Scribblings of a Sydney Scribbler

The ferry back - 081107

2007-11-18T01:27:00.000-08:00

North Sydney Olympic Pool - 081107

2007-11-17T19:42:00.000-08:00

Back in Blighty - 181107

2007-11-17T19:28:00.001-08:00

So, it is 3.30am on Sunday. I am awake, obviously, my body still on Sydney time. I'll do a little uploading of photographs and then go back to sleep.

The flight back was ok - there was quite a bit more turbulence coming back than going. To be honest, I rather like it: it is quite exhilirating! Once again I was very impressed with the crew of Singapore Airlines - very efficient and this time more sincerely friendly than they were on the flight from London to Singapore. The crew from Sydney to Singapore included the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life (excluding you, if you are female). She was absolutely stunning - almost doll-like in her perfection.

I got back to the flat at 7am, pottered about for a couple of hours then had a few hours sleep. I went out late afternoon. There were a couple of things I had to purchase including a few CDs (the soundtrack to 'Elizabeth: The Golden Age', latest from Messrs John Barrowman and Michael Ball and a greatest hits package of Miss Julia Fordham). These were to take my mind off the fact I am back! I was staggered by the crowds and how packed town was! How could I have forgotten?!?! I knew I was home when I saw a young man (in his early twenties), holding the hand of his sobbing daughter whilst shouting down his mobile: 'F***ING TALK TO ME.'

Welcome back!

And its goodbye to him - 161107

2007-11-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

So it's goodbye to them - 161107

2007-11-15T15:41:00.000-08:00

The venue for Priscilla - 141107

2007-11-14T20:51:00.000-08:00

The Eye and I - 131107

2007-11-14T20:50:00.000-08:00

Trying to master the camera's 10 second delay... - 131107

2007-11-14T20:47:00.001-08:00

Blue sky in Melbourne - 131107

2007-11-14T20:46:00.000-08:00

Just what the Bangles ordered - 131107

2007-11-14T20:44:00.000-08:00

George V Memorial - 131107

2007-11-14T20:34:00.000-08:00

Note the detail!

Diana on a street stall - 121107

2007-11-14T20:32:00.000-08:00

Sun beams - 121107

2007-11-14T20:31:00.000-08:00

Sunbathing - 121107

2007-11-14T20:30:00.000-08:00

St Catherine of Siena - 121107

2007-11-14T20:23:00.000-08:00

Thursday - 151107

2007-11-14T20:22:00.000-08:00

The theatre was great; the cinema was great. Everything's great - especially the weather. Gloriously sunny and v v warm. But here I am stuck in the internet cafe. I am, in the words of Tina Cousins, killing time waiting for my washing to do before I head into town for some last minute purchases.

I thought I would take the opportunity to upload some pictures from Melbourne.

Enjoy!

Wednesday - 141107

2007-11-13T22:12:00.000-08:00

Arrived back from Melbourne safely. It was very foggy there this morning so I've taken a couple of pictures of obscured buildings etc. I arrived at the airport to discover that my flight back to Sydney had been cancelled. Luckily, I was there early enough to catch an earlier flight than the one I had been booked on.

I have just had a swim, have checked in for my flight back to Blighty on Friday (boo, hoo x 1,000,000) and will soon be getting ready to go to the theatre - this time to see Brenda Blethyn in an Alan Bennett play. Tomorrow morning, Colin and I are hoping to see 'The Golden Age' - the new Cate Blanchett film.

Anyway, I can scarcely believe I have got to the third paragraph without saying how FANTASTIC 'Priscilla' was. I cannot recall seeing a better spectacle in my life - well not one on the stage anyway! It is a wonderful show and I cannot wait for it to open in London. I imagine it will be very popular in certain quarters.

Aside from the breathtaking spectacle - as Lady T might have said 'the costumes were divine' and as someone else might have said 'the dancing was funky' - the writing was great: very witty and contemporary. For those who have seen the film, they are no longer going through an ABBA phase - they are now in their Kylie phase. Also, the ping pong ball routine has transferred well to stage which I know some of you will be keen to know and so has the mullet line!! Actually, the whole mullet scene was too funny!

