Random in Oz

Last few days in Oz

tomorrow I fly home. Simply dreading saying goodbye to Kathryn. Life is full of partings and meetings and I find it gets more difficult to cope with as I get older. I have the consolation of my family in the UK waiting for me. We Facetimed on Sunday and we were able to chat with Helen and the girls and that was lovely.

Earlier in the day Kathryn took me to Cafe Sydney for lunch. This is a restaurant on the top of the Customs House building with a wonderful view overlooking the harbour. Could not see the Opera House from that angle but we had a spectacular view of the Bridge with a liner moored nearby. Brilliant sunshine and a glorious day. Fantastic lunch as you can see from the pics.

Afterwards we went for a walk to the Opera House and found it was National Greek Day and the whole of the outside concourse was packed and heaving with people so we did not stay long but long enough for me to take another pic or two of the House to add to the hundreds I already have. It is irresistible.

Because I have had a very painful knee the last few days which has made walking almost impossible, I have spent yesterday and today resting it. I decided to take a short walk on Monday but had to give up after 10 yards or so as the pain was really bad. So resting today, strong painkillers and will ask for assistance at the airport. I am travellilng with Singapore airlines and found their serice to be impeccable so am expecting they will come up to scratch.

Out for a meal in Surry Hills tonight with Kathryn and tomorrow she has a half day so she can see me safely into the cab to the airport. We will say goodbye then as I cannot cope with airport farewells.

So that is that. Nearly all over and my next post will be back in the UK.

Thanks for dropping by

Manly, an old friend and a painful knee

Over to Manly today on the ferry which I never tire of. Sydney Harbour has to be one of the most glorious places in the world and I love it. And yes, I took another pic of the Opera House as I went by. Of course I did.

Has lunch at a great restaurant called The Boat House a little way from the centre of Manly and the fish was delicious and in a batter that was light and fresh, so unlike the soggy stuff we get back in the UK, and after two hours of chat and gossip decided to stroll along the walkway back to Manly.

And that is when the trouble started. The same as earlier in the week, excruciating pain at the back of my knee which renders walking incredibly difficult and had me sweating. Had to sit down every ten yards or so, lots of great benches thank gawd. My friend's lovey husband came in response to a call and picked us up and we then sat down and all had coffee and cake and I knocked back a couple of painkillers and the pain slowly subsided.  

With grateful thanks we then said goodbye (they are both in the UK in the autumn and will be meeting up with them in Aldburgh which is great) and visited a shop which stocks aboriginal designed art and goods. I always pop in there and bought a pair of earrings which I rather fancied.

Set off for the ferry, the wharf just a few yards away when the pain started again and also heavy rain started to fall. Petrified I was going to fall over I made the ferry and thankful to sit down for the half hour it takes to get back to Circular Quay. The bus stands are close by and, luckily, I got on one pretty quickly which takes me half way to my destination. Rain was torrential by this time and the bus was packed but as soon as I staggered on, no doubt looking like the Wrath of God, a rather gorgeous young man leapt to his feet to give me his seat and when I thanked him profusely came back with 'No worries'.   Got off at my stop and once again only had to wait five mins when the bus for Bronte Beach hied into view and got on that. Again, packed and, again, I was offered a seat this time by a smiley young lady. I was extremely grateful though it is rather lowering to feel that one looks so old and haggard that this was necessary....

By the time I got indoors I just collapsed on the bed and had a boiled egg and soldiers for supper and an early night reading.

Despite all this it was a lovely day and so good to know I have friends that I can visit and meet with when in Sydney. Makes me feel at home.

I am now in Surry Hils with Kathryn until I go home and very glad to leave the flat behind where I was staying with its cracked and broken window panes and teeming insect life in the food cupboards, but more of that anon.

Bronte Beach, a new friend and a thunderstorm

Back in Sydney and staying at Bronte Beach and already the joys of Fiji seem light years away. I know when I get home I will wander around like a tit in a trance for a few days coming to terms with being back in the UK and not on the other side of the world. Travel is a weird thing.

