Jim's in town

Jim was heading back to England, so it would've been rude not to make one more trip to Sydney. And we all know it's a finer city than Melbourne.

The car was in for its MOT so the first two days were to be around the city. Matter not. First up was the aquarium, home of a few great white sharks, duck-billed platypus (platypae?) and the gugong. The gugong is one of those animals that's endangered for a reason. Big, fat and slow. It's also believed to be the basis for the mermaid myth. Those sailors must have got really desperate at sea to find these beasts were attractive. Anyway, it being half term, we practically swam around the place in a sea of ankle-biters, and even got a photo with the mascot shark. Mental age for the day: 5.

Watching the hellmen in the surf certainly was impressive, and lunch afterwards was inhaled in about 5 seconds.

Next up was a fishing trip. And we discovered catching fish is actually a minor part of the sport. In fact, it's all about sitting in the deck chair with a cold beer and shooting the breeze. The location helps too. We sat under the harbour bridge facing south the city and the opera house. Incredible.

Once the car was fixed it was time for a surf expedition. We headed up to the northern beaches and after deeming Curl Curl too crowded, we plucked for Dee Why. It was huge. Ed (unsuccessfully) pulled into a couple of the 6ft+ monsters, while Jim decided surfing actually made a very good spectator sport. Watching the hellmen in action certainly was impressive, and lunch afterwards was inhaled in about 5 seconds. One of Jim's fins was the only casualty of the day.

Soon it time for Jim to head home, but not before he took his buttock-numbing 3-day train ride to Perth. We went to see him off and, with a mind to doing the trip ourselves someday, were slightly surprised by the spartan carriage and 40 degree maximum tilt on the chair. Ed's still keen, and working on Candice to join him. Watch this space...

So farewell from Oz Jim, it's been fun. And admit it, Sydney is better than Melbourne.