What was especially fantastic was the way the songs told the story and also how the interpretations of the numbers made you look at and listen to them in a completely different way to how you do usually. I thought this was particulary the case with 'I say a little prayer', 'Finally', 'We belong' and 'You are always on my mind'.

Best of all, when members of the audience were dragged on stage to dance, I was not one of them!

After the show, I walked back over the river to see the Queen Victoria Memorial floodlit - very beautiful. I refrained from going to see if the George V Memorial was similary lit as it is much deeper into the park and you never know in foreign parts.

Anyway, this might be my last post until I start uploading pictures when I get back to London. Be warned - I took almost 300 in Melbourne alone and there are many more from the week before!

Hope this thing has been of some interest.

Tuesday - 131107

2007-11-12T21:19:00.000-08:00

It is almost 4.30pm in Melbourne. I have been out and about since 10.30am. Given the weather has got hotter and hotter as the day has progressed, I am now officially exhausted! I've just been to collect my ticket for tonight's show and once I have typed this I am going to have a lie down.

As I suspected, my camera has been doing overtime. Indeed, there are now less than 10 minutes battery life left on it so I'll need to charge it for tomorrow.

Melbourne is nothing like Sydney. It feels a lot less British than Sydney does and the weather is different - the ozone must be thicker here than in Sydney because although it has been very warm the heat is not as burning as it is in Sydders and last night got quite chilly when I went out for a walk.

I happened on an arts centre during that walk. There is a big Jewish Film Festival here for the next few weeks. Sadly, I shalln't be able to see any of the films but I did get the listing so I shall be able to try and get them on Amazon Rental.

I'm not going to give a running commentary on what I have seen because, not only is my internet account due to terminate in 14 minutes, I shall be uploading the photographs in due course. That said, I would say that the most impressive things I have seen so far are the Shrine of Remembrance, the Queen Victoria Memorial and above these, and indeed above all others, to quote Dame Shirley, the George V Memorial. It is stunning!

If it's Monday, it must be Melbourne! - 121107

2007-11-11T20:42:00.000-08:00

I have just arrived in a gloriously sunny and very warm Melbourne having left a gloriously sunny and very warm Sydney. I knew this would happen if I came here: it be sunny in Sydney and ideal weather for beach visits whilst I am stuck in a city! Still, as 'Priscilla' boasts 5oo costumes, it will be worth the trip. Apparently, there is audience participation so I shall have to look sharp as I am on the front row and don't want to be collared.

I flew with 'Virginblue' and as is my style got to the airport with far too much time to spare. The flight here was ok apart from the take off and landing which were not as pleasant as they were on Singapore Airlines let me just say. From the airport, I took the 'sky bus' shuttle service to Spencer Street station.

No facilities here for uploading photographs so there will be quite a delay before I get them up - the photos that is. Just walking to the hotel (http://www.victoriahotel.com.au/) from the bus station I started to feel the onset of clickitus so I shall have to ensure my camera is fully charged tomorrow and Wednesday morning.

Right, off now for something to eat and a wander round.

Sunday - 111107

2007-11-11T00:59:00.001-08:00

Opposite to what was forecast, it has been another glorious day so it was to the Blue Mountains. Colin's friend, James, was driving us. We met him at 9am and did not return until 6pm so we are exhausted!

I've uploaded some pictures of the day featuring yours truly and the Sun. There are more pictures to be uploaded in due course. No photographs, however, can do the Blue Mountains justice. They are too, too stunning. I wonder how the first Europeans who saw them reacted to such spectacular views.

We took lunch at the Blue Mountains town of Katoomba. I sat down, looked up and there on the wall was a cover of a Dame Shirley album! There was also a Cilla Black album sleeve!

Before departing I confirmed my flight to Melbourne with VirginBlue. I shall be there this time tomorrow. The hotel I am staying in is just round the corner from the theatre where 'Priscilla' is on and is very central.

The picture below those of today was taken on Saturday night after our meal out. We went to the local French restaurant. The food was magnificent and the atmosphere of the place was very European. I did not take my camera so there aren't any pictures of the event.

I don't know when next I shall be able to blog but there's plenty on already for you to be going on with!

