Random in Oz

Blue Mountains

Just back from a weekend in the Blue Mountains where we stayed at a simply gorgeous hotel, Lilianfels. Once we had checked in it was difficult to drag ourselves out of the room as the beds were the most comfortable I have ever slept in, you just sank into them and they wrapped themselves around you.

We went out for an evening walk and I was quite overcome with the beauty of the mountains which are indeed blue.  I had visited many years ago and it has all changed so much, but I did remember just how awesome it was and I was glad to find that my memories of that were correct.  Back to the hotel, sat in the lounge with a Peach Bellini and then we had room service and watched the England v India match int the cricket world cup which we cannot see at home as it is not on terrestrial TV, so that was fun.

Next day we set off and visited Echo Point, the first point of the tour where there is a wonderful view of the rocks called the Three Sisters and tried to enjoy it even though a coach arrived disgorging a shed load of tourists (yes I know I am one as well but at least I don't run around shrieking and screaming), most of whom rushed to have their photo taken in various Anglo Saxon attitudes and did not take a blind bit of notice of the amazing view.   We then caught the cable car down to the valley. There is a scenic railway which I gather is in the Guinness Book of Records as being the steepest in the world. Kathryn had already been on it and she did not recommend that I go as it is almost vertical and goes through a tunnel. She said she spent most of the ride yelling in fright and said it was not for me. It seems they play the music from Indiana Jones as you go down...

Cable car was exciting enough for my fragile psyche and it really was quite stunning as we slowly lowered down to the valley floor. I know I am going to run out of superlatives in this post and will repeat myself when trying to describe my surroundings so if I overdo the stunning and the lovely you will have to forgive me.   Kathryn and I set off on a walk along a boardwalk which has been constructed which allows for lots of meanderings and wanderings and we found ourselves more or less on our own for most of this and oh the silence and peace of the forest was balm to the soul.  Wandering through a dimly lit silence, surrounded by magnificent trees which had been there in Australia hundreds of years before anybody set foot is quite awe inspiring.  

We were heading back when we heard the rumble of thunder and then an almighty crash as it got nearer and lightening and down came the rain. Of course, my first thought was that you must never stand under a tree during a storm and here we were surrounded by them so we legged it to the cable car station and by the time we got there we looked as if we had taken a bath fully clothed.   We huddled in the shelter with other equally soaked visitors who could not fit onto the car that was just leaving and after a  minute or two I was very glad that we had missed it as the thunder crashed even louder and the rain came down in torrents and the cable car was swaying like mad.  There was a notice telling us that during storms no cable cars would not run in case of electric shortage and that storms were normally over in 20 mins so we must be patient.   By the time the cable car was half way up we could not see it for the rain and the mist.  Both Kathryn and I found the storm totally exhilarating, something we had never experienced before and we were actually in the Rain Forest when it started and to see the land and the trees soaking up the water was pretty exciting.

And then as suddenly as it started, it stopped and down came the cable car and took us back up where we found the staff in the cafe and shop swabbing the floors and clearing up and then out came the sun and suddenly up from the valley rose this mist caused by the steam off the trees and we were totally blanked out and unable to see a thing.  I have never been in such climate conditions before and it really brought home to me that I am in Australia, where such weather extremes are normal. 

So back to the city after this terrific weekend and back to my apartment and a shower and cooked supper and then discovered, to my delight, that the latest series of House was on TV so sat with my feet up and watched the lovely Hugh Laurie.

Am writing this early in the morning and will be off to the beach again today.  This time, Coogee, where Kathryn and I went last week, smaller and less iconic and therefore less crowded than Bondi, and rather charming.

See you all tomorrow.

 

Bondi, a party and an elephant

I promised the follow up to the three day party mentioned in my Return to Bondi post so here it is.

