After our New year extraveganza, we needed a home.  We managed to find a mooring ball just beside the bridge and Opera House, in Lavender Bay.  This is still our home until we need to move the boat back to Brisbane. 

Neil and Claire, Jake and Megan still with us, we spent a few days sightseeing around Sydney before our trip to the Blue Mountains.  Anchoring right next to a funfair was cruelty to children to not take them, so a day there and the kids were in heaven, although the photos dont show it. 

 We walked across the Bridge (not to be confused with the bridge climb), fabulous views.  We met up with Paul and Rachael from Brighton.  Pauls mum lives here, so they were here on holiday.  This was the first time we had met little Emilia, who is 11 months, and so sweet, unlike Paul of course!   A day at Manly and the beach there with them.  Manly is very busy, and does have a bit of a Brighton vibe full of young folk, unlike us nowadays.

Darling harbour another day and the Maritime museum was great.  A decomishioned submarine was incredible to go inside.  Tiny with so much equipment.  Slightly bigger engine room than ours but much less bunk space.  The periscope was cool - real live James bond stuff.  These guys really had to be dedicated to their jobs.  Callum went with Neil and Claire to the Aquarium where I was quite pleased that they didnt have any Manta Rays! (My quest continues).

We spent a night at the opera and saw The Magic Flute.  Megs very kindly looked after the 3 kids at Julies.  The Magic Flute was more of a show than an opera as such.  It was great fun and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Being in English we didnt need to look at the translation too often.  It was directed by the same person that directed the Lion King, so costumes were excellent and the added chat throughout broke up the singing.  It only finished at 10.15pm, so we had time for dinner afterwards.  OH NO, not in Sydney.  Apparently the place closes down at 10pm.  We went from place to place and ended up just 'going in' to somewhere.  Never do this without looking at the menu!  Although a tad over our budget, it was delicious.  A fat juicy steak and good red wine.  Recipe for a headache as Claire and I found out!  A great evening.

The botanical gardens are beautiful, and we only walked through a tiny area.  Lots of plants and flowers for me to ooo and ahh at.  The coolest thing was that we saw lots of Batfoxes here.  Just hanging upside down in the trees, occasionaly flying from tree to tree.  They have the face of a fox and are gingerish in colour, with bat wings, huge bat wings.  Fully opened the wingspan must be about 1 metre.  Quite amazing really.

Lots of late nights and Barbeques aboard just in preparation for the Blue Mountains!

Callum has been in heaven with his best mate here.  He has waited so long to see him and not a minuite spared.  Jessica has enjoyed being with them too and has held her own with the boys.

 

 

Inseparable Best buds.

 

The 3 Amigos

 

Ahhhh

 

Luna Park - I am enjoying myself - honest!

 

Can we do this one again???

 

Sophistication - We do scrub up well.

 

View from our restaurent, the shake is the wind, really

 

Paul and Rach and Emilia

 

Our new home, not bad really is it?

 

Spot the sub, amazing thing

 

In we go...

 

Very small engine room

 

My galley or this one, ummmmm, mine by far.

 

The mediacal area in the ship was rather ancient.  1980's