Australia 2017 - Day 6 - 28th February

Day 6

A quiet day today around French's Forest, the area of Northern Beaches where Amy & Justin live. At present it is a quiet suburb which is about to grow into another Chatswood with the building of the new Northern Beaches Hospital about a mile away from the house.

The house is right next door to the Jindabyne Reservve, a habitat for indigenous flora and fauna

Inside the Reserve

Their house is just on the Adams Street entry into the reserve.  It is a narrow entry into a reserve covering a vast area.

The house & front garden

On the edge of the reserve

Looking over to the house and reserve from Rabbett Street

The entrance to the Reserve

The Northern Beaches Hospital is the first major investment in public health infrastructure on the Northern Beaches for decades, and a long-held ambition for the local community.

The Hospital in Frenchs Forest is coming out of the ground fast.  Just 14 months on from the start of construction and the builders have already started pouring level 8 of the nine-storey hospital.

Waterproofing is underway and services and internal walls have begun to go into the 488-bed hospital, which will provide services to public and private patients.

Work well underway

An artist impression of the finished hospital and surrounds

During the day I had reason to go to the French's Forest Public School; the primary school that Cerys attends. Amy had asked me to deliver an envelope to the school office and I enjoyed my walk around the school and spoke to Mrs Larson, one of the teachers.  I also bumped into Cerys while I was there

Later on I was intrigued to see a wild turkey cross the road in front of our hoise while the cockatoos in the tree alongside made a tremendous racket.

Wild Turkeys

Too many Cockatoos

Australia 2017 - Day 5 - 27th February

Day 5

Can't get my sleep patterns right yet so was up early with the rest of the family.  Saw the kids off to school with Justin and had breakfast while deciding what to do for the day.  The weather forecast was bad but it seemed fine enough outside at the moment.

Cerys on her way to School - That back pack is as big as her!!

So I decided that I would go into the city to see if the Queen Mary 2 was still at berth in Circular Quay.

It was not of course but in its place the Carnival Spirit had arrived. Another very big ship, well worth a look.

I may have mentioned previously how much I love this place with all its hustle and bustle.  the Aborigine music that is always there to accompany you as you stroll around, the constant coming and going of the Harbour ferries, the trains arriving and departing above our heads and the constant flow of people on their way to catch a ferry, or visit the Opera House.  Then there are those views of the Harbour Bridge with countless picture opportunities. Or is it to call in at one of the many harbour side restaurants. All this going on below the magnificent city skyline.

They come by ferry....

Or by train.

Some come to chat

Others to relax in the sun

They always find time to eat

Bridge views they never tire of

And the city is right behind

Talking of places to eat, I could not come down here without calling in to Buckleys could I?  This time it was for a couple of schooners of Chancer ale and some Lobster sliders with Flying Fish eggs. One word - delicious.

Always welcoming

Sliders with Chancer Ale

Feeling well fed I decided to return to the house by my favourite method, the Manly ferry.  This time it was the Collaroy.

The Collaroy

When I arrived at the Manly ferry terminal I quickly caught a bus to French's Forest but unfortunately after that lunch I fell asleep and missed my stop.  I had to go on to Chatswood and catch another bus back.

Australia 2017 - Day 4 - 26th February

Day 4

This day started at 30 minutes after midnight when Justin, Iolo and I arrived at the Star Casino full of expectation for the match.  After all, Wales can always beat Scotland at rugby.  Can't they?

I did not feel at all tired after the long flight followed by this long first day in Sydney and soon got into the Buzz in the sports lounge which was filling up with lots of spectators of all sports but importantly Welsh and Scottish rugby supporters.

The bar in the sports lounge

Unfortunately, our expectations were dashed.  First half OK, second half not.  Scotland fully deserved their win and actually won the second half 20 - 0.  The dejection on the Welsh players faces at the end was palpable and transmitted itself to the supporters watching here.

We stayed a little longer drinking, talking and trying to watch other matches but eventually gave in and went home.  After dropping Iollo off at his apartment in Mosman we got in around 5.00 am and I went straight to bed and straight to sleep.

