Our time in Sydney

Sea Topaz
Duncan Briggs
Mon 10 Jan 2011 06:28
Our time in Sydney is nearly over. We have had a very full calendar. First our time in the Blue mountains. Here we tried out our new golf clubs, which are great. Christmas day started with a swim at Bondi Beach, then presents at Ewan's flat, surfing at Bondi Beach and Christmas dinner at the flat at Rush Cutters Bay (our home for the last three weeks).
Boxing Day we went to South Heads to watch the start of the Sydney Hobart Race. It was an exciting experience; not only seeing the yachts, but the scale of it: all the spectator boats and the 13 helicopters made for a great show. In the afternoon we wet off with Ewan and Jemima to the Hunter Valley to do some wine tasting and more golf. On the 29th we had a BBQ for friends and sailors at the flat; everyone enjoyed themselves. Ewan's birthday was on the 30th. We had cocktails in a revolving restaurant overlooking Sydney before going out for a meal. New Year's Eve was of course the famous Sydney bridge fireworks. We had a dinner party for 14 at the flat from where we had en excellent view. We went to Kangaroo Valley for a few days after that, again with Ewan and Jemima. We hired a canoe to go down the river and  played 18 holes of golf.
Ewan had bought tickets for the Cricket Test Match, day three in Sydney. This was again a great experience to soak up the atmosphere during a special event like that. Especially as England was on top form. We played more golf, this time at Bondi golf course, which gives you great views over Sydney.
On Friday the 7th we went with Ewan to Palm Beach where we met up with the Andersons, friends from our Army days. Today we had lunch in Manley with friends from Hongkong from a long time ago.
The few spare days in between all of this we did some planning for the next stage of our tour of Australia.We have booked campsites and the train all the way to Perth.
 
                                   
 
    Three sisters in the Blue Mountains                                                Swim at Bondi Beach                                                                    Catching the wave!!
 
                           
 
    Under the Christmas Tree                                            Surfing at Bondi Beach                                                            Cotton the cat we looked after
 
                   
 
        The start of the Sydney Hobart Race                                    Wine tasting in the Hunter Valley                                            Challenging golf in the Hunter Valley
 
                       
 
        A cruisers' BBQ at the flat                                                    Cocktails for Ewan's birthday                                                        Sydney fire works
 
                          
 
             Going down the rapids in Kangaroo Valley                        Golf in Kangaroo Valley                                                        The Ashes test match in Sydney
 
           
 
            Golf at Bondi Beach                                                            With the Andersons at Palm Beach