Today Rob, Caroline and Steve are going home and the holiday is well and truly over.
Everybody rose and packed their cases before we jumped in the car and made our way to Bills to have a late brekky. We had about a 30 minute wait for a table - luckily, the wait was shaded.
Once seated, we ordered our food (every one had the famous scrambled eggs one way or another, except me who had ricotta hot cakes). My hotcakes were held up for a few minutes so I was given a complimentary coffee.
Once brekky was finished, we drove back to the house and packed the car for the drive to the airport where we had another round of hard goodbyes as we left Steve, Rob and Caroline to catch their flights.
The drive home was very sombre as we both reflected on what a great few weeks we'd had and that they were now over. We popped to the shops on the way home and then returned to a house that now seems very large and empty...
Sunday, January 06, 2013
Posted with BlogsySaturday, January 05, 2013
Opera
It's Mark and Anna's last day today as they fly back to the UK this afternoon.
We all go for breakfast at Not Bread Alone which, although the service is slow due to lack of staff, is really nice. Then it's back to the house for final packing and the firstnof the goodbyes. The gang present us with a thank you card and tell us that there is a voucher coming for a stay at the Langham in Melbourne as appreciation for our hospitality. That was really nice, but we loved every minute of them being here.
Alicea and I drove Mark and Anna to the airport and said a very difficult goodbye. We've got to do it again tomorrow for the others - it's the worst two bits of the holiday.
Once we got back to the house, Steve went off to climb the Bridge Pylon while the rest of us sat around and chatted. We received the odd email and text from Mark at the airport, who had forgotten to take his olive oil with him! Steve will take it back for him.
Steve returned from his walk and we all got ready to go and see La Boheme at the Opera House. We went to Eastbank Italian restaurant on Circular Quay for something to eat before heading to the Opera House via an ice cream place.
To be honest, I wasn't that keen on the opera - I found it quite boring and fell asleep several times. The others all enjoyed it, which was good.
We all go for breakfast at Not Bread Alone which, although the service is slow due to lack of staff, is really nice. Then it's back to the house for final packing and the firstnof the goodbyes. The gang present us with a thank you card and tell us that there is a voucher coming for a stay at the Langham in Melbourne as appreciation for our hospitality. That was really nice, but we loved every minute of them being here.
Alicea and I drove Mark and Anna to the airport and said a very difficult goodbye. We've got to do it again tomorrow for the others - it's the worst two bits of the holiday.
Once we got back to the house, Steve went off to climb the Bridge Pylon while the rest of us sat around and chatted. We received the odd email and text from Mark at the airport, who had forgotten to take his olive oil with him! Steve will take it back for him.
Steve returned from his walk and we all got ready to go and see La Boheme at the Opera House. We went to Eastbank Italian restaurant on Circular Quay for something to eat before heading to the Opera House via an ice cream place.
To be honest, I wasn't that keen on the opera - I found it quite boring and fell asleep several times. The others all enjoyed it, which was good.
Friday, January 04, 2013
Bridge Climb
Today is the last full day where the gang is all together. Alicea, Anna and I left at 8am to drop Anna of at Darling Harbour for a facial.
The rest of us, except Caroline, went to Not Bread Alone for brekky. The food was good and very filling.
Rob, Caroline, Steve, Mark and myself caught a train to Newtown where we mooched around the record and bookshops before having a huge vegan lunch at the Green Gourmet.
Once we returned to the house, we took a few group photos before we were off again, this time for the Bridge Climb.
The climb was great and the weather was superb. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and we saw an amazing sunset. The climb was organised really well and we had plent of pictures taken on the way round. After the climb, we were presented with our certificates (Alicea, Steve and I got gold ones as we had done the climb more than once) and picked a couple of decent photos from the ones that had been taken.
Once we had finished, I called Fratelli Fresh in Walsh Bay, who said thatbthey would do their best to fit us in. Mark and I waited for the photos to be transferred to CD while Alicea and the rest made their way to the restaurant. Mark and I followed shortly afterwards and arrived first!
The meal was lovely and we were all very full by the time we had finished. We caught a couple of taxis outside the restaurant to take us home.
The rest of us, except Caroline, went to Not Bread Alone for brekky. The food was good and very filling.
Rob, Caroline, Steve, Mark and myself caught a train to Newtown where we mooched around the record and bookshops before having a huge vegan lunch at the Green Gourmet.
Once we returned to the house, we took a few group photos before we were off again, this time for the Bridge Climb.
The climb was great and the weather was superb. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and we saw an amazing sunset. The climb was organised really well and we had plent of pictures taken on the way round. After the climb, we were presented with our certificates (Alicea, Steve and I got gold ones as we had done the climb more than once) and picked a couple of decent photos from the ones that had been taken.
Once we had finished, I called Fratelli Fresh in Walsh Bay, who said thatbthey would do their best to fit us in. Mark and I waited for the photos to be transferred to CD while Alicea and the rest made their way to the restaurant. Mark and I followed shortly afterwards and arrived first!
The meal was lovely and we were all very full by the time we had finished. We caught a couple of taxis outside the restaurant to take us home.
