Sydney: Sight Seeing Extraveganza!

I'm wearing the Harbor Bridge as a hat! You like?
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OOOoooooo, was not feeling supersonic on this fine Sunday morn. An early morning swim cured that and hey, when there's kids around you can't help but act a bit silly and have fun.

Libby took me and Susan into town on the train for a  whirlwind tour of the city and luckily the other ladies were feeling a little shakey too so there was a lot of head holding and sighing going on. But you can't visit a Millington and not do the whole hog tourist thing because what you assume will bore them stupid, is what they actually love to do...show off their city with bells on! I wasn't expecting Libby to do any of this...just thought I'd use her place as a base and leave these poor people to get on with their lives whilst I blend into the background. But no...she was absolute hostess with the upmostess and had all the sights planned out day by day.

Mind that skirt in the wind there Susan!...breezy day and a half.
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Sydney on this day was a little windy..in fact we got fairly sandblasted and nearly blown off the Harbour Bridge! Saw away any cobwebs I can tell you! Was hilarious actually, as Susan tried to stop her knickers from showing to all and sundry in her skirt! Oh yeah, and the views were fantastic. Next we did (that's city talk) a sushi lunch which is always good as far as I'm concerned and it's so cheap out here. Then quick pace through a park, passed all the galleries and into the Botanical Gardens which I can highly recommend if you're going that way at any point. Next came the Opera House and wonderful views of the bridge. Did you know that the Opera House's roof is made up of quite large and rather beautiful tiles and not totally smooth as it appears? Great useful info I know, but these are the things that interest me whilst I have no job...you'll be amazed what sticks in your brain!

Nice view eh!
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I really, really enjoyed this day and it was the perfect end when we got home as we all jumped into our jimjams and watched a movie whilst eating munchies. Was like being a real family member in a real home! This is something we all take for granted and I'm sure I will again but isn't it strange that no matter what kind of wonderfulness we're having we all miss the normalities when traveling. Pretty sure this is going down in my book as another correct and best way to spend a Sunday.

The Ladies! Was such a good day and with real mates too!
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Mon 9th Oct

Another early morning swim...ooo so healthy (actually just trying to work off all those cup cakes from Saturday)! Another jam packed day...first stop Jack's school as he wanted to show us, bless him! Then to drop off Gracie at school who wanted to go rather than spend the day at the beach! Dedication! Then....you won't believe this....yes, I went to IKEA. I know, I know this is very sad indeed. Let me explain. Both Susan and Libby are huge fans of the place and Libby had even told her mates I worked for them. When she suggested we have a peek at the store here I confess the curiosity got the better of me and I got quite excited...we all did.

Ahhhhhh...
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So if you want to know the showroom was ok, well maintained and really good tips and ideas but the rooms weren't all that. The markethall was dreadful I have to say. As for Bargain Corner....well I think it's safe to say ours a little better!

Another Sushi lunch was followed by a drive over to Manly Beach which is apparently a bit better than Bondi and yes it was beautiful. This was where we were to meet up with Frazer...Claire's mate from Trailfinders and a guy I'd met a few times when out with her in London town. He was over here for a while visiting his sister and we said it would be nice to meet up for a beer. We walked round the point to.... Shelly Beach...of course!!! and being a little more sheltered from the wind started to feel like I'd actually arrived on a beach holiday. Hurrah!!!

Ahhhhhh...again.
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The girls went back to the burbs as Susan had to fly to the UK that night and it was good they had some quality time before Susan went as I knew this was a traumatic event for all. Living here seems to come at a rather heartrending price! Me and Frazer then got the ferry across the bay and the view was fantastic...got some great shots of the iconic Sydney bits as the sun was going down.

He had to just pop into his sister's place and give her a hand putting her twin babies to bed, so I came up too and found myself wresling a 5month old boy into a babygrow (not the usual backpacker experience! but interesting none the less!). We had a fabulous meal in a Thai restaurant under the bridge and then a few drinks in....eeerrrrmmm...another area of Sydney. I have no idea where to be honest and then went somewhere else...are you getting the picture?

Me and Frazer on the ferry...fab view...very cold!
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We did end up in a club after walking around for a very long time. We only managed to jump the que of this place because we'd walked past about 4 times looking for another place the bouncer had recommended and I think he thought we were a bit special needs. A very good night was had in grand old Syders!

Tues 9th Oct

Spent night on Lindsey's (Frazer's sister) sofa and was ready for but not all that happy with being woken up by the babies. But they were cute I have to tell you...not sure how I'd manage though myself. Fantastic apartment overlooking the city or no, when your partner's away at work all day and you're left on your own with 2 adorable but fairly noisy babies I know I'd go crackers!

Spent the day booking bus tickets, book hunting...one of my fav pastimes and eating lunch in the park with Frazer. Did get my first glimpse of some Aboriginal guys and sadly they were vagrants in the park having some liquid lunch. This is a thing that intrigues me....why did the Maoris manage to integrate well with the Western settlers and live in comparative harmony  while here there is open hostility and huge segregation of the indigenous people? Answers or comments are welcome...I let you know if figure it out.

Back in the  burbs it was an early bed after a lovely home cooked meal had been served by my ever fantastic hostess. It was lovely to have some time to chat to Lib as she is utterly hilarious and has the driest sense of humour. I know she's reading this so...Lib, you make me laugh my socks off which I always admire in a person!