Blue Mountains trip and some more walks...

I am just about to start this entry but before I do I am going to upload the pics. This has been the bane of my life - it is a long story and you do not want to know why!!

Blue Mountains

The last time I made an entry (in my diary that is)I had been to the Fish Market in Sydney. It seems ages ago! On New Year's Eve we took a picnic and went to see the fireworks at Sydney Harbour Bridge - they were absolutely fantastic - a beating red heart on the bridge with a waterfall of fireworks cascading behind it - you would have to see it to appreciate it WOW! WOW! WOW! They certainly know how to put on a show and of course they have the perfect venue for it. We feasted on champagne, King Prawns, oysters and salad while we watched the whole show. Everyone there was in good spirits (just a figure of speech!)but in a very good-humoured way - no hooligans here - well, not that I witnessed.

Golf at Leura in BM

On New Year's Day Alison went to the wonderful Italian coffee shop and came back with great coffee and cakes for all - she is so thoughtful even though my waistband would not agree! I then went to stay with David and Celine (David is a Catenian in Sydney - for those of you out there who are none the wiser - the Catenian Association is a fellowship of Catholic business men who meet on a regular basis for friendship and like-minded ideals) well that's my take on it! The plan was that we were all (David, Celine, their son Davy and myself) were going to take a walk on the beach at Coogee but it was a scorching 44 degrees on that day and you could not put a foot on the sand much less walk on it! I have never experienced anything like that heat - we stayed indoors all day with all the fans and air-con going full pelt. That evening we had terrific winds and rain and it cooled things down somewhat. I found it very hard to get to sleep but eventually with the help of some Shiraz I managed to nod off! The next morning I headed off for the Blue Mountains......

Govetts Leap - Blue Mountains

A little general knowledge for you now... they are called the Blue Mountains because the warm temperature causes the oils from the eucalyptus trees to be released into the air creating a blue haze - hence, the Blue Mountains - so, if you get that question on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" you will know the answer! Enough digressing - I caught the train from Sydney to Leura (a very pretty town in the BM's) which took two hours. I was met by Kerrie - I was staying in her cottage - who took me to my abode for the next 4 days. It is a really lovely peaceful place, her cottage that is, next door to her own house. It had everything I needed including all the necessary ingredients for a very healthy breakfast. Once I got settled in I decided to explore the local area. I walked into Leura - about a ten-minute walk - and checked out all the locals! I then caught the train to Katoomba - the next stop on the line - where I booked a two-day trolley bus tour for Wed/Thurs. to see all the famous sights - well, that was the general idea! When I got back that evening there was a note pinned to my door asking me to go out for a Chinese meal with Kerrie, her husband and some friends - of course I was delighted to accept - who would'nt - unless they hated Chinese food!! I had a most enjoyable evening and met some of Kerrie's golf friends - her husband Geoffrey has a wicked sense of humour! Next day Kerrie invited me to play golf at Leura - she just happens to be the Ladies' Captain this year so I was in esteemed company! The views from this course are wondrous - even if the golf is rubbish you have the pleasure of seeing some great scenery with a backdrop of the Blue Mountains - however, I managed to acquit myself quite respectably - thank goodness. We then had lunch with Jennie who is the Lady President - no lunching with the plebs for me!! Seriously, all the ladies I met in Leura were really nice and treated with very well in spite of myself. That afternoon, Kerrie took me on a guided tour of the area - to all the lookout spots - eg Govett's Leap, Blackheath and Mt. Victoria. It was a beautiful afternoon to see the sights. We had a cold drink at Blackheath Golf Club which is affiliated with Royal Blackheath GC in the suburbs of London. That evening I had supper with Kerrie and Geoffrey before retiring for the evening. On Wed. I woke with anticipation of an enjoyable trolley bus tour to find it raining and thick mist - it remained like this for the whole day and the next day!! There was no ride on the mountain train, the skyride or the cable car for me. However, the tour company are willing to honour my ticket if I wish to come up to the Blue Mountains before I leave for NZ - very good of them.

However, it was not all bad news - on Wed. evening Pam (another friend of Kerrie's from the golf club) hosted a BBQ at her house - two of the men braved the rain and cooked the food on the barbie (notice the local lingo). They did a great job and all 14 of us enjoyed a lovely sit-down meal with good company, food and wine. Even though the weather was a bit disappointing, I had a great time meeting Kerrie, Geoffrey and their friends and I have very fond memories of my time there. Hopefully, if I get time to return there we will meet up again.

I returned back to Sydney on Thursday evening to warm sunny weather - how different it can be only two hours away. Had an early night in readiness for a long day on Friday.

Friday 6th January.....

Spent the morning sightseeing - first of all to Darling Harbour and did the harbour walk - a very busy place full of tourists - they get everywhere - wish they would stay at home and let us serious visitors sightsee in peace!! I then had a tour of the Chinese Gardens - there is an entry fee but it was worth it - a very tranquil place in the midst of noise and crowds. I then had lunch in Darling Harbour before walking to Circular Quay to catch the ferry to Neutral Bay. I do not remember if I told you that I am on a mission to do all the walks designed by Sydney Harbour Ferry Co. - there are 13 in all and I have done 4 of them so far - not a good omen for me completing the job! Anyway, I crossed another off my list - the walk from Neutral Bay to Cremorne Point - an hour and a half walk - I should have done the walk early in the morning as it was a bit too hot by the time I decided to go - another lesson learned - mad dogs and Englishmen........ I got home about 6.30 rather jaded!

Sat. 7th Jan....

Took baby Liam for a long walk to the shops and bought some new t-shirts. Looked after Liam while his Mum and Dad went to the cinema - my good deed for the week! That evening I spent my time uploading and putting my pictures into folders and burning them onto discs. A slow labourious task but long overdue. I then watched a video "Under the Tuscan Sun" starring Maggie Smith and Ronnie Barker - it was very interesting - a real feel-good film.

Sun 8th Jan....

I went to Mass at St. Brendan's church - the local church - this time it was in English so I understood what was going on! After Mass and breakfast we all went to the beach - Bondi Beach to see all the bronzed Adonises - Alison denies all knowledge of seeing these young men - she is a married woman with scruples!! We walked from Bondi to Bronte beach - it was an ideal day for walking - a lovely sea breeze and not too hot. On the way we saw two sea rescues - these silly people who go in the sea when the flag is not flying and then get into difficulties and have to be saved by these very same bronze Bay Watch babes and fellas!! Why did'nt I think of that?? We had a great picnic on Bronte beach, which we got from one of the local cafes. The food in these cafes is of a very high quality. We got home and had a nice restful evening after our long walk.

Mon 9th Jan.....

I had arranged to play golf at New South Wales Golf club. I did not know at the time that this is the 2nd best golf course in Aus. but, by the time I had finished playing I knew why! It is a very challenging course and I did not play anywhere near my handicap let alone play to it!! The fact that we had a few heavy showers did not help matters, but that was not enough of an excuse. The course beat me! However, there was a silver lining - the views were terrific and the course was in immaculate condition. I played with Elaine and her friend Alex, and after a hot shower, we had a very enjoyable lunch in their clubhouse. The lady members I met were very sociable and as a memento of my day I was given a leather-bound notebook and pen to commerate the club's 75th anniversary. It was a lovely gesture. I want to publicly thank Elaine for taking the trouble to invite me as she has a very busy schedule and was getting ready to go away to America on her holidays just after we played - thank you Elaine!! I have been invited to have another game there before I leave so hopefully it will work out and I can play a bit better than the last time. In the evening I got back home and had a very good fish dinner with Simon and Alison - I then had to pack and get ready for my trip to Melbourne the next day.