The Sun - and some cloud - 111107

2007-11-11T00:56:00.000-08:00

Me at the Blue Mountains - 111107

2007-11-11T00:48:00.000-08:00

Sitting comfortably - 101107

2007-11-11T00:44:00.000-08:00

Later on Saturday - 101107

2007-11-09T21:51:00.000-08:00

You see: I should make notes of what I want to write because with my memory I forget.

Anyway, there I am working my way through an hour in the 50 metre pool (no mean feat, I'll tell you) when it came to me all of a sudden: the thing I overheard in the club last night.

A man goes up to the bar and of the barman asks: 'What's cheap?'

Without batting an eyelid, the barman responds: 'You, obviously.'

Ouch!

Saturday - 101107

2007-11-09T18:50:00.000-08:00

How's it going?

I can't be long: the pool beckons. We are all due to go out for a meal tonight and I need to do a lot of swimming to rejuvenate myself. I am exhausted from all the dancing (and drinking) of 'Kylie Night'. Actually, 'Kylie Night' turned out to be one Kylie song mimed to by a drag queen and there were no free giveaways (as advertised) so we all feel a bit cheated! I can't remember what time I got in but I do recall waking up on the bed at 4.45am thinking it would probably be a good idea to get undressed and into bed. So I did.

The weather is gorgeous today which is the opposite of what was forecast. Hopefully, it will be as good tomorrow for we are planning a trip to the Blue Mountains. I have been told I CANNOT and am NOT ALLOWED to leave Australia without seeing them. So I had better go - or perhaps I had better not!

Yesterday, the weather was so so but I went to Manly anyway. Manly is a suburb on the other side of the harbour and was given its name by one of the Governor's after he saw the masculine aspect of the Aborigines there. It bills itself as 'seven miles from Sydney, a thousand miles from cares'. Yes.

I walked down to the bay and then along the beach. The weather was not good enough to go swimming and as the billboards broadcast after all the rain this week it would not have been wise to swim anyway given the 'pollution' situation. As I overheard an Englishman say as he read the notice: 'the sea will be full of poo and floating nappies.' Indeed.

Nevertheless, I did go paddling and dodged all the washed up blue jellyfish. There were lots of surfers, quite far out and it was great to see them doing their thang as the surf got higher and higher. I can understand why Australians are so obsessed with surfing - the thrill of the waves must be addictive.

Getting back to Circular Quay just before 5pm I walked back to the flat and photographed the rest of the things in the Domain I want you to see. I'll get the pics uploaded when I can.

I spoke to Mummy. She said: 'I like the story about the old woman.'

Her saying that reminded me of something of the exchange which I failed to put in the blog entry so here it is as a form of encore. When I posed for the photograph she took of me, she came out with:

'Now don't stand there all stiff. Relax - put your leg up or something.'

Indeed.

I sent some more postcards yesterday. Quite difficult really to think what to put when I have done this blog but I did manage to mention on some - only in passing of course - that when we went to the Opera House we had champagne in the Opera House Bar beforehand. This is the life!

Hope you all have a good weekend and regretting that this time next week I shall be back in Blighty.

Friday - 091107

2007-11-08T16:04:00.000-08:00

Gud Mourning!

First things first, I don't know if I am going to have much time now to upload pictures, so, if not, I shall do so when I get back to England.

Thursday the weather continued uncertain but I decided to go to the North Sydney Olympic Pool anyway just to see it, if not swim in it. I took the ferry from Circular Quay to Milson's Point. By the time I reached the other side of the Harbour, the Sun had come out so I did go swimming. I feared the water would be freezing but it was surprisingly warm so it had to be heated. The pool was opened in 1936 and is art deco in style. It looks a bit tired now but must have been wonderful in its heyday. It is just under the Sydney Harbour Bridge so the views are marvellous! Apparently, more records have been broken in this pool than any other pool in the world.

Yet again, it is 50 metres in length. About half way down the length of the pool, the depth begins to drop dramatically until at the deep end the depth reaches just short of 4 metres. It was a bit much being outswam by a female pensioner and two young kids but there we are.

Anyway, I am minding my own business at the end of the one of the lanes when a man gets into the next lane and starts talking to me.

Man: 'Is it heated?'

Me: 'It must be.'

Man: 'Where are you from?'

Me: 'I grew up in Yorkshire but I live in London.'