Party started on Friday night and went backwards and forwards between our flat and the one opposite which was heaving with Aussie policemen, all of whom were extremely fit and burly to put it mildly.  We were all glammed up and I decided to leave my glasses off even though I was as blind as a bat without them as I felt they detracted somewhat from the eyelashes and make up. I was informed by my flat mates that there was one guy there who was seriously gorgeous and all the girls were determined to pull him and off they went to do so.  I was chatting and talking when suddenly this chap appeared at my side and asked me to dance and so I did and he stayed with me the rest of the party and, well I will leave the rest to your imagination. It appeared that he was The Guy and all my flatmates wanted to know how I managed to get him.  I hadn't the faintest idea but it transpired later when I was talking to him that he had picked me out as he had smiled and beamed at me and I had totally ignored him and made no attempt to attract him in any way at all and he say this as a challenge and thought I was 'cool'.   I never told him that I could not see across the room without my glasses and had no idea he was eyeing me up. Some things are best left unsaid.....

To cut a long story short the party went on all weekend and by the time I caught the bus to the city on Monday, I was feeling fragile and looking pretty washed out. My flatmate and I were sitting half asleep as the bus turned into Elizabeth Street and I glanced out of the window on my left and saw....an elephant. It was standing in the back of a pick up truck and I blinked as I just could not believe my eyes.  The inside lane traffic moved on and when I dug Chris in the ribs and told her I had just seen an elephant she just said 'Yeh, right...'  A few mins later we came up alongside the truck and this time the elephant (a baby one I should say) poked his trunk through an open window and took a grip on a woman's hair just a few seats in front. Well, shrieks and screams abounded and then the lorry shot off and still Chris, in her dozing state, had not seen the elephant so I gave up.

By the time I got off the bus and cut through George Street on my walk to my office the elephant had vanished and I really began to wonder if I had imagined it all when rounding the corner into St Martin's Place, there he was!   He was now being fed buns and goodness knows what by all the office workers and was having the time of his life.  It then transpired that a circus was coming to town and this was advance publicity.

Got to the office 'Hey guys, guess what? There is an elephant in Martin's Place'.   All looked at me, at my white face with black circled eyes and my general air of decrepitude and laughed.  Various comments along the unsubtle lines of Oh was it pink were aired and no matter what I said they did not believe me.  I was giving up when suddenly the door burst open and in ran the office junior, hair on end and eyes popping out of her head.

'There's an elephant in Martin's Place!!'

I kid you not the entire office got up and belted down the stairs and rushed off to have a look. I sat back and awaited their return so I could say I Told You So.

I never made it through the day - after I had cocked up several documents (and this was pre-computer days, I was using an electric typewriter) my boss came into my office, patted my head and told me I was no use to him and he took my home in his posh new car and delivered me to my front door in style. 

I only saw the gorgeous policeman for a short time after this party. Oh he had all the attributes, over six foot, very good looking but he was pretty boring on the whole and once the initial glamour had worn off we had nothing in common. Sad but never mind.  For the rest of my time in Australia I went out with a lovely man called Jan, he was a shot putter from Yugoslavia, as it was then, who had taken part in the Olympics in Australia and had stayed behind.  He was HUGE and could pick me up with one hand, and I am no lightweight, but as gentle as a kitten.

I thought of all of this when I saw my old flat and sat on the beach. Seems such a long time ago and now I am a grandmother, but oh it was fun.

And thus endeth the ramble.

Off to the  Blue Mountains later on today.

Back to Bondi

Today I caught the bus to Bondi Beach and difficult to describe my feelings of excitement and anticipation as the bus followed the well remembered route. As we rounded the corner and there it was I was quite tearful - I lived in North Bondi for two years and this was my stamping ground and where I had so much fun. The old Bondi Pavilion is still there and though it has been tarted up a bit, it still has that slightly used and shabby feelinbg about it that I remember so well. 

 

Parked myself on the beach and watched the waves come in and oh it all came back to me, the happy hours I had spent sitting here doing this when I was young and fancy free.  Did not venture into the water. I always found the sea here very tricky to swim in and, in fact, the first day I ever spent on Bondi I was hit on the head by a surf board belonging to a surfer who had strayed outside his allotted zone, and under I went and had to be hauled out by a life guard. When I had recovered from the bump on my head and the fright, I was able to enjoy the invective hurled at the hapless surfer. Was not going to risk that happening again so stayed where I was.

After a couple of hours felt my English skin had probably had enough sun and left the beach and decided to see if I could find my old street where I used to live.  Not really a good idea as it was baking hot and in the middle of the day but persevered and, yep there it was Blair Street (no comments on the name please...) and the little apartment block was still there.  The first balcony was ours and many the night we sat outside with a litre or two of Australian Shiraz laughing and talking and generally having a good time. In the flat opposite were four Aussie policeman, strapping guys, and one night they threw a party.  Three days later it finished and there was a follow up to this, but will save for another day.

