Sep 10, 2009 - Auckland to Sydney

The explorer is off again.5 hour flight to Sydney for a transit stop - what a great smooth trip, no noise, didnt even know you were moving. ... Food was great - salmon, duck and white choc mousse - YUM!!! Well, boarding call & now I'm back onto the big bird and off to Dubai enroute to Paris.The explorer is off again.5 hour flight to Sydney for a transit stop - what a great smooth trip, no noise, didnt even know you were moving. ... Food was great - salmon, duck and white choc mousse - YUM!!! Well, boarding call & now I'm back onto the big bird and off to Dubai enroute to Paris....

Sep 5, 2009 - Splendid in Sydney

Splendid in Sydney Sunday 23rd August We are now in Sydney in a hotel apartment that costs twice as much as our previous ones and is not as nice, but is in a good situation with a lovely sunny morning balcony! We went on a ferry trip up the river yesterday - good - and have walked around taking pictures of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. ... Later in the week it was in the news that Sydney has the 2nd most expensive public transport in the world. ... In the club there is a notice about the Match Racing and the sponsors have organised a “restored Sydney ferry” to take spectators out on Thursday, to watch the finals from the water! So, we ask if we can go – yes, spaces available – excellent 11. ... 30 am on Thursday – and the ferry has a bar and limited catering facilities – just the job! 1st September 2009 Officially the first day of Spring here in Oz – so we rise early and head off to visit the Sydney Fish Market. ... 50 it is great value – plenty for both of us! The walk home through the CBD is fine and only marginally longer than the Train/Tram journey earlier! Wednesday 2nd September 2009 So, another sunny spring morning, though a little hazy – is it smoke on the water? – Cue music from ………? There’s Horse Racing on at Sydney’s main racecourse today – and it’s free to enter. ...

Aug 30, 2009 - 2 months flown by

So that match unfortunately counts as a draw! This week we played at a club called Killara in Northern Sydney. ... I had the train across the Harbour Bridge which isn't too bad I guess! The view looking back at the city and the opera house is fantastic, and just doesn't get old! North Sydney is pretty upper class, and we had to wear all whites to play at this club! Unfortunately we lost this match, but it was still really fun to be back out on the court again. ... It's going to take a few weeks for us to let it go too! We were given some free tickets to see Sydney FC play against Wellington in the city tonight, so Tom and I headed over this afternoon. ... The football is probably the standard of our league one, but Sydney scored a couple ...

Aug 23, 2009 - Only 5.5 work days

Super excited that I only have the rest of today (the 0.Super excited that I only have the rest of today (the 0....

Aug 22, 2009 - South to Sydney

South to Sydney 9/8/9 Sunday We load the camper and are about to leave when the cleaners arrive – good job we are on the ball – cause they need our parking spot! Now, the first camper we had was a fairly new one and had reasonable storage space, but as we load the present one we realise it’s not as new and has CRAP storage! It also rattles like an old banger! So, we swear a bit and call the office in Brisbane to see if we can do a swap – but there’s no reply. ... So we head off to the Pacific Coast highway and then have a nice picnic lunch at the strange village of Brookyln – it seems like a little place in New England - but is just off the main Sydney road – but has a little harbour and a couple of dinky seafood restaurants. ... However!! – In Sydney (and recently introduced in Brisbane) – many toll roads have absolutely no lanes where you can drive through and pay by cash or card – you have to have an e-tag! Now – I can understand that e-tagging is great for locals and speeds up traffic flow – but what do visitors do? If you don’t have an e-tag, you have to phone or email afterwards and arrange to pay – at a greater cost. ... Thursday 20th August We awake to a cloudy morning and chilly – Now, folks, this is the first time in ages we have had a cold morning – and we are not pleased! Still, we have to go to town and try and find an apartment to rent from 2 days time! Now again – Sydney has a complicated transport system – which does not seem to be as integrated – or as easy to use - or as cheap as Brisbane! So, we have to purchase separate tickets to get to town – and as such it takes ages on the bus with the fare having to be paid (there are Pre Pay tickets but you need to know well in advance the distance you want to travel – fine if you use the same route every day – but CRAP for tourists!) Any how, we make it into town and to the Potts Point area – where we have selected a place to stay through the wotif. ... Mostly between $100 and $175 per night – not the $450 a week we had in Brisbane! However, we select a nice apartment with good East and North views over the harbour for a two week rent, starting on Saturday! Then it’s off for lunch on the wharf – yes, the Woolloomooloo one – and no, that’s not a misspelling! It’s perhaps the only place in the world that has 8 o’s! On the wharf there are several restaurants overlooking the water and we select the Spanish one – Oysters and Gazpacho for starters, then a shared Paella for the main and a nice chilled white wine – ah, bliss! Friday 21st August The sun shines on Botany Bay this morning as Neil goes for a run along the cycle track – though the ambiance is spoiled a little by the constant noise from the Sydney airport just across the bay. ...

Aug 17, 2009 - 10 more work days

Almost there! Only 10 more work days until I am off on my very long winded trip to get to New York.Almost there! Only 10 more work days until I am off on my very long winded trip to get to New York....

Aug 16, 2009 - Back on the court!

Same old story during the week- We rocked the touch footy again, winning 10-0 (it doesn't matter that they only had 5 players)! We've had a lot on at work.Same old story during the week- We rocked the touch footy again, winning 10-0 (it doesn't matter that they only had 5 players)! We've had a lot on at work....

Aug 8, 2009 - Weekend in the City

This week I found out that there's a place for me on a Sydney Uni tennis team in a tournament which starts in a couple of weeks. ... Unfortunately Lindsay left Sydney on Friday, so I've been looking for another hitting partner. ... But I've got in contact with one of the Sydney Uni tennis girls, so hopefully I can get a few more sessions in before our first match. ...

Aug 6, 2009 - Sydney

I had a terrific week in Sydney, where I met some lovely people (you know who you are). ... Sydney was lovely, the beaches were beautiful and the people very friendly. ... I know I am becoming an old grumpy man! The best thing in Sydney was the view of the city from the top of "not sure where" at Sunset! It was so beautiful and breathtaking (Thank you Gordon for taking me up there). ...

Aug 3, 2009 - Windridge reunion week!

##photo=The Windridge Clan in Darling Harbour!## This week was all about reminiscing about last summer, however I will start from the beginning. This week another Windridge counselor, Leigh, was in Sydney. ... He's been travelling around for the last few months.##photo=The Windridge Clan in Darling Harbour!## This week was all about reminiscing about last summer, however I will start from the beginning. This week another Windridge counselor, Leigh, was in Sydney. ... He's been travelling around for the last few months....

Jul 26, 2009 - My 3rd week

I can't believe I've been hear almost 4 weeks.I can't believe I've been hear almost 4 weeks....

Jul 24, 2009 - And so to Oz

Friday 26 July Arr Sydney on time, ie 0630. ... Even though our Melbourne flight was coach class, we managed to persuade the nice Virgin ladies to let us sit around in the business lounge, altho Sydney airport is v nice and it wouldn’t have been a great trial to sit anywhere. ... The only hitch after this was the cancellation of our flight to Melbourne for technical reasons but fortunately there are hourly flights so it was no big deal.Friday 26 July Arr Sydney on time, ie 0630. ... Even though our Melbourne flight was coach class, we managed to persuade the nice Virgin ladies to let us sit around in the business lounge, altho Sydney airport is v nice and it wouldn’t have been a great trial to sit anywhere. ... The only hitch after this was the cancellation of our flight to Melbourne for technical reasons but fortunately there are hourly flights so it was no big deal....