Man: 'I grew up in Tunbridge Wells. I came out here 36 years ago when I was 20. I was a ten pound Pom and I now live in Balmain [a suburb overlooking the Harbour]. And I'm a bricklayer.'

Me: 'This is an amazing place.'

Man: 'It is paradise. I go back to England and can't wait to get back here. There is an undercurrent of thuggery in London. And there are too many blacks. There are too many of everything in London.'

I guess that told me.

Back on the south side of the Harbour, I walked back to the flat. I decided that Thursday night was the night I would walk round Sydney when it was dark to see the buildings lit up. Sadly, the pictures I have taken with my camera are not very good. This is especially sad as it was the naming ceremony of the 'Pacific Dawn' - a huge P&O cruise liner which is berthed at Circular Quay. There was an amazing light show on one side of the boat and fireworks! Yes, I have seen fireworks in Sydney Harbour - and it is not even New Year's Eve!

Today (Friday), I am catching the ferry to Manly. Hopefully, the weather will improve enough for me to go in the sea. This evening, there is a Kylie night at a local hostelry to celebrate the imminent release of her new single. Tomorrow will probably be spent recovering from that. I had better be fully recovered for the evening as we are going for a meal.

It is most seriously displeasing to think that this time next week, I shall be preparing to return to the United Kingdom.

Buildings and features - 071107

2007-11-07T17:19:00.000-08:00

Anzac War Memorial.

Australian Museum.

A feature.

Sydney Grammar School.

The Conservatorium of Music.

This building was originally intended to be stables.

The Colonial Secretary's Office.

Botanic Gardens - 071107

2007-11-07T16:58:00.000-08:00

Trees - 071107

2007-11-07T16:57:00.001-08:00

Government House - 071107

2007-11-07T16:52:00.000-08:00

Spider - 071107

2007-11-07T16:51:00.000-08:00

Lunch - 071107

2007-11-07T16:48:00.000-08:00

Lunch.
Joined for lunch.

My lunch companion.

Sharing a coffee.

The swimming pool - 071107

2007-11-07T16:45:00.000-08:00

Wednesday - 071107

2007-11-07T16:22:00.000-08:00

It is pouring down outside, although it does seem to be fairing up, so I have some time to relate the events of Wednesday.

They ended with a show at the Sydney Opera House. Kiki and Herb - one of the funniest shows I have ever seen. There is a man with a piano and a man in drag - she is an aging has-been and is very Joan Rivers in her observations. As the show goes on the more tipsy and biting Kiki becomes. 'I say: 'if you haven't been molested as a kid, you must have been damn ugly.'' They did a whole skit on Jesus which was hilarious. Apparently, Kiki and Mary Magdalene were at the crucifixion demanding that the Romans 'leave him be' - this said with the tone of a black woman! Too funny! There was a long tirade about Jonbenet Ramsay which was very naughty.

They opened the second act with a cover of Dame Shirley's 'The Rhythm Divine' and ended the show with an audience singalong of their own 'The C*nts still rule the world'! Marvellous! The encore was 'The Cancer Medley': 'La, la, la, la, la, la - can't get you out of my head'. As Kiki said: 'you can't keep a good showgirl down'. True!

Anyway, the day had started with a tour of the Botanic Gardens. These were much bigger than I thought they would be.

I also visited Government House, which reminded me of Balmoral. I was not able to go on a tour of the House but I did have a wander round the grounds.

The following conversation between a pensioner woman and myself took place.

Woman: 'D-O Y-O-U W-A-N-T Y-O-U-R P-H-O-T-O-G-R-A-P-H T-A-K-I-N-G?'

Me: 'Yes, please.'

Woman: 'Oh, I thought you were foreign.'

Me: 'I am.'

Woman: 'You're from the North of England. I'm from Windsor.'

It transpires she and her husband ('he's the expert on classic cars, I'm the expert on flowers') are visiting relatives in Sydney. They are in Australia for three weeks and are travelling to Melbourne next week. Here's hoping I don't bump into them again...

Eventually, to the swimming baths. Another Olympic size pool! I really knew I had been swimming after an hour of it! I learnt later that it has only just reopened after being closed on hygeine grounds for a while. So if I don't blog in a couple of days, you'll know why!

