Canberra

Libby and I went off to Canberra, Australia’s youngest city, it is a recent development, especially built to be the Capital. We found a room at a Best Western, single beds of course : P And went off to explore everything the city had to offer. We went to the War memorial, and that itself was a pretty amazing place inside, displays were amazing, we took longer in there than I imagined or had planned for.

Went to Blundells Cottage where I found Libby's missing witches cauldron, unfortunately we arrived too late to get inside and when they saw us in the garden, they promptly closed the curtains..hahaha

We went to the Carillion which is across Lake Burley Griffin, and consists of 53 tuned bronze bells, this was a very peaceful place,

Then to Mt Ainslie and saw the views over the city. Then we went back and went out for a meal, sheesh the plate was huge and I was stuffed, we’d bought stuff for a girlie night in, but we ended up fast asleep with full bellys.
Next morning we woke, and was promptly greeted by the repair men as our toilet kept running water, they came to fix it, but didnt, so Libby once she was dressed called the men back….great!! I was still wrapped in a towel and dripping wet from a shower, so whilst they fixed it, muggins here had to wriggle and dress under the sheets!!



Then we went off and visited the Old Parliament House and the New Parliament House, lots of photo opportunities, even if Libby wouldn’t have her photo taken anywhere near and of OUR royalty …I still don’t understand politics..oh well

Then we did the tour of Embassies, of course we had to find the British one first!! And yes I did my rendition of God save the Queen and Rule Britannia
And of course the USA being true to form had to have the biggest and most secured…
After that we made our way back, about 3- 3and half hours back to Sydney.

Home and Away

Here’s one for mum and a few folks back home.
We went to Summer Bay, well we went there but its actually Palm Beach, Summer Bay doesn’t exist, but they were filming and we got to see Sally and Alf Stewart outside the surf club, I haven’t watched it for years so have no idea of anyone else. But we got to see Sally get run over by Alf Stewart. I rang Emma in Melbourne to tell her and she rang me back..ARGHHHH the phone went ring ring ring when it was all silent after a scene!!

Beyond the Summer Bay filming area was Barrenjoey Lighthouse, and I was told we would be walking to it. Then I was shown exactly where it was... right at the top of a steep cliff (Bugger!!)

and off we went. Up a track that had nothing but huge boulders, but I was told we could come down the easy way, the smugglers walkway here's some views from the top, I was too knackered taking any going up haha. If you look at the trail between the beaches, just beyond that is the surf club on the left, We started off on the trail then moved to the beach on the right and headed to the base of the cliff.

Wow last few days have been so hectic I haven't had time to post. Everything starts early and then at night your just so damn tired you go to bed earlier than in UK. At the moment I'm not sleeping to well anyway, can't seem to switch my problems off, and then when I am asleep...booooooom the traffic outside gets busy and then its 5.30 and the world outside seems to come alive....

Anyway I thought I'd show you more of Sydney, as I've just woke after 3 hours sleep it's 1 am ....so here ya go Sydney Opera House, a beautiful building, lit up at night it's amazing, in the daytime unless the sun is shining on it the sails don't look as white as you see in the pictures in books, the tiles close up are unusual in the way they are formed to catch and reflect the light.

And this is one of my favourites, it's on the Rocks, its a 3 sided monument, of the histroy of the people

1.Convicts 2.Soldiers.3 Settlers I just love the way the light hit this one. Makes it come alive, errie infact.

