Saturday 29th April

We are back home now, slowly recovering from the jet lag but I will fill in the our antics from the last week in Australia.

Friday 21st, we caught the ferry to Cockatoo Island, one of the islands in Sydney Harbour, now a world heritage site.

The island is an important site for aboriginal history being a meeting place for various of the local tribes. It then became a prison for convicts, a sort of Colditz for those who reoffended once in Australia. The convicts used stone quarried on the island to build the prison buildings, some of which still remain. Alledgedly only one convict ever escaped.

After the prison was closed the island became an important ship building and repairing facility for the navy and only closed in 1992. Much of the industrial archaeology still remains.

Saturday, an exciting day, Lauren took Hazel out for a trial run in the running pushchair, doing short out and backs whilst we walked along. Hazel loved it. We also went to the DFO, a sort of outlet mall.

Sunday, shopping at Coles.

Monday,our final walk along the foreshore to the Wangal reserve, we noticed some strange things growing in one of the borders, turned out to be a strange fungus.

Tuesday, Anzac Day, a public holiday in Australia so Tim was off work. Anzac Day is rather like Rememberance Day in the UK, there are dawn services at war memorials followed by parades and the only day when it is permitted to play two up. Anzac Day commemorates the landings at Gallipoli by the Anzac troops at dawn on 25th April in the First World War.

Tim and Lauren took us for lunch at the Sydney Rowing Club, despite being a prestigious club the restaurant is open to the public. We had a lovely meal overlooking the Parramatta River.

Wednesday, time to go home, after a rather tearful goodbye Tim dropped us at the airport for the first leg of our journey home, an 8 hour flight to Singapore.

In Singapore it was like walking into an oven, so hot. We stayed at a different hotel, the Parkroyal on Beach Road, we would certainly recommend it.

Thursday, the final step, 13 1/2 hours back to London and home. 

Friday 21st April

Wednesday, we went to Manly, where Tim lived when we came over the first time, it is on the northern beaches near the entrance to Sydney Harbour so it entailed quite a lengthy journey, 2 ferries. From Cabarita to Circular Quay and then a second from Circular Quay on to Manly. It's a scenic route going the length of the harbour. They have new ferries on the Manly part of the journey, catamarans replacing the old double ended vessels, they are much faster but evidently do not cope so well in rough seas which can occur near the harbour mouth.

We did not think that Manly had changed a huge amount , the Corso was still there, some shops had changed and there were a few empty spaces but it is still a lively place. We walked by the beach, from the surf club round to Cabbage Tree Bay (Shelley Beach), the pool had been repaired from the damage sustained in the storms. It is our favourite bay. Back on the main beach it was windy and the beach was closed due to strong undercurrents but that did not stop some surfers from venturing out.

We found that the cafe that we went to with Tim was still open, it does amazing salads so Claire was happy and even had HP sauce for my bacon and egg roll.

After wandering around and enjoying being beside the waves it was two ferries back to Breakfast Point.

Thursday, it rained overnight and again this morning, Lauren had agreed to help a friend to get home from the dentist after having her wisdom teeth out so we went with her on baby minding duty. In the afternoon we took ourselves off on a walk to Concord, a nearby suburb and had a look at the shops. It seems that here around 45% of shops are for healthcare services, doctors, dentists, physios, opticians etc., another 45% are cafes and restaurants, the rest are either empty or 'real' shops. The Australians are definitely addicted to their coffee.

Friday, a brighter morning, clear blue sky though a breeze, not sure what we will do yet.

Tuesday 18th April

Bit of catching up to do as I haven't posted anything since last week.

Thursday, we went to the mall at Burrwood to do some shopping, yet another huge shopping centre on multiple levels, then in the afternoon Claire and I went off for a walk. We decided to give the 'punt' (a chain ferry between Mortlake and Putney) a try so we went across the river and walked along the shore, through Putney Park, past Kissing Point as far as Rhyde and Concord Sailing Club. There are so many waterside paths alongside the Parramatta River, with many small parks, all with children's playgrounds. We then retraced our steps, though we did avoid one very steep section before catching the punt back across the river and walking back to Breakfast Point.

The 'Punt' between Mortlake and Putney

Friday, off shopping again, this time to Bunnings, the diy superstore to buy stair gates etc to babyproof the apartment. Hazel is not far off becoming mobile, she already rolls so a safe area needs to be set up to contain her and also plug sockets, draws and cupboards need to be 'Hazel' proofed.