Today (Thursday), I want to go to the art deco swimming pool on the north side of the harbour but as it is open air I shalln't be doing so unless the weather improves drastically.

Indeed - 061107

2007-11-06T00:16:00.000-08:00

Raindrops keep falling... - 061107

2007-11-06T00:14:00.000-08:00

More water - 061107

2007-11-06T00:13:00.001-08:00

Another water feature - 061107

2007-11-06T00:10:00.000-08:00

Tall buildings - and historic ones - 061107

2007-11-06T00:09:00.000-08:00

The fountain in Hyde Park - 061107

2007-11-05T23:56:00.000-08:00

It's hardly Chatsworth - 061107

2007-11-05T23:55:00.000-08:00

More from St Mary's Cathedral - 061107

2007-11-05T23:39:00.000-08:00

A memorial - 061107

2007-11-05T23:36:00.001-08:00

Sweet Jesus! - 061107

2007-11-05T23:27:00.000-08:00

Tuesday - 061107

2007-11-05T23:16:00.000-08:00

Shalom!

It is Melbourne Cup day. For those, like myself, who have no knowledge and less interest in such matters, the Melbourne Cup is a racing fixture. It is billed as 'bringing the nation to a halt'. It is a public holiday in the state of Victoria but not here. Nevertheless, lots of companies let their employees have the afternoon off - cue lots of tipsy, glammed up Aussies parading about the city. Most of the women I saw were sporting hats. Very Ascot!

To quote Mr Arkwright, it has been a funny old day. It has rained on and off for the greater part of it and the sun has only been out occasionally. There was a beautiful rainbow this morning and may be another any time given the conditions outside.

I visited the Jewish Museum (details: http://www.sydneyjewishmuseum.com.au/) - hence the opening salutation. I spent a couple of hours having a look round. It was very moving - especially the children memorial. It has a million and a half drops of water to commemorate the million and a half children who perished in the Shoah and is made with stone from Jerusalem.

I took lunch at 'Gloria Jeans'. This is the Australian equivalent of Starbucks.

Then it was to St Mary's Cathedral again - this time to see the crypt with its fantastic mosaic flooring. Pictures above.

Given the amount of water that has fallen today I have photographed quite a few water features so if you are on the verge of a scatalogical incident don't look above!

I have managed to book a ticket to see 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical' next week in Melbourne. The Regent Theatre is just round the corner from the hotel where we shall be staying. In honour of this booking, I bought the cast recording and managed to do so with my credit card. It would seem HSBC have taken note.

Lyla tov.

Koalas and I - 051107

2007-11-05T02:52:00.001-08:00

Koalas and other animals - 051107

2007-11-05T02:32:00.000-08:00

Pretty flora yet again - 051107

2007-11-05T02:29:00.000-08:00

Fort Denison - 051107

2007-11-05T02:28:00.000-08:00

Diana and I - 051107

2007-11-05T02:26:00.000-08:00

Before and after the Diana exhibition - 051107

2007-11-05T02:14:00.000-08:00

The Sydney Entertainment Centre - 051107

2007-11-05T02:01:00.000-08:00

This is where Dame Shirley lost her voice after the death of her daughter.

Monday - 051107

2007-11-05T01:55:00.000-08:00

Am knackered! We've had a very busy day: the Diana exhibition, the aquariam and the zoo. All this followed by a lovely tapas meal.

The Diana exhibition was wonderful, of course. It is as moving to see it here as it was to see it at Althorp. It is still almost unbearably sad to see the cine camera footage of her as a child knowing what life was to hold for her. And the wedding room is also very moving - lots of footage of the ceremony. In one respect it is better here than at Althorp for here the train is fully extended whereas in England it is curled round in front of the dress. Various pictures attached although sadly we were not allowed to take any in the exhibition itself.

Then on to the aquarium. This was fantastic - especially the shark tank. I tried to use my credit card to purchase some items. It was declined; thus I have had a slightly fraught conversation with HSBC this evening. They will be getting a letter from me when I get back about this year of shocking service I have had from them.

From the aquarium on the ferry to the zoo. Various pictures attached. The Koalas were the best bit of the whole visit. In one of the pens two of them were fighting - amazing to see them be so vicious and move so quickly!

