Australia 2017 - Day 10 - 4th March

Day 10

Its a miserable wet morning here in Sydney.  It's been raining all night and it still is. The surfers down at Manly will be the only ones pleased with this.

Sydney today

After a leisurely start to the day Justin and I went to a house auction at 30 Rabbett Street, just over the road from Adams Street,  It is a single story, 3 bed, 2 bath house with a nice garden. No garage but a two vehicle car port. It is very well kept but all the fittings are dated and were not of the highest quality when originally installed.

I was amazed at the way they do things here, the auction was to be held in the house itself and it was crawling with people. It was rammed.

Despite all of these people present, only two were actually bidding on the house and the bidding astonishingly started at AUD1.65million.  It grew in small increments with the Auctioneer doing his best to interest other bidders until he finally brought the hammer down on a winning bid of AUD1.81million. That is around £1.15 million in sterling.

The lady in the grey jumper has just bought a house for £1.15 million

After lunch Justin and I went down to Manley to see the Australian Surfing Championships coming to a conclusion and we were hoping to see some exciting competition.  On our way through to the surf area we came across a sort of Fitness Competition with competitors competing in teams against one another.  Some impressive participants

We moved on to the surfing area and were in time to see the final competitors in the ladies Championship quarter finals

These two competitors were just finishing their routines when we arrived, and the crowd were gathering in the marquees and wherever they could find space to watch.

Nikki Van Dijk of Australia lost out in the last 16

Pauline Aldo of France now progresses to the last 16

In the last heat, Tatiana Weston Webb from Hawaii overcame the challenge of Isabella Nichols of Australia to reach the quarter final stage.

Isabella Nichols

Tatiana Weston Webb

When this was over, feeling rather wet, we went over to the New Brighton Hotel for a drink before returning home

Australia 2017 - Day 9 - 3rd March

Day 3

Amy starts her new job as People and Culture Manager for Northern Beaches Council on Monday 13th and she had some information that needed to be dropped off at her new place of work so we went down to Dee Why for breakfast before she delivered them.

Dee Why, where Amy will be working soon

We parked the car and walked along the front to the restaurants. It was a glorious morning and there were people in the water early.

We decided to go to the On Shore for breakfast, I have been there many times but it was a first for Amy. It is ideally situated on the front, facing the sea.  A lovely place to sit and eat

As usual in this place the food was excellent. I think Amy was really impressed both with the food and the place itself,

After breakfast we walked up to the council offices and I went for a stroll in the town centre while Amy did what she needed to do.

Council Offices

Later in the afternoon we went up to the French's Forest school to see Cerys go on stage to receive her Silver award at the weekly Assembly. To win a silver award the children need to gain four Blue awards. To win a blue award they need to attain 10 PBs (Personal best). So 40 PBs have to be gained to win a Silver,

One girl was to receive a Gold award which is presented once four silvers have been achieved.  That means this girl had achieved 160 PBs.  Now there's a target to aim for.

Australia 2017 - Day 8 - 2nd March

Day 8

Went with Justin this morning to drop the kids off at school.  Then I returned home with the car because I intended to do some exploring later on.

First off though, I was going to do a bit of baking because Amy says she loves the cheese, potato and onion pasties she used to get at home.  Little did she know though, I never made any of them, they were all made by Joanie.  I did pay attention though and last time I was over here I made some and they seemed to go down well so I thought I would try again.

They turned out really good.  even if I do say so myself, as did the tub of cheese straws that I made as well.

Nice Pasties

How about that for a tub of cheese straws

When ready, I took the car and drove around to the other side of the reserve to see what it was like.  It was strange, there were luxury houses skirting this dense, forbidding, bush which both bid you in but warned you not to enter.

Just as it was when I went to Dee Why lagoon last year, it is a project of the Warringah Council to 'Restore the native vegetation and create habitat for our local wildlife'

As I drove around some of the areas seemed more accessible and dare I say, pleasant and welcoming but I still did not venture far inside dressed only in shorts and tee shirt.

It was strange to see as I drove around. The Reserve was flanked on some sides by magnificent houses like these. I suppose they have the best of both worlds, luxury houses and a wild outlook, I wonder who owns them?

As I turned another corner I saw the new hospital building towering over the hillside a few miles away and decided I should head back home. i did not want to be late meeting Amy to pick the kids up from school.

Australia 2017 - Day 7 - 1st March

Day 7

Happy St David's Day

March 1st. The day we celebrate the Patron Saint of Wales, St. David.

Caught a train today from Chatswood to Wynyard in the city aiming to visit Barangaroo, the new district off Darling Harbour.  It is a new area consisting of shops, restaurants and harbour side walks below new skyscraper office buildings.

Wynyard Station

There has been a lot of work done here upgrading stairs and escalators and a lot has changed since I was here last year

Some of the improvements

A large part of the imptovemens meant the building of a tunnel passing under Clarence Street and Kent Street, emerging in the new Bangaroo district starting in Sussex Street at the Sussex Hotel.

After you pass through the tunnel you emerge here

This is the start of Barangaroo, although not finished it is already looking quite stunning. The following images will give you an Idea of what they are building here.

After wandering around this area for a while I moved on down to the waterfront and headed for Nick's Bar and Grill for lunch.

I chose for lunch half a dozen Sydney Rock Oysters followed by Barramundi with mash. Accompanied by a couple of glasses of Hunter Valley Semillon.  I spoil myself.

After lunch I went over to see the guys working on the water near the new development. they were moving steels with a floating crane and there were divers on hand should they be needed.

I was shocked when I got home later that evening to hear on the news that a 30 year old man had been killed working here shortly after I left.  He was struck by steel work being moved by the crane.