Not done much the last day or two just wandering around, sat on the beach and read.

However, yesterday I had lunch with a lovely Aussie lady who I had got to know through the cricket forums and comments on the Daily Telegraph website back in 2014 when the Kevin Pietersen saga, with all its back stabbing and cowardly behaviour (from the ECB I hasten to add not KP) and stories from team mates who were so scared they would lose their places they lined up to put the boot in, was taking up a lot of editorial space.

I will not go into the details of that again except to say that my support of English cricket wobbled badly during this time as I realised what a bunch of incompetent shits was running the game, and it has yet to fully recover.  In my darkest moments I have found myself supporting the Aussies and willing them to trounce the Pommy bastards. Yes really....

One of the commentators on the thread was opiniated, trenchant and fun and I agreed with every word she said. Of course, knowing there is somebody out there who thinks the same as you is a great feeling and after exchanging views, tweets etc over a few years, we finally met for lunch yesterday at Bronte Beach. Well, felt like we had known each other for years and had a fun time demolishing and traducing the reputation of the ECB (not that it has any reputation left in my view) and discussing cricket at great length, such a great feeling to talk with a fellow enthusiast, and scoffing food we then went for a walk around the beach.

At this stage, for some reason unknown to me, my troublesome left knee seized up on me and I found I could barely move. I have been having problems with this knee for some time now but worked on the premise that if I ignored it, all would be well. As my sister has just had a knee replacement operation while I am away and recognises some of my symptons, methinks I had better visit my Gp on my return. Oddly enough I was not troubled by this in Fiji, but then I barely moved all week except to swim in pool and/or sea and no exertions attempted.

Anyway made it back and then the heavens opened and down came the rain, lightning and thunder and water running down the street. I sat looking out the window watching all this, it was warm and then down the middle of the road came two guys, both wearing nothing but their bathers and clutching surf boards.

I do love Australia.

Farewell to Fiji

So our glorious week has come to an end.  When I visit lakes and isands in Europe I am always oerwhelmed by their beauty but finding myself on a South Sea island in the Pacific Ocean is just so totally different it is difficult to find words to describe it. The lushness, the glory of the flowers, the blue skies, the warm winds, the dazzling sunsets, the moon and the stars in the sky, so easy to see as there are no city lights to blind the eye.  And after the rain, the flowers are drenched and are even more aiive and colourful than they were the day before.

Kathryn and I stayed at the Sheraton Tokoriki Resort, we had a bungalow to ourselves and a beach just eight feet away from our front door, down a little rocky path where nobody came and in the morning I would nip down and have a swim in the warm silky sea. One such morning I walked all the way along to the end of the shore where we were situated and saw nobody, I just walked and soaked up the peace and the silence. 

The resort itself is wonderful just newly opened after being rebuilt after a hurrican of a few years ago flattened it and it was only 25% full and at the start of the season. This meant that it was soooo quiet and we had the place more or less to ourselves with the other lucky occupants. There were never more than five or six holidaymakers around or in the pool at any one time though by the weekend when we left it was filling up and giving an indication of what it would be like later on in the summer. Glad we went when we did.

On the day we left, Along with a few others, we were given a delightful goodbye with a lovely speech and the staff singing farewell to us as we clambered aboard the boat which took us out into deep water where the bigger cruiser was there to take us to Nairu. On the way back passengers were dropped off and picked up and we had the most marvellous view of the islands until we reached harbour.

When we got there we realised that the tickets we had bought that morning did not mean we could get on the coach to take us to the airport. Kathryn went and spoke to a member of staff who shrugged her shoulders, said no worries and told us to get on anyway. So we did.

And now I am back in Sydney. Kathryn back at work today to find over 700 emails waiting for her and I spent the morning sitting on Bronte Beach watching the surfies. An overcast day but still warm and I already find it hard to believe that I have left enchanting Fiji behind.

Fiji and a Cat

So what have I done since my last post you ask. Well the answer is nothing, and I mean it. Nada Zilch.  Just sunbathing and swimming and chilling. I will be honest and say that a week of this is more than enough for me and am looking forward to being back in Sydney next week.  But boy this place is stunningly beautiful.   The sunsets are glorious night after night and I have dozens of what is, essentially, the same photo on my ipad but it is difficult to resist taking more and more.

