Fire

It’s a hot day with a blustery southerly blowing and the last thing you want to smell is smoke. Around 3:30pm we get our first whiff of smoke. Shortly after we hear sirens from the approaching fire trucks and sure enough out of our Eastern window we see plumes of thick black smoke rising into the sky.

A short while later a scene reminiscent of the early morning raid in Apocalypse Now is re-enacted,  with helicopters flying in from all directions heading for the fire.

The last helicopter to arrive is the Sky Crane, by far the most effective water bomber out of all the helicopters at the fire. 

Two for the price of one

Sugar Glider

Squirrel Glider

Sydney has had some extreme weather lately, it was snowing on Friday and today it is 34 degrees.  After dinner we decided to take advantage of the heat and see if there is any night time activity in the nearby bush.

We started at a well known spot for owlets, nothing. Did a big circle of the bush around the ovals, nothing. Rosco is enjoying the night time sniff and wee but that’s about it for fun.

We decide on one final search and go down one of Stephen’s mountain bike tracks. As usual Stephen is out in front and Rosco and I are bringing up the rear guard. In some scraggily casurina’s Stephen spots a bit of movement. Yeah. He cautiously approaches and discovers a Sugar Glider descending down a tree. A snap and a flash and the glider is recorded for posterity. Moving on down the track and then back again we discover another glider enjoying the sap from the tree. This time it is a Squirrel Glider with a gorgeous yellow edged belly.  

Both are a joy to watch, a successful night out. Next time we will try and find the nest.

A trip to the zoo

One of my favourite trips is to go to the zoo. We have been to lots of zoo’s but nothing beats going on the ferry and seeing all the animals surrounded by Sydney Harbour.

There is always something new at Taronga, this time it was the Tasmanian Devil enclosure. 

Night time exploring

Tonight we braved the cold and went out in search of a Masked Owl. We knew the spot where we had identified the owl before, at the end of Lysaght Road, Wedderburn near the old archery fields.

Alas there where no owls tonight, instead we heard some noises on the ground keeping pace ahead of us off the side of the fire trail. We followed along for about 100 metres and then we lost it. After a little while Stephen spotted three glowing eyes with his torch. What is it? On closer inspection it was a Koala and its joey in the crook of a tree. We think it had made its escape upwards from us. 

Update: This is the southern most recorded breeding koala (Campbelltown records). 

A day in the snow

Fun times ahead

Is this Australia?

It's snowing

Markers in the snow

No road surface, thats how deep the snow is

Virgin roads

He looks cold

Letter boxes

Rosco makes snowballs with his feet

Snow girl

Icy water

Snow dog

Too cold for ducks

Rosco chasing the car, 'Don't leave me behind'

Back to civilisation

Rumours abound that snow fell across the mountains last night. So off we go in search of adventure. Heading up from Goulburn to Taralga we first hit snow at about 850m elevation, this is looking positive. The snow gets thicker and thicker, the road is covered and by the time we hit 900 metres it is a winter wonderland. No one is around and we have the forest to ourselves. A wonderful day exploring.

Hop on a ferry

Our visit today is an amazing blend of 19^th century industry and art installations. We are at the 18th Biennale of Sydney at Cockatoo Island. Waiting in the line for the ferry there are many adults with lattes in their hands exulting the virtues of art to toddlers. An ambitious endeavour.

The island is in the middle of Sydney Harbour and has been used as convict site, dockyards and boys prison. The most dominant features are the dockyards that have built and serviced boats since 1850. We wandered around and discovered massive industrial cranes, huge factories and secret tunnels. All the industrial buildings makes this place a worthwhile day trip.

However amongst all this are broken tea cups spilling out of a shipping container, wind chimes in a cement bunker, steam spurting out from a rock wall and lots more. All installation art making great use of the island.

Exit through the gift shop

Bye for now!

Jeff and Mary arrive to take us to the airport. How is that for special treatment. We pass the cricket ground and lots of other buildings that all look so familiar now compared with the day arrived. It was only 3 weeks ago and seems to have gone very quickly.

With a few tears and a bit of trepidation I leave my London family and make for the terminal. I check in and continue the theme of the trip and wander through the shops to settle down in the BA lounge.

It’s been an amazing trip but now looking forward to seeing Stephen and Rosco.

Boarding soon, bye for now.

Champagne tea at Ladywell Lodge

Where I write my blog posts

Pesky squirrel

Lewisham history sign

Ladywell greenery

Final champagne tea

My stay in London is with Jane, a long time friend from the NZI days. After a 20 year stint in Australia she now lives in London. We are based in Lewisham which is kind of funny as my Mum grew up in Lewisham in Sydney and my boss, James lives there now.

