Hi folks

For a change, I thought I’d write instead of Lizzie.  

You may remember we bought a return ticket to Sydney before we left Holland.  This was because in theory we needed an exit ticket when arriving in NZ on a tourist visa but obviously we did not want to buy one to UK as we had no idea when it would be.   Because we did not know where we’d be living, we bought a ticket from Christchurch and subsequently bought another connecting ticket from Wellington.  We thought it would be nice to see a bit more of ChCh so on the outward journey we were travelling on Thursday with a night’s stay in a hotel. We had plans to go to the Antarctic centre there.

We were ready early and Mark had agreed to drive us to the airport so we got there with bags of time to spare and two hours before our noon flight we were all checked in and pleased to see that the flight was showing on time.   It was a bit foggy when we got there but things got steadily worse and after delays showing, eventually the flight was cancelled.  Because a few of the flights before had also been cancelled it was a long wait, but eventually we made it to the counter.  We were offered a choice:  fly to ChCh in the evening or fly direct to Sydney at 6:30 the next morning.  We didn’t fancy getting up at the crack of dawn, so we asked that in the event of a further cancellation could we still take the Sydney flight if we opted for the evening one.  They told us no problem they’d make a note against the booking. (We later found out that were a lot of problems at the airport that day, including 4 planes breaking down; though no one bothered to explain any of it to us).

After returning home for 3 hours, we made our way back.  Fog was still bad and we expected the worst.  This time we were already at the head of the queue when the announcement was made and we quickly got to the counter.  They told us that because the afternoon Sydney flight had been cancelled, the next morning one was full. We’d have to take the Friday afternoon one!   No note could be found against our booking and there was nothing we could do.  They did pay for the return taxi trip and so once again we went home.  Lizzie was not a happy bunny (as you can imagine) but I took her out for a nice steak and some wine soon improved our spirits.

The next day we eventually took off (after another hour delay) some 28 hours after our original flight time.  On landing in Sydney, it was raining cats and dogs and we could hardly see where we were going, but somehow we found our way to Michy (pronounce Mike-ee) and Paul’s place in Cabarita in the swish Concord suburb of western Sydney.  It had not been a great start to our trip, however, things got way better from this moment.  It was perhaps one the most memorable trips we’ve ever made.

After welcoming us with some fizz we were soon chatting and having a great time with our hosts.  Lizzie worked with Michy in Amsterdam some 20 years ago and last visited her in Sydney a few years back (11).  But of course no one can ever forget Lizzie, and of course she has kept in touch over the years.  I could soon see why as we were very warmly welcomed.

We had a Thai meal and went for a little walk into the grounds of their lovely apartment (view from back here) and then out along the harbour where their little (well 48 foot) yacht is moored.   It was soon bedtime and when we woke the sun was out and it was a beautiful day.   Paul had agreed to help his son with his house and so we went out in Michy’s open topped sport’s car down to Bondi beach.  Here’s a picture taken when we got there.  We went for a swim in a natural rock pool and had a nice walk along the sea front before driving back to Concord.  We stopped for a bit of shopping and a coffee and Lizzie discovered a dress shop and we did a browse.   After making a nice dent in my credit card, we departed with two new skirts and a top!  Michy had also found a lovely dress but couldn’t make her mind up about it (she did buy it the following week though).

When we got back, I spent a little time sorting out some problems with Michy’s computer and then Paul was back and we were off out for the evening to Darling harbour.  We didn’t have the camera, but I found this picture on the internet.  What a place it is!  There are countless bars and restaurants here and it is just throbbing with life.  The buzz was fantastic.  We met up with a few of Michy and Paul’s friends and had a nice meal and a few drinks. 

It was quite late by the time we got back and we were more than ready for bed.

The next day, Michy’s mum, who’s called ‘Moon’ (for some reason) as she doesn’t like here real name joined us.  Although in her seventies she’s quite a sprightly woman and quite petite like Michy (pic above shows them both).  Taking our picnic and lots of booze in a wheelbarrow we headed through the gardens and down to the yacht.  There was virtually no wind that day (not like Wellington!) so Paul announced we’d be motoring around.  It was a fantastic day and we smothered ourselves in factor 50 cream as we headed out towards the harbour bridge and the opera house.   It’s really something to see Sydney from the water and we’ll not forget the experience, I can tell you.