Not sure what I am doing tomorrow - it will all depend on the weather.

Indeed - 041107

2007-11-04T00:52:00.000-07:00

Sunbathing at Bronte - 041107

2007-11-04T00:48:00.000-07:00

Surf's up! - 041107

2007-11-04T00:44:00.000-07:00

To Bondi and beyond - 041107

2007-11-04T00:21:00.000-07:00

The view from the lounge on Sunday morning - 041107

2007-11-04T00:19:00.000-07:00

Note the lushness of the grass and the blue of the harbour water!

Sunday - 041107

2007-11-04T00:08:00.000-07:00

A night in on Saturday. We watched 'The Singer' and were privileged to witness the most fantastic electrical storm - the flashes of lightening went on for ages.

Happily, the forecast stormy conditions for Sunday did not transpire - as you can see from the view from the lounge above.

Given the weather, we took a bus to Bondi beach and then walked round to Bronte beach. On the way we passed an arts feature - lots of sculptures. I've photographed some.

No sooner were we at Bronte than I was in the sea and Colin was in the sun warming up. The waves grew higher and higher and it was great fun getting caught up in them. Great fun but also occasionally painful: I fell quite heavily on my backside and also scrapped my left shoulder along the seabed - I bet it is throbbing in the morning. I was also landed on underwater by a tall, blond Australian gentleman after one of the waves got hold of us. Indeed.

At first, I tried to battle the waves. Of course, I always failed to beat them. In the end I decided to go with them - the feeling of exhiliration as the sea carried me on was fantastic! As the pictures show, I enjoyed myself!

I broke time in the sea with quite a bit of sun bathing - evidence attached.

Having spent enough time in the sun and sea, we took the bus back to the apartment. A vodka and tonic later, we are now in the internet cafe. Not sure what we are doing this evening but for tomorrow we have planned the Diana exhibition, the aquarium and the zoo.

Busy, busy, busy - just like Princess Margaret.

Paddington and its environs - 031107

2007-11-03T00:54:00.000-07:00

The entrance to the barracks.

A corrugated roof.

There is an election campaign going on here at the moment.

This is some commentary about the Labour candidate for Prime Minister.

St Vincent's Hospital.

Colin and Iain at the bottom.

A native - 031107

2007-11-03T00:50:00.000-07:00

This woman was TOO funny. She is a 'palm and face reader' and was here giving her advice to a young woman at Paddington Market. She is the only amusing Australian I have been able to photograph and believe me there have been rather a few. The only reason I was able to get this picture was because Colin was doing strange things with his hands but I'll draw a veil over that.

It is a shame I was not able to get a frontal shot of her for the waist of the dress was almost at her neck and her bosoms were separately well south of the waist line!

An avenue of trees - 031107

2007-11-03T00:49:00.000-07:00

OMG! They even have their own cafe! - 031107

2007-11-03T00:47:00.000-07:00

More flora - 031107

2007-11-03T00:44:00.000-07:00

More pretty blossom - 031107

2007-11-03T00:40:00.001-07:00

As you might be able to tell from the number of pictures, I absolutely adore this type of tree. The colour is so beautiful - especially when it carpets the pavement as per above snaps.

Apparently, it is a Japanese import and only blossoms around October time so I am lucky to be able to see it.

What would Andy Warhol say? - 031107

2007-11-03T00:36:00.000-07:00

This is Clover Moore - the Lord Mayor of Sydney and its MP. There is more to follow on her so watch this space...

Later on Saturday - 021107

2007-11-03T00:25:00.000-07:00

Hopefully, you won't have switched off after my 'just Peter' moment earlier!

Once again, the weather faired up enough to go out so Colin and I took a walk up Oxford Street to Paddington. First stop was the Paddington Market. Then a walk through Paddington and lunch. Iain joined us and then he and I went into town to go in search of CDs. I purchased four: Dame Shirley's album (the Australian edition boasts a logo the British one did not have), the 'Dreamgirls' soundtrack, the 'Talk to Her' soundtrack and 'Liza with a Z' - all for a total of 25 English pounds!

Back to the flat and now to the internet cafe. I am absolutely exhausted after last night's partying and consequent lack of sleep so I am staying in tonight - unless I get the urge to have a walk round Hyde Park.