And, needless to say, we have been adopted by one of the island cats who knows a sucker when she sees one. Had a chat with the manager this morning and he said that she is well looked after, mainly by the visitors which made me laugh.   This morning she was mewing outside our door and we let her in. She promptly curled up on the bed and went to sleep the picture of domestic bliss and comfort.

It is cooler today after last night's storm. One moment the sun was setting the next the wind came up and the sky went black and down came the rain. It was still warm though so I stood outside for a bit but had to go indoors as I was soon soaked to the skin. It was exhilerating.

Went to the spa yesterday and had a great massage, managed stay awake during dinner and then keeled over and slept for nine hours. It was billed as a relaxing massage and it certainly was.

I will post again when I get back to Sydney and am safely esconsed in my seaside flat.

Au reservoir.

I am in Fiji

Quite a few days have passed since my last post but I am on fiji time which means you never look at your watch, you have no idea what day of the week it is and the general attitude is No Worries. I am sitting on my bed in the cool having had a late lunch, daughter has gone off for a massage and all is tranquil.

We are staying at the Tokiriki Sheraton Resort which was flattened a few years ago by a hurricane and was totally rebuilt. Only been open a month and is only 25% full at the moment which is wonderful as there is so much room in and around the swimming pool, the staff are practically one on one and cannot do enough for you and it is just so luxurious and wonderful. I have never been on a holiday in my entire life when I have not had to watch every penny and it is just superb throwing caution to the winds and enjoying it all.

 We flew to Naru and stayed overnight at a Radisson hotel before catching the boat toTokoriki the next day. We were on a part of the town which was totally given over to all the large chain hotels, Westin, Hilton, Sheraton, Radisson, Sofitel, Four Seasons and are the kind of places where you never move from the resort. The Radisson was heaving and we were glad to leave it behind.When driving past them all to pick up passengers each place was identical and surrounded by manicured lawns and white buildings and masses of shrubs. Reminded me of something out of the Stepford Wives.

Anyway onto the boat to Tokiriki and it cannot come in close and stops off the island and out comes a boat to the big one and in we get and are ferried across. We leap off into warm water and greeted by singing and a necklace thrown round your neck, paddle through a little bath to clean your feet, then onto a towel then onto the reception desk where you sit down and are given a non alcoholic cocktail. Well, that sets the tone. Shown to our bungalow which is about ten feet from the beach and the glorious sea in all its multi coloured turquoise and jade glory. 

 

I am having to be careful as i burn easily and am only sunbathing for a bit in the morning and the rest of the time I am lolling around in the shade with a cook drink, a book and/or my ipad and it is sooooooo laid back you would not believe. Watched the sunset last night and found myself just sitting drinking it in and trying to find words to describe its beauty. Decided I had not got any so here are a couple of photos instead.

More another day. Au reservoir.

Bronte beach

I have rented an apartment overlooking Bronte Beach after my return from Fiji and today I decided to take a bus there and have a look around. I have been to this beach before and it is one of my favourites, it has a nice feel to it and the bus from the City terminates right on the front so easy to get to.

My first foray into Air BNB was not a success this week but I have to say that they dealt with it very quickly and efficiently and also gave me a refund, no arguing but it was not a good start to the visit. No matter. 

So a nice easy bus ride this afternoon, a cup of tea and a chat at Jenny's one of the nice cafes right on the front where I have eaten before, and Christine, the waitress was a sweetie and said she looks forward to seeing me there.

Then down to the beach in the late afternoon and just sat and looked out at the sea and the waves and it was beautiful. And here are a few pics

 

Random Jet Lag

Boy it has been bad this time. Must be because I am getting older but cannot recall taking this long to get over jet lag. Travelling Business Class was great from the comfort point of view but makes no differece to the Old Bod when you land.  I am finding I am wide awake at 2 am and then fall asleep at 6 am and wake at 11 am. Totally disorientating. As this is the fourth or fifth time I have visited the impetus to get out and about and the need to See and Do Things is diminished and that is a good thing else I would think I was wasting my days. The main reason for coming to Australia is, of course, to see my daughter not necessarily to dash around sightseeing but if you were here on holiday I think you might think differently.

