to Bondi Beach to collect another tick in the I-spy book.

Sarah is a real angel taking so much time to show us around, pity can't get us the right way up.

  

Nice lunch in Bronte after walking the coastal path from Bondi. Then back into Sydney to visit the National Museum and mug up on wildlife and the iniquities of past treatment of the Aborigines.

Mooched through Hyde Park (!) and on down to Circular Quay for the ferry back to Northwood. Pretty civilised as a commuting service this, no jams, quick and cheap.

Hilary outside our hosts' pad, big house in very chic area. And still the pitter patter of the rain, first for months, very bad timing.

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Australia - Thursday 27 Feb - First Day in Sydney

Out like a light last night helped along by Simon's superb wines. What's not to like about a bloke with over 900 bottles of top wines in the cellar.


Sarah took us to Manly to some of the best viewing points. Pity about the drizzle and low cloud but believe me says Sarah, you can normally see the city sights from here.

Back to Sydney on the ferry then a walk around some of the tick-box sights.

Trying on my new hat ...

Bit gloomy view of the ironwork from the ferry. At least it's warm drizzle.

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Australia - Wednesday 26 Feb, Arrival in Sydney

Plane arrived on time and straight through immigration etc without the expected inquisition. Sarah not there immediately, expecting we'd take longer to emerge. On to her house for a shower and change.

Very sunny and getting humid, with temperature peaking at around 30 deg. Went to the Taronga zoo as a first outing, getting the koalas and kangaroos in early. Started with a view across the harbour from Mosman.

On to Balmoral for a walk with Sarah, and lunch.

Hilary had a nap during the afternoon but I stayed up, but only just, a couple of times almost nodding off.

Sean's birthday so the family had arranged to go out for supper.  Sat outside at the restaurant with Simon's BYO wine and started on three large pizzas, telling the waitress to hold off on the remaining two.  Then Sean said he was feeling unwell and left to join some friends elsewhere.  Sarah very upset worrying about him. 

Didn't ask for the extra pizzas but went home. Crashed out at about 9.30.

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Australia - 24-25 January - Off to Heathrow

Funny old day knowing we'd be off at 4.30, well, make that 4.40 as we fidgeted around outside waiting for the driver to arrive. No problems he said, the road is clear. Wasn't, lots of congestion so some nervous lane-swapping but still comfortably on time.
In fact total absence of check-in queue, walked straight to the desk. Similar at security, straight through.
Feeling peckish so fuelled up on a very tasty pasta meal. Then short wait before boarding. Big advantage of being in seats upstairs on the plane as no queue again and straight to the seats. Splendid amount of legroom, minor disadvantage of people using it as a route to the loos. Good tip for the future, wear white shoes so they're visible.

Settled back for the meal and films, first choice Captain Phillips, then Gravity, then most of Blue Jasmine. Arrived in Dubai as the sun came up, enormous airport, and what an enormous plane, seeing it now in the daylight, lace curtains permitting.
On to Sydney after about 2 hours wait. Stayed awake until about 9 pm Sydney time then tried to get some sleep. Didn't manage much but the passage of the hours seemed to become less tedious.

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Sunday 23 Feb 2014 - Packing for Australia

Setting off tomorrow so racking the poor old brain for things we mustn't forget.  My list is fairly short so far, passport, dosh, tickets and Hilary.

Australia - Monday 10 March, Last Full Day

The feared cyclone didn't arrive so no problem for the boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Bus picked us up from the motel at 8.30 and the Calypso boat left soon after 9 for the 90 min trip to the first snorkelling point

... and after kitting out in our anti stinger suits

The boat backed in towards the reef and we all eased in from the platform. Scary picture on exit, looks a bit like those pictures in fairgrounds where you stick your face through a cutout.

Great snorkelling, loads of fish of all colours, some luminous blue, several striped. Two further stops and a good big meal in between. Saw a turtle on the last go, following him for several minutes. Very little clearance to the coral at times and a few scrapes with the fins.
Followed the guide in one snorkelling tour, trying best to hear the commentary through the suit hood and waterlogged ears.
Splendid outing for our last full day, and safely back to port.

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