Anyway, pictures of the day are above.

Saturday - 031107

2007-11-02T17:15:00.001-07:00

This is Saturday! It seems likely I shall get to the cinema after all!

Colin has to pop out for an appointment so I have come to the internet cafe again.

It has been said to me that there is not very much writing on the blog. As I responded: 'that is because what I would put on there I don't want people to know.'!

Seriously, though, the pictures tell the story of how great this City is, to paraphrase Dame Shirley.

That said, one week in, and it being bad weather outside, I do have some time to type more than I have before.

The first thing I would say is that Sydney is nothing like I expected it to be - in a good way. I envisaged high rise, modern, glass and steel and while that exists there are lots of low rise, old, and stone and brick buildings. It does feel weird to have all these reminders of Blighty in what is, after all, a foreign country. It also feels strange to think that Her Majesty is also The Queen here. How often, I wonder, does she think of the other prime ministers she has - is it 14? - when the British one turns up for the weekly audience to bleat or orate away?!

I was almost overpowered initially by the general friendliness of people in shops (Mary aside). This came as something of a shock to an anti-social person such as myself. Very often the shop assistants ask: 'How are you?'. 'Like it is any of your business', I wanted to respond at first; but haven't done so - yet.

I have to say I can't recall hearing 'G'day' uttered once but what I have heard a lot is 'how's it going?'. For my response, refer back to the last line of the preceding paragraph.

Nightlife: this is nothing at all like London and again not at all what I expected it to be like. Compared with London, there is hardly any nightlife at all and some of the bars are well let's just say interesting. Example: in one last week, I saw a barmaid wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with: 'b(e)low job'. Indeed.

Pints here don't exist - what the British know as a pint comes in just over a half pint glass. And there is no difference between beer and lager - as I found to my cost last night. I asked for a beer and a lager and was presented with one glass of liquid. When I asked which this was - the beer or the lager - I was greeted with: 'what's the difference?'. 'Quite a lot in England, but I don't know here, sorry.' [Actually, given my drinking habits I don't actually know if there is a difference between beer and lager in Britain but assume there is given the difference in spelling if nothing else.]

Loose change: when you go in a shop your change is rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents. So, for things priced $1.99 you actually pay $2. So why the hell do they mark things at prices such as $0.99?!

Immigration: there are lots of Asians and some white Australians are quite racist towards them. Strange really when you consider the whites themselves are immigrants - and native destroyers; but there we are. My response has been the same as it is in Britain: how would this country run without its immigrants?! Who would work in Starbucks? Who would work in the takeaways? Who would janitor the apartment blocks? And who would the brightly coloured gentlemen have to go out with? I have seen surprisingly few black people: three men and one woman from what I remember.

Right. The big question: would I come back? Yes, yes, yes, to misquote Lady T. In fact, I really don't want to leave. Either happily/sadly, I am now too old to get a visa easily. Working holiday visas (I think that is what they are called) are not given to people over the age of 30. As I said to Colin why didn't he move here sooner?! To move here now I would need to have a skill and find an employer who would be willing to sponsor me. This is the way Colin got in. Apparently, there are shortages of market researchers and recruiters. I don't think my previous interviewing experience would be enough so I might do some personal development training at a recruitment agency!!

I can't say I expected to feel like this when I was travelling here but more or less straight away I knew this was a place I could live - despite the flies which are very irritating. I think a lot of it is due to the common language. It often feels like I am in Earl's Court although the Aussies there are not as well behaved as they are here!

And despite the lady doing the commentary on the cruise talking almost exclusively about the property prices of the houses we sailed past (!), this is not a country as stuck up and uptight as England, or at least I don't get the impression it is. As Iain said, there is an optimism here. You can feel it is a young country. You don't get that feeling in England, or at least I don't. I do think England is finished. It it weren't tired, cynical, pessimistic, all the shocking and demeaning things that have happened there in the past few years would not have happened.

Perhaps I am succumbing to a touch of 'the grass is greener' syndrome!

Perhaps I have had a touch too much sun!

Ah, yes, the sun! This is the thing, above all others, that Sydney has to offer!