I did it !! I climbed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday was a weird day, so many mixed emotions. Finally I got to do the one thing I came here to do, and that was to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but to be honest the overwhelming feeling I had was loneliness, I felt very solitary being the only single climber in the group, and it hit me that I had no one with me to share that experience with, like so many times before I was on my own again.
I had a few tears before I left the base as I thought of Dad and how it was because of him that I was able to do something I’d only dreamed of before. And when I got to the top I whispered a “thank you”
Anyway off I went, there were 12 of us, all suited up…. Don’t even ask about the lovely ill fitting and boringly grey suits hahah.. Everything loose had to be removed like watches bracelets and necklaces, and it was suggested if we were likely to be hot that we walked without trousers- Good job I had my clean knickers on!!! Once suited we then had to have everything fastened to us, everything was fastened by special clips to us, hair scrunches, hats, hankies, parachute! Nooo it was a bag with a fleece in it, and all sunglasses had to be secured to heads… then we were given our headphones and radios. Out on the streets we looked like 12 aliens, heading to the base, into the inner workings of the bridge and onto the platform, to ascend. And off we went, connected to a wire by just a clip !! A few reassuring words and we walked in a group like a caterpillar, snaking our way over the metal frame, it was windy but it as such an experience you don’t really feel a chill. Along the route our guide gives us many interesting facts…. Did you know only 16 people died in the 8 yrs it took to build the bridge and of that only 3 fell off it ??…. More importantly do you care !.... anyway we stopped at certain parts to space out the walkers from each group, and the group before us seemed awfully slow…. Fact #2 did you know they replaced the flags and poles on the bridge to double the original height and size and they are now taller than the aircraft warning light? care yet?? From the bridge you get an amazing sight, its just a shame you can’t take photos but camera’s aren’t allowed, you could see the Anzac Bridge, the Homebush Bay where the Olympics was held and lots of little antlike people below….. Fact# 3 did you know that on the Anzac Bridge they fly the Australian Flag on one section and the New Zealand flag on the other ??...and do you care!...After commercial photos were taken by the leader you continue the ascend to the top, and it got windier up there and I could hardly hear the voice over the headphones and my glamorous suit was blowing like the flags on the poles. Cept I aint that thin haha
Last push and we make the summit, what a great feeling, we all clapped the young girl in our group who had cried all the way because of her fear of heights. I thanked Dad and stood arms stretched taking in the thrill of doing it, and gave a rendition of "Rule Britannia" haha… not a problem at all our group were mainly british (Brighton, Chester and this Lincolnshire Lass ) Once at the summit you swap from the east side to the west side and start the descent, seems a lot easier coming down but she said I was sure footed all the way up, that’s cos I love heights anyway. Banged my head on one of the supports as I came down, my fault, I saw it but forgot to duck, they are foam wrapped anyway so no major incident, just pride :( At one stage we are so close to the trainline that you feel the wind in your hair and the bridge vibrate. Then down through the tower at the base… Final fact#4 There are 4 towers 2 each side of the river and….they serve no purpose other than decoration, they were added to enourage the people to use the bridge by adding something they would feel people needed. Cost of these pointless towers at the time was 3 quarters of a million pounds…..it’s amazing what you listen and absorb when your on your own…….. slow walk down the street back to where we started, and release ourselves from the kit....oh and visit the souvenier shop... and yes..I bought the Tshirt haha

Verdict. Would I do it again….too bloody right I would !!!.

Got a certificate and a pic, but Libby doesn’t have a scanner, I keep it waving at her, as she couldn’t do the climb as she is a wooooose and scared of heights…(just joking Libs)

There wont be an entry tomorrow I shall be away in Canberra...and we are going to look for a cheap hotel and return Thurs. Hope you get the pics viewable soon Yvette!!

Night all

More local pics

Pelicans, all over the place, they sit above you on street lights, and casually stroll the beach, but they look amazing creatures...I'd hate to see the windscreen after they've plopped on it :)

There was also men and women hanglinging off the local cliffs, amazing to see, it can take some time to become airport, you just have to get a good wind then you soar. I've got a leaflet from Sydney today about tandem skygliding, always wanted to do something like that or out of a plane....just not on my own as I wouldn't remember the instructions...I've a brain the size of a pea..Anway doesn't look like I can afford it, would take too much of a bashing on the plastic :(

some people leave footprints in the sand

but not me

Narrabeen and the beach walk

Libby lives on Pittswater Rd, Pittswater Lake is close by and we are also surrounded by beautiful beaches, today after we woke late, or rather I should say I woke late we went off to a market locally alongside the lake. No bargains... Saw some lovely paintings but they were framed so impossible to bring in my already over filled suitcase!! It would be nice to find a water colour or original painting of something Australian, to put on the wall in my house.

