Back in Sydney Stoddard and Noleen had planned a number of activities and trips, all of which are imprinted on our memories, but the sequence of which I cannot exactly recall. These included a trip up to the Blue Mountains with an overnight stay at a terrific lodge. In the mountains we took a number of rides on various cable cars, and descended right down to the bottom of the valley on a crazy little funicular railway. The landscape was stunning and there was a whole history surrounding the area that one ideally needed a lot more time to investigate - but what an amazing area!
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We also did a day trip to Hunter’s Valley and the wine lands - nice ….. not quite Franschoek …… but very pretty nevertheless.
New Year’s day we spent at the Quarantine Station on North Head where we picnicked and took a very interesting tour through the Station. Watching the start of the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race was special for me as it is one of the World’s great Ocean Races, and one that I have long taken an interest in. To see the number of spectator craft on the water and the huge spectator boats out there made the whole thing come really alive for me - thanks for taking us up there guys.
Pat and I independently took a trip up the very beautiful Hawkesbury river as far as the Settlers Arms Inn built in 1836 before wending our way back, taking our time to enjoy the landscape and beautiful horse ranches that litter the banks of the river.
I have never been a great fan of flying, subscribing rather to Frank Sinatra’s way of thinking, “That if we were meant to fly they’d make it much easier to get to the airport”, but ever since I was a child I have been fascinated by water planes, and on my birthday I treated Pat and I to a water plane flight around Sydney ……… what a Jol that was! Taking off and landing, for whatever reason, held none of the trepidation that I always feel on land …… it was as if these flying things were altogether a part of the water and belonged right up there with yachts and sailing boats of all kinds. The views of the entire extent of the amazing Sydney Harbour were thrilling and the trip out into the Tasman Sea and south to Bondi Beach before turning back and flying low along the cliffs below North Bondi and Dover Heights before re-entering the harbour were an experience we shall always remember. Also, when up there, one suddenly realizes just how many Yacht Clubs line its shores, with regattas of all kinds taking place simultaneously in various areas.
Christmas morning with the kids - the beautiful tree - and the excitement of of opening all the pressies was very special. Christmas just ain’t Christmas without the joy of small children opening surprise after surprise, and is something we greatly miss now that all of the grandchildren have passed that stage of beautiful innocence.
We spent a day in the city with Bella - playing in the water features - riding the Carousels and just generally enjoying the vibe that permeates this beautiful city.
New Year’s Eve was very special. Stoddard and Noleen had taken us down to Bradley’s Head and shown us the little park there that runs down to the water, suggesting that this would probably be the best place to watch the fireworks as it looked out directly over the water to the Opera House and Sydney Bridge where all of the action takes place. Soooooooo - a little before lunch time on the day we caught a couple of buses to Sydney Harbour National Park, carrying with us a beach umbrella and a couple of camping chairs. We shall never forget the walk down through the Park forest to Bradley’s Head ………….. the Cicadas were out and their screeching noise disallowed any kind of conversation whatsoever - a truly amazing experience. Once down at the head we began by finding a spot on the sloping grass terrace - which was not ideal……………….so I began walking around looking for something more comfortable. The centerpiece of this area is the H.M.A.S. Sydney 1 Memorial Mast and it has quite a substantial platform at its base. I went and fetched Pat and we moved our chairs and umbrella to the base - quite simply the best viewing spot for the fireworks anywhere in Sydney.
As the day progressed hundreds of watercraft began taking up their places between the mast and the harbour bridge, and along with their arrival Bradley’s Head also reached virtual capacity and an amazing atmosphere began to build both on land and out on the water. During the last hour before midnight a whole host of large boats dressed up in lights began to circle the harbour - the perfect prelude to what turned out to be quite the most magnificent fireworks display I am sure that I will ever see.
Hundreds of watercraft gathered in anticipation of the fireworks
After all the festivities were over everyone slowly began walking up towards the bus station where long queues began to form, and I wondered if we would ever get onto a bus. But then the buses arrived - laid on for free by the city - and we were all whisked off in our respective directions in no time at all. Here I should mention that at all times Pat and I were shown the utmost respect by the youth of Sydney - every time we entered a bus or train they would immediately stand and offer us their seats, and then engage us in happy conversation. Congratulations Australia …… you’re definitely doing something right.
Knowing that an old school friend, Leon De Pradines, lived in Sydney, I made contact with him and arranged to drive up to Woy Woy where they lived to spend a day with him and his wife Jenny. I had not seen Leon since Matric, so it was quite a reunion, and they showed us around the area ………….. particularly the magnificent views down across the Pittwater from their side of the waterways. I had not seen Leon for 48 years, yet we seemed to take up right where we left off and really had a great day together. I saw him again a couple of years later when he came across for our Matric 50th reunion and we then also got to spend a little time together ………….. so glad that we did as he sadly passed a few years ago from advanced lung and brain cancer. RIP Leon.
There were so many wonderful walks with Stoddard and Noleen and the kids ……. along paths to hidden beaches - always beautiful - with watersports of all kinds always on the go. We were fortunate to see a 16’ Skiff race - an Australian Icon when it comes to yacht racing, and also a magnificent Picasso Exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, where, without asking, we were assumed to be Pensioners and given a huge discount on the entrance fee.
There was a fun day with the family in the amazing park behind the Sydney Opera House - here we visited the beautiful Botanical Gardens and got to see the huge Fox Bats that reside in the trees around the gardens. We also got to go and watch Shane Warne in action again at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the return match of what we had watched in Melbourne - he got just as big a reception in Sydney as he did in Melbourne.
Most importantly though we got to spend a great deal of time around - and inside - the incredible Sydney Opera House. This iconic piece of architecture wholly deserves every accolade that it has ever received. All of the finishes - from the off-shutter concrete through to the timber elements and the incredible 1,056,000 glazed white granite roof tiles that were imported from Sweden …………… but therein lies a story all of its own, and really worth a Google search to fully understand. This building, much like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is a place that I could happily visit each and every day for the rest of my life in the knowledge that with each and every visit I would find something new to marvel at.
Thank you Stoddard and Noleen for a wonderful stay and a really exciting visit …………. whether we will ever make it back I don’t know, but it makes us happy that you guys are in your element there - it certainly is a beautiful place to live.
