Catching up with friends

The next morning, we decide to try to get into Sydney to meet the sister of my good friend from back home. She is over here at present because her husband is working on a project here and they arrived about a year ago for three months and are still here for at least another three months so only overshot by a year, not bad! In fact it's her fault that Becky and I have come on this trip as when she first came over a year ago, I suggested to my friend that I pass her sister my cousin's email address just in case she needed to have a contact in Sydney. This resulted in Sue and her meeting up and getting on reasonably well, so when she came back to the UK for a visit, she came to visit her sister and wanted to thank me for the connection. When we met up, she suggested I come out to visit and I replied that I would not be doing the journey again, ever. However, she planted the seed and when I went home and thought about it, I decided I should make one last trip out to see my Auntie and family as none of us are getting any younger and it's a chance to catch up on some family history.

Before coming out, my friend and I had discussed the coincidence of being in Australia at the same time and actually thought we would be in Sydney at the same time, which didn't work out, so we're here the week before they arrive! Sue had been in touch and had arranged to meet my friend's sister and we were going to meet up yesterday, but she has her son over at the moment so they made the most of the nice weather yesterday to get a beach day in. Today, it looks like there's a small window of opportunity and it would be a shame to come all this way and not see her so, after Sue's spoken on the phone with her, we get moving so we can get a fairly early bus and meet at about 11 at Darling Harbour, the other side of the bridge to the area we were in yesterday. Becky is barely out of the shower when we give her the good news of our imminent departure and she isn't impressed. As we walk to the bus stop she drags her feet like a stubborn five year old, in fact the stubborn five year old she used to be (up until about last year!)

It isn't such a nice day and by the time we've walked down to Darling Harbour, it is decidedly grey and could even rain! We meet up with hugs all round and her husband joins us for a short while (he goes off to do some shopping and leaves us ladies to it) so we start walking around the harbour, which is quite a long walk, and get about half way when Becky's need for coffee becomes apparent as her tongue is hanging out by this stage. We have coffees and a nice catch up and her husband soon rejoins us. We're conscious that they want to get back to their son but they decide to have lunch so we join them and even Phil comes and joins us from his work, which is only about ten minutes away. It's a really nice lunch with lovely company and we even get to meet their son as well, plus, we're sat under cover and miss the quick shower whilst lunching and when it's time for us all to move on, we say our farewells and Sue, Phil, Becky and I can't resist the Lindt Chocolate Shop and accidentally make a few purchases, more gifts for our hosts and family than for ourselves, tempting as it is!

Although it's still grey and overcast, we get the bus and head back to Sue's car (as previously mentioned, don't walk if you can drive) which is parked just up the road from their house and just around the corner from the bus stop! I have some gifts to send back to the UK for my little granddaughters and we drive to the Post Office (about 200 yards), managing to park on the road outside and get the items posted off, costing more to post again than the items cost in the first place!

We pop back to the house to gather ourselves and, before long, Sue suggests a ride out to Bradley's Head for a walk. I think we both could probably have just sat with our feet up but we get going and drive through the Sydney traffic through an area called Mosman, an area on the lower North Shore, which developed originally as a Whaling Community, but doesn't look like that now, and then go quickly from very built-up to very rural and arrive at the area known as Bradley's Head. We drive right through to the end of the road and park, where there are two huge white wedding cars sat in the car park and as we emerge from the car we see a Wedding Party down on the bit of Headland having some lovely photos taken with the Sydney Harbour, Bridge and Opera House in the far distance - how lovely!



It is a really pleasant walk along the boardwalk which leads to a small and secluded beach, the weather is brightening up and as we turn to return to the car, Sue let's out a huge scream and we all jump, thinking we're going to have to run for our lives, but it turns out to be one of those Australian spiders, in a web across the path, and it was all of half a centimetre in size and probably no different to the ones we walk into when walking the dog in the morning back home - scare over!


Back at the car park, there is a memorial to the HMAS Sydney in the form of a huge Mast which in the year 2000 was re-dedicated to all Australian ships and sailors lost in conflict. Probably of more note, this area was used in some scenes for Mission Impossible II, in fact the area where they had been taking wedding photos earlier! There is a Lighthouse still in use and as I take a photo, I notice the signpost for 'Chowder Head' and that reminds me of The Simpsons and makes my day!

Heading back through the Sydney suburbs, it is surprising how busy it is but all keeps moving and we're back home again before long. Phil has beaten us home and prepared tea, oh no he hasn't, so we decide to have a Chinese take away which suits us fine! After a catchup with my Son back home, we watch the film Flight which was very enjoyable but once again, we could do without flight disasters being brought to our attention, thanks!