Thanks just arrived in our Sydney hotel Great! Sydney is one of our favourite cities in Australia. SO many things to see and do, from beaches to museums to restaurants. A walk over the Harbour Bridge is wonderful and take in the museum, housed in one of the towers, as displays provide a fascinating account of the bridge's construction. I used to swim at the outdoor pool located at the north end of the bridge on land where many of the construction materials were fabricated, called Luna Park now, if I remember correctly. Take a ferry to Balmain and wander the main street there. If you see a sign for John Greenwood, Architect, go to the office and introduce yourselves, asking for John. He is a wonderful man and we got to know him through a friend who worked for him at one time. He took us sailing in Sydney Harbour a number of times. He also visited us in Vancouver when he was there on a conference.
As well, take a RiverCat ferry up the Parramatta River and then the tube back, or vice--versa, just to see more of the surrounding area. Manley is pretty much a tourist trap, as far as I am concerned but wandering around the Opera House and rest of the harbour front is delightful. Sarge and I "climbed" the Harbour Bridge, relatively expensive but loads of fun. See if there are any outdoor films being shown at some of the parks. If so, you can take a picnic, with plenty of wine and watch under the stars. While Bondi is often filled with tourists and locals, the walks south, along the cliffs are marvellous. I also used to swim at The Icebergs, an ocean-fed pool at the south end of Bondi.
For meals and drinks the various sports clubs are terrific. You don't necessarily have to be a member as you can buy a "temporary" membership, at least that was the way it was when we were last in country. Also, remember that most places, particularly small, family spots, allow corkage or, in fact, don't sell liquor so you can bring your own booze, without charge. This was changing from 1991 to 2012, first and last visits, but nothing to lose by trying or asking. I'm pretty sure you can take a train/subway all the way to The Blue Mountains should this be of interest. If you are in Sydney for a week, +/-, buy a tube/bus pass as it is well worth it and you see more of city. I think you can even qualify for a senior's rate. Age requirement is even lower in Australia! Anyway, I'm sure you will be able to thoroughly amuse yourselves! Fondestos from Lady Dar and Chloë, readying themselves for the last Farmers' Market, we hope! Had a grand time at the Grandmothers For Africa dinner, last night. Saw Marian and Tim and their eldest granddaughter. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Lady Dar and I strolled down Main to take in the last Farmers' Market of the season. Enjoyed the sunshine and chatting with a number of the vendors. Once back, Norm, from across back lane, brought over his chain saw and cut up all the considerable number of large tree limbs I had piled in the back driveway. Stormin' really knows what he is doing so had everything bucked in a little more than an hour or so. Certainly much appreciated and I "payed" him with beer even though he didn't really want anything. Earlier in the week I had bought a large container of oil for the saw so I may well need to put the finger on him again, depending on what more "free" firewood I'm able to find. Extremely pleased with the amount of wood that I've been able to scrounge so far!
That evening we went out to the Front Street Brasserie to celebrate the 46th anniversary of meeting back at Champs Motor Inn pub, in Winnipeg! Had to go today as Chloë will be in Vernon, taking out Emma and Luca, her god-children, trick-or-treating. Wonder how Etta and Duke will take all the costumes! Had a wonderful meal. Fabulous place and met a delightful couple, Susanne and Leandro, (She from Montreal, he from Argentina), who live in Sendero Canyon, complex where Chloë's townhouse is being built. He is one of four-assistant wine-makers at Mission Hill and she is the Executive Director for the Association of Family Practioners for the South Okanagan. We invited them back for a malt and we had a great time visiting, warmed as much by the whiskey as the fire. Starting to become quite chilly now, as soon as the sun goes down.
Hi Guillermo! Where are you and your truck when I really need you both? Off to Front Street Brasserie to celebrate the 46th anniversary of our meeting, in Winnipeg, at Champs Motor Inn! Last night on our way in to the Grandmothers For Africa dinner at the Shatford. What a blast! Ricardo with Chloë on way in. The Dunns with their granddaughter and neighbour. Two Grnadmothers from Ethiopia. My cousin, Michelle Dunn with Mary, from Theos. Patrizzio with Rita, cook for dinner, last three years. Happy Black Cat Halloween! Cheers, Patrizzio!!!
Hello OF hikers This Monday, we will wander from the Summerland rifle range around the back of Wildhorse Mtn and up the east slopes of Eneas, but not to the summit. There should be lots of colour, and the weather still looks to be clear. Meet to carpool at HH Penticton at 0840, and IGA Summerland at 0900.
Hope to see you there. Tony
Total left hip replacement Nanaimo Hosp scheduled Nov 21! Was only a 6 month wait with less than a month's notice. Hoping 4 weeks rehab enough to spend Christmas with the girls. Other great news!! New GP!! Current GP retiring Nov 10. So hard to find a Dr on the island. So many seniors!!! New Doc is a young Czech, grad from Charles Uni in Prague '10, post grad in Wales '15, where met & married husband, also a GP who recently took over a practice in town.
Hi Titanium Hipster, Soon-to-Be! Grand news indeed! All going well, I think four weeks should be enough time for Christmas with your girls. Try to be as fit as possible beforehand as this will help with rehab. For my part, after having both hips done, I'm now seeing about a right shoulder replacement! Saw specialist yesterday and he said he hasn't seen a worse, arthritic joint! No cartilage whatsoever, bone on bone. He was quite impressed that I wasn't taking any pain-killers but said since I was from Winnipeg I was probably pretty tough! Have to have a CT scan, (about a month waiting time), and then he will be able to tell if such a replacement is possible or might lead to further complications. I was heartened to learn that recovery is about the same as from hip surgery since I didn't find either hip replacement overly difficult to recover from. Key is being disciplined about rehab exercises. Cheers to you and Francesco! All the best with surgery, Patrizzio!
Thought shoulder recovery was more like knee. Mine is bone on bone. Terrible pain at night. Other problems, rotor Scoliosis & collapsed falling right arch with lots of ankle pain. Do take drugs!!! No drinking�� as of Monday as advised in handbook, 3 wks before & 4 wks after!!!😞 As for time shares, we've had our full!!! No more!!! No plans to travel anywhere for now except AB. Thinking about Bucerius over AZ. Not decided yet. Is Chloe divorced? Ayn? Forget! Hi again, Maggster! I suffer a fair bit of discomfort with my shoulder at night as well. I wasn't aware of alcohol prohibition before and after surgery. Good thing as I never stopped! You might consider Guayabitos/La Peñita, about an hour north of Bucerias. We spent two months there in 2011 and had a wonderful, wonderful time. Ayn is divorced and Chloë is looking! Cheers, Patrizzio!
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