So happy to see these places again. I have wanted to get back to Australia for so long and, while it can be dangerous to revisit old haunts, it has not disappointed.

At the Opera

It was my birthday this week and Kathryn had booked seats for us both at the Opera House to see a performance of The Barber of Seville. It was quite magical to walk up the stairs to the main entrance with the lights of the harbour reflecting in the water and the Harbour Bridge soaring away to my left.

It is quite difficult to put into words my feelings on my return to Sydney. I can't say there was an instant feeling of familiarity after all these years, or that I recognised places - things have changed a great deal since I was last here before Kathryn was born - but I found, as I did then, that it was a place in which I could relax. Kathryn has settled in well, as I knew she would, and loves Sydney, as I also knew she would and I am very proud to see the way she treats her surroundings with familiarity and comfort. She knows her way around, is full of advice and knows what is what, and it seems as if she has been here always .

So, to attend the opera with her was wonderful and it would have been a great evening even if the production and singing had been lousy, but in fact it was not. A simply delightful and witty performance of the Barber, updated to the 1920s, with a gorgeous set, well sung and just so damn funny. Took me a little while for my ears to tune into the sound in the house which is different from other places I have attended. For a start, it is not a huge venue (the concert hall is much bigger), but well suited to operas of this scale and the orchestra pit is also fairly small with an orchestra to match. The last time I saw Barber was at the ROH with a massive orchestra and sound but it soon became clear that this little orchestra was plaing with delightful agility, lightness and speed and it was sheer delight from start to finish.Very enthusiastic audience, house packed and lots of whistling and cheering at the end.

And then to come out, not into a busy London street, but the beautifully lit harbour which enchants all over again.  This was a birthday I won't be forgetting in a hurry.....

Australia - I am here

I am finding it difficult to believe that I am actually in Australia.  Last time I was here was way back in 1973, just four months after the grand opening of the Sydney Opera House, and it has taken me all this time to return.  I have tried, oh how I have tried, but things got in the way - marriage, children, divorce etc and it is only now that Kathryn is working here, that I have made it.

Journey was as good as a 24 hour plane flight can be which is not saying much. Travelled premium economy which I was not overly impressed with - ok the seats were a bit wider and we had a bit more leg room, but still, bit of a let down.  We did have real cutlery though, no plastic stuff so I am assuming that Virgin thinks those of us who pay more are not dangerous nor likely to threaten staff with an airline spoon.

Heathrow, as ever, was a tip. Heaving mass of passengers all squashed into one space surrounded by shops and food halls selling rubbish food.  For a premier airport it really is pretty poor.  The contrast when we stopped off at Hong Kong for a couple of hours could not have been more marked. Wide spaces, airy ceilings, no noise, no music, all was serenity.  The restaurants and cafes were immaculately clean and peaceful.  Why can't we do the same?

Plane delayed so was panicking that Kathryn would have to leave the airport and go to work and I was way back in the queue to get through immigration.   One family could see my agitation and when I explained that I might miss my daughter one by one everyone let me go up the queue to the front.  I was so grateful I was almost in tears. Got through to the baggage reclaim and lo and behold up came my suitcase just as I arrived at the carousal, grabbed it and headed for the exit only to find a huge queue again as everyone had to hand in their embarkation cards to officials.  By this stage I was in tears and up comes a strapping, gorgeous Aussie asking me 'Hey what's the matter darlin'?' Once again I explained and he just said Follow me and took me round another way thus missing the queue entirely, 'Here you go you'll be right' and he waved me through and there was Kathryn waiting for me.   Hugs, shrieks and tears all round as you can imagine. Simply wonderful to see her and I am just so grateful to all those lovely passengers, just as tired and stressed as I, who let me through. 

Thus endeth the first post.

Coming up - I return to the Opera house.

Random in Oz

As I want to share my adventures in Australia with you all I have set up this blog, Random in Oz.  I am going to try and write in it as often as I can because not only do I want to tell you what I am up to, but also this will be a record of my time here in this wonderful country.

Do keep checking in!