Saturday, we had decided to go into the city to the craft market in the Rocks, one of the oldest areas of Sydney. We caught the ferry and Tim, Lauren and Hazel drove in and met us later. The Rocks is close to Circular Quay the ferry terminal and also adjacent to one of the cruise liner terminals. A liner was in, it dominated the view from the rocks, rather like the shot in 'Call the Midwife' weher there is the ship at the end of the street.

The ship at the end of the street.

We had a good time wandering around the market, met up with Tim, Lauren and Hazel then wandered into the city where we visited the QVB and Morris and Sons, the amazing wool shop befire returning to the rocks then catching the ferry back.

Sunday, shopping at 8.00am before the crowds. Lauren's sister Deb and her husband Trevor were coming over for lunch so we went to get supplies. Tim was able to use the spit roast for his bbq that he had as a christmas present to roast a hunk of pork.

After Deb and Trev had gone we went for a walk to watch the amazing sunset.

Monday, Tim was back to work today, though working from home. We went to the Country Club with Lauren and Hazel in the morning for the baby group and met up with other parents and their babies. In the afternoon it was off for another walk by the water.

 Thursday 13th April

We are still here though we have spent much of our time with Tim, Lauren and Hazel. Easter here is a little like it used to be in the UK with everywhere closing certainly for Good Friday and Easter Sunday, even the public toilets.

A quick update:

Friday evening we had a thunder storm, the whole sky lit up and the was localised heavy rain and golf ball sized hail, fortunately where we are it was a fairly short but very heavy downpour.

Saturday, shopping at Rhodes Mall then off to get some pastries from the patisserie, the flan was for Tim's birthday cake, slightly late.

Sunday, Lauren's friend Brooke came over, she was visiting Sydney from Melbourne and had to catch a flight home.

Monday, we went for a walk further around the coast by the hospital at Yarrala, a big old house which is now where there is a hospital.

Tuesday, went to the Sydney Easter Show, rather like a County Agricultural show but huge and without all of the displays of farm machinery and the outdoor clothing stands. We caught the ferry and bus to Olympic park where it was being held, Tim Lauren and Hazel met us there. We wandered around and spent some time watching the show jumping in the huge stadium, one of those built for the 2000 Olympics.

Wednesday, a quiet day, went for a walk.

 Friday 7th April

We have just come back from 4 days in Terrigal, a small town on the central coast, about an hour and a half (80km) north of Sydney. Tim rented a rather smart house a short walk from the beach. Though it is autumn here the weather has been kind to us with temperatures in the mid 20s (centigrade) so we were able to walk about in shorts and t-shirts.

Like so many coastal towns here Terrigal has a long sandy beach, we were able to sit and watch the surfers and swimmers though we didn't go in ourselves. We also visited other local towns, Avoca, and the Entrance  where Lauren used to visit as a child. It was nice to get out of the city and certainly quieter as we did not have planes regularly passing overhead. As we came back towards the city the carriageway going the opposite direction was packed with vehicles as people were going away for the ho;iday weekend.

The local pelicans like to perch on top of the rugby club floodlights

Hazel is still getting used to travelling in her car seat and did very well.

Today being Good Friday many of the shops are closed and again on Easter Sunday so we shall have to make sure that we have all that we need. We have also had a thunder storm this afternoon, it did not rain too hard here in Breakfast Point but parts of the city seemed to be getting a good soaking.

Monday 3rd April

Yesterday it rained, not just gentle raindrops but stair-rods, now I know why they have such large culverts at the side of the roads in Australia.

It was also Hazel's christening, Lauren's mother and partner had driven from Finley, 8 hour drive away, to be there, we were also joined by Lauren's sister Deb and other members of her family, also her freind Mel. Fortunately the rain stopped for the time that we went to St Patrick's church. Hazel did not scream or cry at all as the priest poured the water over her head, then it was all back to Tim and Lauren's apartment for sandwiches, scones, cake and not forgetting Jan's sausage rolls which we had helped to prepare before going to the church. The whole day went off very well.

Today it was pack up and off to Terrigal for a short break. Tim has two weeks holiday and has booked a house in the coastal town of Terrigal, a couple of hours north of Sydney on the coast. We drove up through showers but when we arrived the sun came out and there were blue skies. We went for a walk along the promenade and had some lunch in a very pleasant cafe. We plan to explore the place some more tomorrow.