After sailing through the harbour, we moored up at Quarantine point (where the convicts were brought on arrival) alongside some billions of dollars worth of boats.  You can only get to the beach there by water so it’s quite an exclusive place but speedboats regularly drop by with ice creams and coffee!   We had a swim to the beach and when we got back Paul’s brother and his family arrived on their boat and came aboard for lunch and a few drinks.  It was a shame to leave but once the sun goes down it does start to get a little chillier and so we motored back a couple of hours later.

On Monday morning, Paul and Michy were off to work so we left their place and headed north on the freeway towards Newcastle and the Hunter valley (wine region) heading for Ruth and Jeremy’s place.  Lizzie knows Ruth through friends from University and Ruth has stayed in Amsterdam in the past.  Jeremy is a renowned immunologist and they are both remarkable people.  They have a young daughter, Bronte, who’s obviously going to follow in the family tradition.  With Ruthie’s directions we had no problem finding the place but the windy un-tarred road along which we drove over a mile to get to their lovely home was quite a strain on the hire car’s suspension not to mention my bones. 

Ruth had told us we’d see 8 acres of lawn as we arrived and it was quite a sight.  Here’s the view taken as we drove in through the gate.  You can just make out the house among the trees.  The house is large with two annexes.  One by the swimming pool (Ruth called it the folly) has been claimed by Bronte; the other is the guest house where we stayed.  We had our own kitchen, bathroom and living room as well as a bedroom.  It was truly a home from home.

After chatting for a while over a cup of tea it was off to collect Bronte (pic above) from school.  Just down the road said Ruth as we roared off a great speed down the dirt track!   After a half hour drive or so (!) we arrived at Bronte’s school and took her to her horse riding lesson.   On the way we spotted two wallabies in a field.  They just looked at us warily and then hopped off!   We went to the nearby town at Kurri Kurri and visited Ruth’s friend (and gardener) who was celebrating her birthday.  After drinking quite a lot of bubbly, off we went again and picked up Bronte.  Ruth doesn’t like slow so being the nervous passenger that I am, it was quite scary, but we got safely back to Ruth’s in time for Jeremy’s return from work.   Over dinner we all got to know each other better, helped no doubt by the consumption of large amounts of champagne and red wine.

 The next day, Ruth had to meet up with Jeremy and their accountant for lunch so we went with her and looked around Newcastle.  It was amazing to see all the signs with familiar place names.  Obviously people arriving had wanted reminders of home and Newcastle is a mining and shipbuilding town just like the one back home.  My mum (at least) would recognise such places as Wallsend, Jesmond, Lambton and Gateshead (not to mention Cardiff, Swansea and Stockton which seemed to have been relocated a little).We had a lovely lunch (with more champagne) and headed back along the freeway.  Ruth cooked us a lovely roast and (after Jeremy’s return) we were joined by their friends Mike and Mandy.   We had a great evening (picture shows Ruth and Jeremy) and afterwards we looked up at the stars which were pretty amazing since there is no light from anywhere once everyone goes to bed.

The next day, Lizzie woke me up to see three wallabies hopping around the gardens.   They are very much in the country and have peacocks as well as many parrots around all the time.  At night, the sound of frogs is almost deafening and the weather was amazing (30 degrees in the day and around 20 at night).

Mandy joined us on our trip to the Hunter Valley and we consumed quite a few different wines together with a bottle of bubbly for lunch.   Ruthie demonstrated her car’s satellite navigation and we had the car telling us where to go (yes it has a voice that’s says ‘next left’ and so one!).   It was another very lovely day but unfortunately, our last day with Ruth, Jeremy and Bronte.

After goodbyes, we drove off to the Blue Mountains which is about 110 km to the west of Sydney.  After checking in to the hotel in Katoomba, we went straight to the ‘three sisters’ where there is an amazing view over the valley below (pic). 

The valley floor is 900 metres down from the plateau on which Katoomba stands as there is a train and a cable car to get down there.  It’s a breathtaking view and the picture does not really make you realize just how far down it is to the bottom.  If you look to the gap before the first sister you can just make out the little footbridge and someone standing which helps to get the scale.

