Good night's sleep bed very comfy. Tea and banana for breakfast before leaving at 8.30 to walk to Circular Quay to pick up hopon hopoff ferry, weather is hot already.
Caught ferry at 9.45, it was full fo Japanese tourists- just as you line up a photo they stand in front of you to take a photo of themselves. there is a man on the ferry giving a running commentary of the sights as we pass, as you come away from the dock you have the Harbour Bridge on the left and the Opera House on the right.
The Opera House didn't seem as impressive as thought it would be, the first stop was to Fort Denison where half a dozen got off then onto Taronga Zoo, the Japanese got off so we stayed on. we passed some very expensive boats and property overlooking the harbour (costing millions), we got off the ferry at Watsons bay, which looks very nice with a small beach. we walked up to the lookout overlooking Gulf Bay, you can see the harbour on one side and the Pacific the other
(when the sydney to hobart race starts in January people gather at the lookout to watch the boats). as we had brought our cossies we went to the beach, had to buy suntan lotion as can't find mine. Went for a paddle but water a bit cold, boats come right up to the beach and moor, we saw families arrivingby boat rather than car. Went in for another dip and this time got to have a swim even though not that warm.
Had and ice-cream before catching ferry back, we passed some racing yachts veryimpressive seeing the crew hanging over the edge,
there was also an sailing vessel near the Bridge. we could see people walking on top of the Bridge,
whilst near the bridge the sky got very dark and there was a streak of lightening, it seems if weather is unusually hot the day can end it a storm,then passed Luna Park (funfair)
on way to Darling Harbour. We saw several military ships and a submarine moored outside the Maritime Museum.
Lovely trip and day out.
strolled around Darling Harbour then walked back via Woolies and bought a whole cooked hot chicken for $6 and salad for dinner tonight-it was delicious.
7 November Monday
Good nights sleep after all fresh air yesterday, slow start with breakfast of cinammon doughnuts and tea. Waited till reasonalbe time and rang Karen and had a good chat, Craig started the lightweight at weekend and it is running better and had a good bonfire party at Pam and fred's.she'd been shopping with robyn and was going to help her at a jewellery party she was having later in the week. Next was Emma and Ricky, Ricky passed his forklift test and now looking for work using his licence-Colin said he sounded upbeat, I spoke to Emma and her health appears to be stable at the moment and the kids are doing great-they helped paint their rooms at the weekend!! Natalie told Colin she hasn't smoked for a months which is great news (colin told her can't afford to smoke inOz( tobacco for him costs over $21 for only 30grams)and she is moving into a new flat soone.
Nice to hear everything ok at home.
rang Jason he will check and ring back.
Walked to bank and updated phone number on account then onto Road transport authority to sort out an ETAG for the toll roads, basically we have to show proof of address, id, bank statements, the firl gave us a couple of leaflets and told us to look on the website-not very helpful, bacak at room decided to go for EPASS, which you can do online. eventually found the post office (very well hidden) and sent parcel to UK to Emma for her to distribute an few mementos and christmas cards. Stopped at McDs for toasted sandwich, they are so healthy over here.
Rang Jason again and have to tring tomorrow so keeping finger crossed. booked room for another night and did some housewifely things (washing clothes).
we think we have found work for Freddie in Oz, right outside our room there is a major building going up with lots of scaffolding
and they seem to end work at 3pm, (this is also the view from our room,mmm nice).
it is still hot, this evening had thunder and rain.
8 November Tuesday
It is hot waking up this morning very humid, watching TV they have humidity of 100% in Melbourne. Went and sat in park for a while
but soooo hot, spoke to Jason he is just waiting for documents to come through so paid invoice by credit car dwith him. Walked to Kings Cross carmarket and sorted out 3rd party vehicle insurance cover ($450 for both of us) but no excess to pay. Bloke was very helpful and told us how to avoid the toll roads in Sydney so don't have to get EPass, he told us how to get to NMRA (don't know what it stands for) to sort out insurance in case we hit a person-CTP, was dealt with by a very helpful man and we don't need the CTP in NSW as we have a Carnet (great saved money). Whilst there Jaaon rang and now a problem with customs they are concerned some of the spare parts are under a year old!
Picked up cold meat, coleslaw and fruit salad for dinner from Woolies again.
Checked emails and we have another invoice showing GST (goods service tax) when spoke to Jason it was for tobacco Colin had in vehicle, he now has quarantine release documents but is waiting for customs hopefully be ready tomorrow.
Booked room for another night but we have to change rooms.
It has been hot with humidity levels of 80% today, at 5.30pm the sky went black , thunder. lightening and torrential rain, hopefully will clear the air a bit.
9 November Wednesday
slept like a log seemed a bit cooler this morning, forecast 30 degrees.
Able to put luggage in room 104 before we went out, they are very accommodating.
On Marion's advice we went to the chinese garden ($11 each including tea and scones). Can't describe how lovely it is, tranquil. There are waterfalls,
secret areas,
we saw ibis, ducks, koi carp,turtle and several different lizards, even caught a pair having a spat.
Don't even think photos can do it justice.
when we went for tea I chose tea and scone and Colin had jasmine tea and dim sum, which he said was delicous.
Wandered up to Cockle bay wharf and just sat in the shade-it's got very humid again then strolled back to Paddy's Market before back to our new room to cool down. Colin bagged the top bunk.
PHONE CALL FROM JASON- WE ARE GO YIPPEE.
We are going out for dinner, it cost $50 but we deserved it. It has cooled down quite a lot but we had fan on all night.
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