I eventually awoke at around 1.30 pm and had missed the morning completely. I got up and went into the lounge where the family were eating their lunch.  I was not hungry at all so jumped into the shower and got ready to go out with Amy and Cerys.  I had forgotten to pack my prescription sunglasses and could not last 10 weeks over here without them so Amy had suggested we go to Warringah Mall where there was a Specsavers.

When I was ready we set off in the car and it only took about half an hour to get there.  It looked so different from when I was here last year.  So much remodelling and new build had been done.

Part of the Food Hall at the M

We soon found Specsavers and I made an appointment for an eye test but had to wait 2 hours for it so we had a look around the Mall and bought a few things.  We also had a McDonald's before returning to Specsavers for the eye test.

Specsavers at Warringah Mall

I picked my frames and then had to part with $370 and will have to wait two weeks to receive them. By this time the Mall shops were closing as it is Sunday so we returned to the car and went back home.

We then had a nice Sunday dinner that Justin had started and Amy finished.  Then we settled down for a quiet Sunday evening at home.

Australia 2017 - Day 3 - 25th February

Day 3

After a long flight I finally arrived in Sydney at 6.15 this morning.  There was a short wait for my luggage then I had a very quick passage through security, where my cases were subjected to a very thorough 'sniffing over' by one of those amazing dogs they use at the airport.

When I emerged into the arrivals lounge, I saw Amy and Cerys waiting there for me.

A nice welcome

After a coffee at the airport I sorted my phone out for the duration of my stay in Australia and we headed out to the car which Amy had parked in an open air car park, so we braved the elements and loaded the car up and set off for French's Forest,  Unfortunately after Amy had left the car park she took a wrong turn and we found ourselves back in the car park!! 

No problem at second attempt to leave and we were soon on the road into the city and before I knew it we were crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

As we were driving around circular quay we had a great view of the Queen Mary 2 at berth. Unfortunately I did not get a photograph but I will try in the next couple of days if it is staying for any length of time.

Before long we arrived at Amy & Justin's home and after unloading, and unpacking I was ready for the bacon sandwiches that Justin made for breakfast.

Feeling somewhat knackered I had a couple of hours sleep in my room followed by a most welcome shower.  We then all got ready to head down to Manly for the 'Australian Open of Surfing'

it was as if Storm Doris had followed me to the other side of the world.  The weather was atrocious and what spectators that were there were sheltering in the pubs.

Amy sheltering from the rain

But Justin, Cerys and Dylan were braving it

There were competitions on, but nobody watching them except for in the sponsered tents

There were some there who didn't seem to get the hang of how to do it though,,,,,,,,,,,,

I think she would do much better in the water

At least the Hawaiian girls brightened the day

Soaked through we decided to call it a day and headed for the New Brighton Hotel for food and drink.  We had tried the Steyne first because it was nearer to where we were getting soaked, but it was absolutely rammed so we moved on to the New Brighton.

The First floor bar of the New Brighton Hotel

Its a real favourite of mine and we were glad we had moved on.  Once again the food was great and I was able to have the first crispy skinned Baramundi of my trip. Delicious.  I only found out today that it is also called the Asian Sea Bass.

After we had finished eating we ventured outside again and it had stopped raining  so we strolled along Wentworth Street, which links the Manly ferry terminal and its small nearby harbour beach, with the world famous ocean beach at the other end of the street.

The arrow in the photograph below indicates Wentworth Street.  To the right is Sydney harbour and the ferry terminal, to the left is Manly beach and the Tasman Sea.  Top right hand corner you can see the entrance to Sydney harbour which Captain Cook missed during his first voyage of discovery down here. It is flanked by North Head to the left and South Head to the right.

Manly

The Sydney Heads (also simply known as the Heads) form the two-kilometre-wide entrance to Sydney Harbour. North Head and Quarantine Head are to the north; South Head and Dunbar Head are to the south; and Middle Head, Georges Head, and Chowder Head are to the west and within the harbour.

The Hornby Lighthouse is located on South Head and is Australia's third-oldest lighthouse. MacQuarie Lighthouse, Australia's first lighthouse, is three kilometres to the south on Dunbar Head.

After Manly, we headed back home for a few hours rest before Justin and I headed off to The Star at midnight to watch the Scotland v Wales match on the big screen in the Casino Sports bar.

The Star Casino

What a first day in Australia.  Don't know what I'll feel like in the morning!!