No matter. I made it to the Harbour yesterday and oh it was just so lovely to see it again. It is one of my favourite places even though it was heaving as a cruise ship was moored near the bridge.  Most of the area around the Opera House was full of what looked like the entire popuation of Tokyo all running around screaming and shrieking at the tops of their voices and taking endless pictures of themselves posing in Anglo Saxon Attitudes with the opera house behind them. And I apologise if you feel this is unfair but last time I was i Oz and we went to the Blue Mountains, a place of indescribable beauty the same thing happened when we were engulged by two coach loads of Japanese tourists.   Anyway, enough.   I had lunch and just sat and looked and relished it all.

Main problem this week has been the apartment I have rented. I did it through AIRBNB and, yes one has to gamble I know, but this has been a stinker. Described as 'sun drenched' and 'beautifully decorated' it is, quite frankly, a dump. It is a tiny studio divided in half by wardrobes which means that the light from the windows is blocked and half the studio is in permanent gloom. The decor is dire with flaking paint falling off the bathroom ceiling and no cover on the light in the living room which means there are exposed electrics right next to the sprinkler system.....

Kitchen is a hole in the wall and totally inadequate. I could go on and on. I have investigated the website and have discovered there is a complaints procedure which I have started. I have been in touch with the Host who rented out the property and told him my thoughts and asked for a refund and informing him that I will be taking it further. So we shall see.   Fortunately my daughter's house mate was unexpectedly away this week which meant that I have been able to stay here for most of the time otherwise I would have booked myself into a hotel.

But in case you think it is all doom and gloom here are two pics of one of my favourite places. I am seriously contemplating cruising to Australia the next time I visit. Expensive, but at least I won't have jet lag.....

Random in Business Class

I inherited a property last year from a relative who told me that 'I must sell it and go and see Kathryn in Australia whenever you want'. I shall be forever grateful to my aunt for her generosity and this weekend just gone, I did what I was told and flew to Australia. And this time I went Business Class.  On my last visit, three years ago, I had a multi delayed flight and was in economy where my height, long legs and bad back made the journey purgatory and reduced me to tears of relief when I landed at Gatwick, not my normal reaction to airports......

The days are long gone when I found flying exciting and glamorous along with the realisation that you are just somebody to extract as much money from as possible, ignore as much as possible and made to run the gauntlet of shops and eateries at airports to spend your cash. I used to dress up to fly for heaven's sake!

I flew with Singapore Airlines after a lot of online research and recommendations from other flyers who said their service was great and I think I made the right choice.  I started the journey with a car to take me to the airport and Len, the owner, was a really interesting guy. Worked in insurance in the City for years until he finally realised the stress was going to kill him and took early retirement. Had always loved driving and did not want to sit around all day doing nothing so started up his car hire firm. He has the right number of drivers, enough work, good contracts and loves it. We chatted all the way to the hotel and he will be picking me up when I return. Stayed overnight at one of these chain hotel, immaculately clean, excellent bedroom, all perfect but no soul at all. But hey if you are flying out the next day you do not need anything else, though a decent meal might help. I made it clear to the staff when I checked out that while I did not expect fine dining or haute cuisine inedible fish and chips with mushy peas out of a tin and tartare sauce you had to take a knife and fork to were not acceptable.

So off to Terminal 2 and when I approached Business Class check in a minion appeared to pull my suitcase and put it on the weighing bit, touched his cap, nod and a smile which I returned so delighted was I. Check in smooth, quiet no hassle, chat with the check in staff then through security and off to find the Singapore lounge which I discovered was about fifteen minutes walk away. My arthritic left knee was already giving me gip so I got Special Assistance and a little buggy drove me a  bewildering length through ups and downs and miles of corridors to the lounge and I was most grateful for it. Then a warm welcome at the lounge a good hot breakfast, coffee, toast, papers and relax. 