Thursday, January 03, 2013
Test Match
Mark, Rob, Steve and I did an early morning run around the Bay Run (the other direction from the previous run) and then went back to the house for a quick breakfast before Steve, Mark and myself left for the cricket.
We arrived at the SCG just as play started and the seats were very good.
The day was scorching hot and I was glad I had a new tube of sunscreen.
The others, with the exception of Rob went to Darling Harbour for the day.
We left the cricket at tea and arrived home and met up with the others.
We ended up going to Crows Nest for dinner, meeting at Small Bar before going to eat at Garfish. After a great meal, Rob, Steve, Mark and I walked home and The girls drove home (doing a "Wanaka") on the way.
We arrived at the SCG just as play started and the seats were very good.
The day was scorching hot and I was glad I had a new tube of sunscreen.
The others, with the exception of Rob went to Darling Harbour for the day.
We left the cricket at tea and arrived home and met up with the others.
We ended up going to Crows Nest for dinner, meeting at Small Bar before going to eat at Garfish. After a great meal, Rob, Steve, Mark and I walked home and The girls drove home (doing a "Wanaka") on the way.
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
Surfing
Steve got up early and left to have brekky in Manly. Rob, Mark and I caught the 9.30am ferry from McMahons Point to Circular Quay and then to Manly.
We made our way to the Manly Surf School and were given wet suits and t-shirts. After a briefing and brief practice on the beach we carried our surfboards into the water.
Boy, was it hard. I kept sliding off the board and swallowing water and by the time I was turned around and "surfed" back to the shore, I was so knackered I could hardly raise my head, let alone stand up! The second time was much the same and the instructor got a wider surf board for me to see if it would help my balance. It didn't.
So that was the end of my surfing experience. Not the most enjoyable part of my holiday, but I'm glad I did it, none the less.
From there, we did a bit of shopping and went to Four Pines for lunch and a drink. We then caught the ferry back to Circular Quay and then to McMahons Point and walked home.
The evening was spent eating beans on toast and watching All Aussie Adventures and the old holiday videos from the USA, Norway and New Zealand.
We made our way to the Manly Surf School and were given wet suits and t-shirts. After a briefing and brief practice on the beach we carried our surfboards into the water.
Boy, was it hard. I kept sliding off the board and swallowing water and by the time I was turned around and "surfed" back to the shore, I was so knackered I could hardly raise my head, let alone stand up! The second time was much the same and the instructor got a wider surf board for me to see if it would help my balance. It didn't.
So that was the end of my surfing experience. Not the most enjoyable part of my holiday, but I'm glad I did it, none the less.
From there, we did a bit of shopping and went to Four Pines for lunch and a drink. We then caught the ferry back to Circular Quay and then to McMahons Point and walked home.
The evening was spent eating beans on toast and watching All Aussie Adventures and the old holiday videos from the USA, Norway and New Zealand.
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
Coogee to Bondi
Rob, Mark and I left early and drove to Rozelle where we did the Bay Run around Iron Cove. The weather was warm and after we finished we headed into Balmain where we had breakfast (including smoothies, water and coffee!)
On the return to the car, Alicea texted to ask us to pick up some bread, so we popped into a local deli where we bought some bread, milk, juices etc as we only had a credit card to pay with. The deli also sold a selection of British food including Tiptree Jam, Sandwich Spread and Pot Noodles!
We met the others back at the house and just after lunchtime Mark, Steve, Alicea and myself headed out to Bondi where we planned to do the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. When we arrived at Bondi Junction, the queues for e bus to Bondi Beach were huge so we caught the bus to Coogee instead, so we could do the walk backwards.
Coogee Beach was packed and from there we walked around the corder to Gordons Bay which was less crowded and Mark, Steve and Alicea went for a swim. After that, we walked through Clovelly, Bronte and stopped at Tamarama Beach for drinks before walking to Bondi and then catching a taxi home.
Rob and Caroline had been in the city all day at the Hyde Park Barracks and then at the cinema to watch the Hobbit.
When they got back, Steve, Rob, Caroline, Alicea and myself went to Phuong Vietnamese restaurant in Crows Nest where we had a very nice meal.
On the return to the car, Alicea texted to ask us to pick up some bread, so we popped into a local deli where we bought some bread, milk, juices etc as we only had a credit card to pay with. The deli also sold a selection of British food including Tiptree Jam, Sandwich Spread and Pot Noodles!
We met the others back at the house and just after lunchtime Mark, Steve, Alicea and myself headed out to Bondi where we planned to do the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. When we arrived at Bondi Junction, the queues for e bus to Bondi Beach were huge so we caught the bus to Coogee instead, so we could do the walk backwards.
Coogee Beach was packed and from there we walked around the corder to Gordons Bay which was less crowded and Mark, Steve and Alicea went for a swim. After that, we walked through Clovelly, Bronte and stopped at Tamarama Beach for drinks before walking to Bondi and then catching a taxi home.
Rob and Caroline had been in the city all day at the Hyde Park Barracks and then at the cinema to watch the Hobbit.
When they got back, Steve, Rob, Caroline, Alicea and myself went to Phuong Vietnamese restaurant in Crows Nest where we had a very nice meal.
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