A familiar name - 021107

2007-11-02T00:58:00.000-07:00

Because you can never have too much Diana - 021107

2007-11-02T00:57:00.000-07:00

More of Queen Victoria Building - 021107

2007-11-02T00:52:00.000-07:00

Behind The Presence.

Good old BA.

What a frontage!

Hard to believe it used to be a market.

The Domes.

Police courts - 021107

2007-11-02T00:51:00.000-07:00

Central Station - 021107

2007-11-02T00:49:00.000-07:00

China town - 021107

2007-11-02T00:48:00.000-07:00

A building at risk - 021107

2007-11-02T00:47:00.001-07:00

Fitting it should be The Australian Workers Union.

Places of worship - 021107

2007-11-02T00:40:00.000-07:00

Architectural detail - 021107

2007-11-02T00:39:00.000-07:00

An interesting building - 021107

2007-11-02T00:38:00.000-07:00

A feature - 021107

2007-11-02T00:37:00.000-07:00

City Hall - 021107

2007-11-02T00:35:00.000-07:00

The Great Synagogue - 021107

2007-11-02T00:29:00.003-07:00

A fire station - 021107

2007-11-02T00:25:00.000-07:00

A former post office - 021107

2007-11-02T00:23:00.000-07:00

A pretty flower - 021107

2007-11-02T00:22:00.000-07:00

Darling Harbour - 021107

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An empty nest - 021107

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Bloody pigeon - 021107

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Trees in bloom - 021107

2007-11-02T00:15:00.000-07:00

Water features - 021107

2007-11-02T00:12:00.000-07:00

Later on Friday - 021107

2007-11-02T00:09:00.000-07:00

The weather let up enough for me to go out this afternoon. I have now covered the second section in the guidebook: 'The City Centre and Darling Harbour'. Various pictures above.

I have been astounded by the amount of royal heritage there is intact. Queen Victoria seems to be everywhere keeping an eye on her people: outside her building, on the post office, on the custom house, on the fire station. Quite incredible.

There is also a huge diversity of places of worship. As I photographed The Great Synagogue a rather fresh faced young(ish) gentleman of Australian extraction came up to me and asked if I wanted my picture taking in front of the synagogue. I declined his offer. He then asked if I was Jewish. I responded negatively. He then asked what I was doing. Photographing the synagogue replied I. We got into a short chat about my trip and my interest in places of worship. Where else had I been to see them asked he? Paris and Rome I said. He tried to prolong the conversation but as were in spitting distance of the scientology headquarters and he was smartly dressed and accompanied by a similar (although bespectacled and not as young) gentleman, I forewent a prolongation of the conversation. In short, I bid him goodbye.

Colin and I are now in the internet cafe. We shall be hitting the strip later - an Australian term for street with pubs on, I think.

And the best news is that I shall be going to Melbourne after all: a week on Monday through to a week on Wednesday. Hurrah! I understand the architecture in Bourne of Mel is even better than in Sydney so I shall be clicking my way through the town!

We get back into Sydney Wednesday lunchtime, have the theatre that night and then the cinema first thing Thursday - the opening day of 'The Golden Age'.

The trip to Melbourne also means that everything I want to do in Sydney I have to get done next week.

Strewth!

Friday - 021107

2007-11-01T18:10:00.000-07:00

This is Friday morning - so a perfect opportunity to upload pictures!

Shop signs - dates various

2007-11-01T17:50:00.001-07:00

One for a Greek Island methinks.

No tools sold here!

A clothes shop.

Self-explanatory.

The most beautiful thing in Sydney - 011107

2007-11-01T17:45:00.000-07:00

This is the Anzac War Memorial in Hyde Park.

A Diana-lined street - 011107

2007-11-01T17:43:00.000-07:00

Queen Victoria Building - 011107

2007-11-01T17:36:00.000-07:00

Victoria and Diana.

Nearer The Presence.

The Presence!

Queen Victoria's dog.

Architectural detail - 011107

2007-11-01T17:35:00.000-07:00

'But is it art?' - 011107

2007-11-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

Sydney Observatory - 011107

2007-11-01T17:32:00.000-07:00

A pub - 011107

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Ye olde worlde alleyway - 011107

2007-11-01T17:30:00.001-07:00