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.

Melbourne

Wow what an exciting fun filled day I had today, crept out of bed early and showered and put a face on to go out and face the world. Emma took me to Frankston and I left them to go via train to the City, armed with a map and destinations that I desperately wanted to see and a promise that I wouldnt go shopping. Armed with an itinerary I made my way to Flinders St, and headed to the tourist office to get advice on getting around the city and seeing the places I wanted to see without zig zagging back and forth and wasting time.

First destination was the Victoria Street Market, but that meant taking one of the modern trams across the city. Me, the girl who can't get on anything in London other than a train, but hey I did, and got myself right outside it. Look at what they sell in the deli section :(

What a huge place, I could've walked around it all day. some lovely food there too.Next was the Melbourne Gaol, which I decided was easy to walk to, rather than sort a tram, and yup I found that easy enough, was beginning to get rather proud of myself and this independent me. If I can do this on my own, then I can do anything !! So into the gaol I went. Walking in the footsteps of Ned Kelly before me.

Onwards and upwards, right this time I needed to catch another tram, this time it was one of the cute older trams, and it took me too Capt James Cooks Cottage, in Fitzroy Park. Got a little lost with the map, and turned it upside down and voila!! I arrived at the edge of the park, very beautiful park right in the city, a few photo's on route and fially I found the cottage that had been transported from Yorkshire to Melbourne Australia.

Cooks Cottage

Well it's about midnight now so will add more stuff in the morning...so goodnight all....

Curry Night

Yesterday, was a fairly quiet day, Emma had a prenatal appt at the doctors, and still we have no baby... unless she has it Friday I'm going to miss it :( It was my turn to cook again so instead of Emma's apparently wet rissotto we had curry, and even I ate some of it, the family would be proud !! Legs hurt for most of the day, but not as severely, today it's more a backache than a leg pain....must be my age!!

Been a bit upset that the family back home have hardly kept in touch, looks like they prefer no me there :( but as for friends and workmates.... you are stars ...the texts make us smile An for the umpteenth time....NO THE BABY HAS NOT BEEN BORN YET hahah