Journey was tedious. It is, flying, just tedious. But being in a comfortable seat and being able to stretch your legs and read in comfort and not be cramped and unhappy makes such a difference. It made me realise that I shall never fly economy again on long haul. Food wonderful, my tray was pulled out, a crisp linen tablecloth put on same, china and decent cutlery and each individual course, chosen by me, arrived beautifully served and simply delicious. Round off dessert followed by a cheese trolley and coffee. Wonderful. Then curl up for a nap with a blanket placed tenderly over you, I swear one lovely lady tucked me in, and wake up feeling humanoid. 

Oh and films, caught up on Laa Laa Land, delightful and Dr Strange with Benedict Cumberbatch doing his moody Sherlock thingy in a ludicrously silly film. Then managed to watch half of the last series of House of Cards which I will finish off on the journey home.

So I am here and it feels odd and I am slightly out of kilter today and am currently sitting in bed writing this. I had timed my sleep so that I would be ready for bed last night and would be ok but it did not work and I woke up at 4 am so cup of tea and check out emails and then eventually went back to sleep and it is now noon and I am just lolling. Bit windy out but sunny and delightfully mild. Thank goodness those awful temperatures of a week or so ago are gone.Kathryn was very worried about that as she said it was awful and so difficult to cope with. But around 75-80F will do me nicely.

Well end of first post. Wonderful to be with Kathryn and a lot of chat and gossip to catch up on. Day of rest and regroup today and tomorrow will catch bus into town and say hello to the Opera House again.

Farewell to Oz

Last week in Sydney and I cannot believe that I will be flying home tomorrow.  Not looking forward to the journey at all and of course dreading saying goodbye to Kathryn.   She is doing well, is happy here and has a good future ahead of her but oh I do wish she were a little, just a little, closer.    She is coming to the UK in September for Beatrice's first birthday so only five months until  I see her again, but I am going to feel terrible tomorrow when I say goodbye.  We have not spent so much time together in years and it has been Such Fun (!) and we have laughed at the same stupid things, talked about all the daft things we have done in the past and just enjoyed spending hours relaxing in each other's company. We have managed to spend six weeks together without any falling out or arguments though pretty sure I have probably driven her up the wall on occasions.    

The autumn has arrived now and it has been pretty wet and rainy all week with the kind of torrential rain you just don't get in the UK.  One minute of walking in it and you look as if you have taken a bath.   So our last weekend and yesterday evening we went to the theatre to see the National Theatre production of One Man, two Guvnors which is doing an Australian tour at the moment.   Absolutely brilliant and had the audition howling with laughter.   My mascara was all washed away within half an hour of the first act and my ribs are still recovering.   Wonderful. 

And then when we left the theatre we walked under the bridge and round the harbour and there were the lights and it was all quite marvellous.

Then today, up and out and decided to catch the ferry across to Manly for a final look at the harbour.   This ferry trip is really wonderful, much cheaper than the touristy cruises and the views to and from Circular Quay quite marvellous.    We had lunch at Hugo's on the Wharf and had one of the best pizzas I have ever had.   Kathryn had one with figs and blue cheese but could not quite manage that, glass of Pinot Grigiot each and I was full but K managed a tiramisu.  

After that decided to go for a walk. By now the sun was out and it was a mild, balmy day, simply gorgous - the Aussies would probably think it was pretty cool, we would think it was high summer.    Went and sat on the beach and just watched and I became increasingly melancholy at the thought that I was leaving this behind.   We are now back home and having a Skype session with James, Helen and the children in an hour which I am looking forward to and will be able to tell Florence that Grandma will be seeing her very soon.     

I have yet to put up my pics of Carmen by the harbour or my visit to the Kapoor exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art and I think these will now have to wait until I get home as I have so much to do.    Until then, my thanks, once again to those of  you who have visited and left comments on Random in Oz. I have enjoyed sharing my travels with you all and hope to be back in about eighteen months with my next trip.....