Lewisham is about 6 miles from the centre of London. The history of Lewisham goes back a long way as the oldest road also ran through Lewisham. More importantly right near here Captain Cook’s boat the Endeavour was fitted out for the big journey to the southern ocean.

Jane’s house is just lovely and close to Ladywell station. My room has a massive window with beautiful views of the trees. Squirrels run around in the backyard, Jane dislikes them, I think they are novel the way they scamper around.

There is a great big park out the back with kids playing in the creek, dogs roaming and lots of football (soccer) playing.

Our day today was spent with a lie in, followed by a packing session. OMG I had no idea I had brought so much stuff and nearly had a meltdown trying to fit it all in. Luckily Jane is much more experienced at packing than me and sorted it all out.

Then finally we celebrate with a champagne tea, what a way to finish the most amazing holiday.

A big thank you to Jane for making my stay in London so wonderful!

Icing on the cake

Buckingham Palace

Garden Cafe

Cakes with ER logo

Us in gardens at Buckingham Palace

Nice view

Waving goodbye to Nelson and London

It’s Saturday, which means its shopping day. But first we detour to Buckingham Palace as the state rooms are open today. Well the lines are miles long but the palace knows how to run events with precision. We are ushered through and enter the palace via the Ambassador Gate and the Grand entrance at our appointed time. Onto the quadrangle and then arrive in the first of the lush rooms, the Green Drawing Room, gilded and set with florets, decorated with paintings, chandeliers and 17^th century furniture it is a sight to behold. The tour goes on and on though the throne room, picture gallery, music room and much more. It is all exquisite and very practical how the rooms are arranged for people to enter and leave. We have an audio guide that gives excellent commentary on the function and history of the rooms.

It is the most amazing palace and to see this on my last tourist day just tops off a wonderful trip. But wait there’s more, time for lunch at the garden café. Jane had heard that the café was good, well good is an understatement the food is exceptional, especially the cakes. We thoroughly enjoy our garden tea at the palace.

Then guess what, surprise, surprise there is a gift shop. More shopping. Then onto the gardens. What an event.

Back to familiar territory now, I will pine for being at Covent Garden on a Saturday, there is so much hustle, bustle and excitement. A few more shops conquered and then we explore Cecil Court.

Its time to retrace our very steps from the first Saturday. We go past the National Gallery, see Trafalgar Square and wave goodbye to Nelson. Then home for plaice and champage, or was that Champagne and plaice? 

Finally after many nights of cloud I see the North Star. Tick.

Panic in the pod

Thames Flood Barrier

Emirates air line

Jane before panic

After panic

View towards city

London Ambassador

At Dominion Theatre for We Will Rock You

Yeah, Jane is back on the tourist trail. We tackle some domestics and now set off to Pontoon Quay. Its take 3 changes on the DLR but I don’t have to worry as Jane can work out any map. We are 10 miles down the Thames and can smell salt air, we have finally arrived at the Thames Barrier. It’s the world’s second largest movable flood barrier and an amazing feat of engineering.

Next up is the newest mode of transport in London the Emirates Air Line it was only opened to the public yesterday and is a cable car across the Thames. It seemed like a good idea to try it out.

We use our Oyster cards to access, cool. We got a pod to ourselves, good. We go up, and then up, and then up till the wind hits us. Woosh, the cable car swings sideways, I’m scared, Jane is hanging onto the handrails with a death grip. What the hell have we done why did we come up on this thing? Panic sets in but the urge to take photos takes over and I jump from side to side making the whole thing swing even more, Jane panics more. This makes me panic more. The wind keeps howling and shaking the pod. If Stephen was here he would be laughing at me now. Now Jane is still holding on with a death grip and gives me instructions on what to take photos of. Who knows what I am doing. The Thames, city, O2 and Olympic site all look magnificent from up here. Thankfully before we know it the nightmare is over and we make it to the other side. Time to hop out of the pod and be greeted by two of the Emirates staff.  We watch as others jump off and they too are freaked out. I feel sick in the stomach and Jane is shaking. Great experience but just a bit too scary on a windy day.

Now back into Soho to test out the medical services of the UK as I have an ear infection. We have an hour and half wait which is actually good as that helps calm us down from the air line ride. All very efficient and entertaining watching the other patients like, Ronnie who needed his medication and Joan who broke her arm.

Dinner in Soho and now on way to the next big event we walk into a shop for a fridge magnet and leave with a fridge magnet and a leather jacket.

The final event for the day and we enter the Ga Ga world to help Gallileo and Scaramouche find music. We are at the Dominion Theatre for the musical We Will Rock You. It’s loud, fun and very entertaining. So now I have done a London show as well, this trip just keeps getting better and better. Thanks Jane!