Weather today was again excellent! Libby drove me around lots of places where there are small beaches. And we took loads of pictures, some are on her camera as my batteries died, will post them tomorrow as everyones asleep at the moment. We spent quite a while watching some hanggliders hopefully they will be good for posting here.

Oh I'm going to have to pace myself here or my veins will be pure alcohol. When we returned we then changed and all 3 of us went to the beach club for drinks. In the middle of the afternoon *shocked at myself* after 2 glasses I had to go on to lemonade. I've decided Australians like there meat and beer....One I can live without and the other I cant handle hahaha...looks like I'm destined to stay a pom !!

arrived Sydney

Arrived Sydney airport, 1 hour late, the flight was delayed for some technical reason, not the right paperwork or something, it had had a mainteneance check. Anyway finally we were off and up in the air, I landed thinking I hope I recognise her from the photo's, and sure enough, my wrinkly old Aussie was a familiar sight as I walked through the doors. Libby took me on a detour home to Collaroy showing me some of the lovely sights instore!! I went over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and you could see groups of people doing the climb, that will be me on Monday 16th !!! We arrived at Libby and Macca's, and I was introduced to Macca, who seeems a nice warm friendly person. Macca left to go to some school reunion and Libby and I chatted and chatted.....and chatted heaps catching up on each others lives drinking Champagne he had left us, then we went out to a bar, haha I've found a kindred spirit, Libby is a lightweight like me and gets tipsy quickly so 2 drinks later we are trying to walk the straight line home..... not very successfully. Libby made us both a cocktail callled a Cock Sucking Cowboy, it's made from Baileys and something else, I'll ask when they wake later.... and that was it after 2 of those we decided it was time to give in and head off to sleep.
Here I am 7-7.30 and wide awake.... and no reason for it I've left my 5yr old (Shannon) alarm clock back in Melbourne :)

The Aussie Men

For the girls at work

This truly is the best I've found so far...

Goodbye Melbourne

Well as promised the last few pics, to show you lot at home a taste of Melbourne life!!

More pictures of Melbourne.

See I just couldnt get enough, and there are still many not placed on the blog.

Well this is my last night in the State of Victoria in around 9 and half hours I will be seated on a bus heading to the airport.. It has been a great experience to which I have to thank Paul, Emma Shannon and the immovable bump. They opened there home and lives for me to experience a different way of life, and I have loved every moment of it.... xxx Thank you.

Melbourne Pt 2

Good morning England !!! haha I sound like Robin Williams, and it's actually afternoon here, we've had a quiet day been out for a snack lunch and to a Big W for Emma to get some baking dishes, poor old Paul, he's going to suffer her pastry now :) Oh btw RM if you are reading this Mummykins has sent a package as I cant fit it in mysuitcase, keep Liam and Daisys at our house till I get back ok.

Anyway back to yesterdays trip to Melbourne

After Cooks Cottage I grabbed an icecream and walked through Fitzroy Park and into Treasury Gardens, nice open space surrounded by offices etc, many office people were just sat outside and working from there, seemed a relaxed thing to do.

Then I took my life in my hands and crossed over the road and tramway and decided to walk a few streets, however its so big I decided I didn't have the time left to get lost and hopped on a tram and criss crossed till I got back to Flinders St , which is where the train station is that I started from, i then asked this friendly bloke the way to the Shrine of Rememberence, explaning I didnt know which direction I needed to head to as I had my north, south east west bearings gone!

Anyway he turned me 45 degrees around and said trams that direction all go past the shrine. With that I went red and hurried myself of in that direction, and sure enough I found it. This was the last place on my itinerary !! phew.... after that my time was free...to do whatever, but my legs and back were aching.

I enjoyed the Shrine but it was quite sombre, and a very peaceful place. It just brought back memories of Grampy.... who like the Anzacs served in Galipoli in WW1

Anyway you can stantd at the top of that Shrine and take photo's, and although I didn't take any inside the Shrine I used that opportunity to grab some good shots.

Right thats it for now will add the last pics of Melbourne tonight before bedtime... time to get ready we are having a goodbye meal out tonight.