Friday 31st March

Tim's partner Lauren's mother and sister were coming this afternoon to visit, her mother, Jan, having travelled 8 hours from Finley for Hazel's christening this weekend, so it was off to the shops to get food for lunch back at the flat.

This afternoon I was invited to sail aboard a Sydney 38 from Balmain Sailing Club in a race. Somewhat different from a winter series in the UK. Air temperature and water temperature both mid 20s so sailed in shorts and polo shirts. No race officer so take your own start and finish times. A relaxed race with a very serious racing crew, thanks to them all.

Tim had driven me to Balmain and sat in the shade working whilst I was out on the water.

Back to Breakfast Point for dinner.

Sydney 38 'Avalon'

 

Thursday 30th March

The weather today has been glorious,  blue sky and temperature in the mid 20s. We caught the ferry from Carabita into Circular Quay, passing underneath the Harbour Bridge on the way. Once ashore we decided to visit the Opera House, such an amazing building, we walked around the promenade that surrounds it before going in to the gift shop.

We then walked into the nearby Botanic Gardens, manicured lawns and a wide variety of plants, an oasis of calm in the centre of this bustling city. We ventured into the nearby shops to buy some lunch which we took back into the gardens to eat.

There is plenty more of central Sydney to visit but we decided to save that for another day.

Back to Breakfast Point on the ferry, a 45 minute journey up the Parramatta River.

Breakfast Point

Tim Lauren and Hazel live in an apartment in an area of Sydney called Breakfast Point, it is the site of one of the former gas works and was redeveloped around 20 years ago.

The apartment is roomy, 3 bedrooms, one of which is givenover to an office/training room where they have their bikes set up on turbo trainers. There is a Country Club to which they belong, they took us there for lunch on the day that we arrived, and it is possible to get to the waterside where the authorities have created paths. Needless to say we have walked in both directions watching the fish jumping and the wildlife.

At the weekend we went to one of the shopping malls, there were shops of every description and the place was heaving, then on Sunday we visited Rhyde market, a selection of pop up food stalls on a park alongside the Paramatta River,

We have had a mixture of weather, Tim says it's cold but the temperature has regularly been in the 20s, we have been in shorts, today it was 27 degrees when we got back from our walk at 5.00pm.

 It rained heavily in the night but dries up very quickly in the heat.

After checking out we left our cases at the hotel and walked to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, such an amazing place, so peaceful, clean and tidy. The orchid collection is truly amazing, they have completed a new section since our last visit, we spent a while wandering around before returning to the hotel ready to be picked up by our taxi to the airport.

Changi Airport is amazing, we had spent over half an hour at Heathrow in the queue to drop our baggage off, at Changi its all automated, straight in and done within two minutes, then on to the lounge to wait for our overnight flight to Sydney.

Neither of us slept particularly well on the flight, but we arrived on time in Sydney and as we came through the immigration they were filming for the Aydney Border Force TV programme though I doubt we will be seen on the box, no dramas. Tim was there to meet us and drove us back to meet Lauren and Hazel.

Due to tiredness and jet lag the rest of the day is something of a blurr! Getting over it now, Thursday, having a quiet day.

 We are pleased that the hotel is air-conditioned as you walk outside and the heat hits you even when it is overcast.

Spent the day sightseeing, the bus service is very good and easy to use, just tap on and off so we went to the Gardens by the Bay to begin with, not the best time of year as many of the flowers had finished, then wandered around downtown Singapore, eventually making our way over to Raffles Hotel where we enjoyed tea/coffee.

It must be the rainy season, despite being hot, it really knows how to rain but the showers are short and very hard! We managed to dodge inside and stay dry. Relaxing now, trying to adjust our body clocks.

It's back to Changi Airport tomorrow afternoon for another overnight flight this time on to Sydney.

 Arrived safely in Singapore after an overnight flight from Heathrow, were hit by the heat as we came out of the airconditioned airport.

Back in the Hotel Jen, settling down to catch up on some of the sleep that we lost last night and trying to start adjusting to different time zones. We plan to go and be tourists tomorrow, enjoying some of the sights that Singapore has to offer.

The Next Trip

 We are getting ready for our next trip Down Under. The flights are booked and we are starting to check that we have what we need. Looking forward to seeing Tim and meeting Lauren and Hazel.