Mum's trip Down Under (Sydney)

Picture 370
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Sydney:  We got to our hostel 'G'day' quite late so hit the sack.  The following day the rain set in so we went to Paddy's markets for more shopping.  Mum was getting the last of her pressies.  Colette, my cousin was in Sydney visiting Dermot, her boyfriend who had just moved to Oz so we met them in Circular Quay and walked around the opera house, before having coffee, with the view of the harbour bridge behind us.  I had arranged a special treat for Mum that night, so we had a quick dinner before dashing back to the hostel to get changed.

From the opera house
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I had treated Mum to a night in the Opera House.  The stage adaptation of Edward Scissorhands was on.  We arrived and ordered our pre-interval drinks, whilst looking at the beautiful view of the harbour bridge.  We took our seats in the opera theatre, which was beautiful inside and very new.  The show was a contemporary dance/ballet with no words.  The story was told through movement and dance which was very powerful.  It was briliant.  We drank our interval glass of wine standing outside, looking at the harbour by night.  It doesn't get much better that that!  Mum loved it which I was happy about as it was part of my birthday present to her which i missed in January.  A night to remember for sure.

we drank our interval drinks, looking at the harbour bridge

In Colloroy
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The following day had been organised by Colette and Dermot, so we caught the ferry to Manly at 10am where we were met by them both.  Dermot had a car so he drove us through all the northern beaches, starting at Colloroy where we walked to the lookout and Dermo got befriended by an old Scottish fella.  The next stop was Newport Beach, where we had lunch and on to Palm Beach, which is the setting for the hit TV show, Home and Away.  There was no filming going on unfortunatley but we had our photo taken outside Summer Bay Lifesaving Club where the proprietator was Alf Stewart!  Haha!  On the way back we stopped at Dee Why, which is Dermo and Colette's potential home.  Last stop was Manly where we had a couple of bevvys before getting the ferry back to the city.

Picture 395
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Bondi Beach was our first stop on Mum's last day in Sydney.  Luckily the sun came out just as we got there which was a bonus.  We caught the bus back to Darling Harbour, where we met Colette for a coffee before saying goodbye to her.  We jumped on the monorail, getting off in the city and had a look in the Victorian Building which was really impressive.  Mum and I stayed to watch this fantastic clock display at 6pm!!!!!!  Can you hear the sarcasm?!!!

We called into Mark and Claire's for a couple of hours to catch up with them before heading to dinner for our last meal out :-(  We went back to the little Italian we ate in a few nights before.  After a night cap in the local pub we hit the sack for the last time in the hostel.

Picture 408
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The following morning we packed and left our bags in Carmel and Niall's flat in Kings Cross, had brekky and then Mum and I headed to the airport.  We wnated to put off 'the moment' for as long as we could!  We had a coffee and a krispy kreme doughnut right in front of the departure gate so we were watching all these people saying goodbye to each other, thinking we had to do that!!!  Then the time came to say goodbye...again!  It had been such a great 3 weeks with Mum, I was dreading saying goodbye again and not having her here.  We were hopeless and couldn't hold it together at all!  Through teary eyes i watched her walk through and kept waving until i couldn't see her anymore.  Then the floodgates opened!  I missed her already.  Just getting the train back to Kings Cross, I was looking for her and whenever i thought of a happy memory...it set me off again!!!!  I was in a right state!  The 3 weeks were so much better than i thought they were going to be but i know Mum loved every second she was here so that was good.  Next time I see you Mum, i'll be home in Wales :-)!