Whilst I took some photos, I asked Lizzie to go down to the platform below and she posed for me.  She was wondering why everyone was also taking her photo before she looked down and saw a huge python a couple of feet from her!

We did quite a bit of sightseeing and the next day we took the railway down and the cable car back up after walking about in the bush below.  Luckily there is a raised boardwalk down there as I don’t think either of us would have braved the snakes and spiders that are crawling about in the undergrowth!  The railway was built for a coal mine but as this is now disused it has been turned into a tourist attraction.

After that we hit the road and headed back to Sydney, stopping off to see another ex-colleague of Lizzie’s. As we had been traveling on Ozzie toll roads we had to pay for them, what a farce that was but eventually we succeeded and then went with Paul for lunch. After that we had to brave the best of Sydney’s rush hour (don't know why Lizzie was getting heated as she got in the wrong lane while I was reading my book;   there were only 10 lanes to choose from). We were staying in an apartment which promised a view of the harbour.  And boy did it deliver.  This picture was taken from our balcony (on the 7th floor).  That night we met up with Michy and Paul for a quick drink and went for a meal near the harbour bridge in the oldest part of Sydney called the Rocks.

On Saturday, we visited the market at the ‘Rocks’ after a stroll through the botanical gardens. We saw 60,000 bats hanging upside down from the trees.  We then took the ferry to the zoo on the other side of the bay and Lizzie got to see Koalas, Wombats, Kangaroos and Platypuses, which made her very happy. It was colder than it had been and we had not taken enough warm clothes, thinking it would warm up but it didn’t. They have a sky rail thing which was closed because of the wind.

That night we met up with Daniel (our hairdresser friend from Amsterdam) and his girlfriend.  We experienced the nightlife of Sydney firsthand and had a really great time ending up in a nightclub with three (very crowded) floors.   The next morning we had very sore heads when the taxi arrived to take us to the airport. Australia lost the hour that night and we did know that but unfortunately Dave reset the clock and then reset it back again, so we woke and packed and then realized we were an hour early. Never mind , we sat on the balcony soaking up the view.  Luckily our flights (to ChCh and then on to Welly) went smoothly and we were back in our flat by 5:30 in the evening.

It was a wonderful trip and I certainly think that we will be returning to Australia before we leave the southern hemisphere. 

Lizzie's bit

Can you tell that Dave really loved Australia ?

As for the rest of our news, I am not working again, my job was short and sweet whilst someone was on holiday. So I am back to looking after Dave and trying to find some voluntary work.

Last week we went to our dancing classes twice, as on Saturday we had entered in for a bronze medal. Dave wasn’t nervous of course before, but he was on the day. We were dancing 2 dances (though not together) and in the evening, after eating too much at Dave and Wendy’s house warming, we returned to see how we had done. Our teacher Michael had already told us that he was immensely proud of Dave for doing so well. When the time came, we were both presented with our certificates and we were both highly commended. Oh I was so proud of him, tears were in my eyes. We continue tonight in the intermediate section.

Mark has moved back in this week as on Thursday he is leaving Wellington to go to the South Island. He is first having a holiday with his mates from the hostel and then moving down to Christchurch to buy a car from some poor desperate backpacker on the verge of leaving and therefore picking up a bargain and then heading further south to Queenstown the Adrenaline capital of the world where he hope to get a job in a ski resort and therefore learning to ski. I will miss him but he says that I am lucky to have had 4 months of him.

We have bought an Entertainment book which gives us lots of money off vouchers to sample all the culinary delights of Wellington we will be enjoying more of Wellington has to offer for less dosh, always a good thing. And this weekend we are off again to celebrate Easter in the far north (hopefully warmer than here but no guarantees about that). After that we have no firm plans, so we will be consulting the guide books to see where we will be going next. Fiji beckons and skiing with Mark are but two ideas.  There is still so much to see and do here and of course all the neighbouring bits as well. We really need lots more time here to see it all.

Happy Easter to all. They do chocolate here in a big way as Cadburys have a factory here on the South Island. In fact, the shops are very well stocked for all things slightly English and they even have an English shop (though why people bother as the normal supermarkets sell almost all of it anyway).

Thanks again for all the messages we love reading them so keep ‘em coming.

All our love

Dave & Lizzie