Remembrance Day - What a joke with our memories!
Trip Start
Oct 13, 2008
1
10
17
Trip End
Nov 26, 2008
Melbourne, Australia
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Next day after meeting up with Brian, Jack and Fiona I went off on a mission back to the airport and Jim met up with Brian and spent nearly a whole day in the Maritime Museum. Poor Brian!! They went on board the ship which was a replica of the Endeavour as well as other ships and then went looking in the museum for the relative of the McGowans who was a famous union leader during the war time. They found him and have photos to prove this. We then took a stroll through Sydney stopping at the Fairmont pub and then back to our hotel to freshen up then off to the Lord Nelson pub to meet up with Sam and Ewan. (funny all these pubs - must be McGowan influence). Ewan is a Campbell but Jim didn't hold it against him as he was great company as was Sam but you all know that anyway. She is desperate for the Oxford Terrace Camerons to pay a visit to Sydney - kids can come on their own if parents can't be persuaded!! We showed her photos of Michael and girls and she's longing to see them again.
We said farewell to all of them that night and thanked Brian especially for all his time spent with us. If Sam and/or Brian are reading this, once again thank you so much for all the time you gave us in Sydney. It was greatly appreciated.
Next day we took ourselves off on the ferry to Watson Bay where the first boat landed in the 18th century. It was a lovely place and we had fish and chips at the famous Doyles restaurant. Absolutely delicious. Then caught up with the explorer bus which took us to Bondi beach (you have to do it don't you) to see the surfers.
Next morning made a tearful farewell from our lovely room at the Shangri-la and set off to the Blue Mountains. Long story to be told once we're home about this but meanwhile we started off at an animal sanctuary place and Grandad took lots of photos - some of Gran with the various dangerous ones. Grandad's cheeky remark is he couldn't tell the difference. Don't know what he means. Then off to what was called Scenic Park which was in the Blue Mountains National Park and we were on cable cars, steepest railway in world down 3000+ feet into a gorge with lots of birds and different trees and waterfalls. We then left the bus tour to go to our hotel in Katoomba called the Carrington. Very old fashioned hotel which in its day had people like Chris Evert, John McEnroe and many others staying there. Jim loved it because it had a 100 year old billiard table which he was allowed to play on. He had two games with a Nepali guy called 'David'. They tied at one one both games being won on the pink. Before that however, we had been out for a walk and it was freezing so we decided to have a spa bath to warm up.
This is now Jim's words for the next bit. Gran was filling to bath and was told to get the water level up before turning up the spa. As usual she ignored my advice. Not only that she had emptied the contents of a bubble bath and a shampoo as it didn't seem bubbly enough to her. I was in the bedroom, the door to the bathroom was open and the next minute I thought a snow machine had been turned on as foam just burst through the bathroom door covering a large part of the bedroom and not only that turning the black coffee I had at the side of the bath into a cappucino. By the time gran turned it off, the whole bathroom and half the bedroom were covered in foam. While she sat there laughing, I had to clean it all up. I rest my case.
My version will be much funnier but I'll give it when we get home.
Next day we had a 3 hour walk on the cliff edges of the National Park and I mean cliff edges. No safety rails and the fall at some points was 'infinity' - like 3000+ feet - you couldn't see the bottom. A bit like the sea when at the Barrier Reef. We then caught up with the coach again and returned to Sydney via the Olympic stadium which was pretty impressive and is being used well.
We then caught an overnight train to Melbourne and landed here early yesterday morning. Our accommodation is ideal - bang in the centre of Melbourne. We took the tourist tram round the city. Visited the museum of Immigration which was very interesting and then we went back to apartment and I did two machine loads of washing and ironing while Jim slept - just to remind me that all the good times will be coming to an end soon. Later on we went out to Chinatown for a meal and that brings us to this morning and I'm writing this.
Message to Owen: Great to speak to you the other night and thanks for all you are doing at home. This is really just for everyone reading this thinking what a sook Owen is ha ha ha. Not really we are very grateful. Lots of kisses for the girls.
Message to Michael and girls: Gran and Grandad have not been 'communicating' much which may well surprise you. Love to you all.
