What a very busy week! Since we were in Sydney this week, I spent a lot of time with my cousins and their families.
Dad, on the other hand, had to get up at 5am everyday so that he could get to the airport for 6am - that's when the airplane was available each day. Niles, the instructor, showed the group locations of important equipment on the airplane. He also guided the class through how to run tests and troubleshoot faults on the airplane. Niles showed the guys how to operate the various systems in the cockpit of the 777 airplane. Harry, Dad's boss, flew down on Wednesday so that he could instruct the group on Thursday on the avionics (electronic) systems of the airplane.
On Monday, after Dad's work, we took the train downtown to meet up with a person who was leading a walking tour of the area focusing on the history of Australia/Sydney. The tour guide, Justine, started up this company called "I'm Free Tours" with her partner about 6 years ago. There is no set price for the tour - you pay what you think the tour was worth at the end of the tour. The tour was 2 1/2 hours long and it was really well done. We learned a lot of history of the area and also little tidbits about Sydney at the present time. We decided that Justine did a great job and so we gave her $40. at the end of the tour.
Before we went on the walking tour, we went inside the Town Hall to hear part of an organ recital by a woman named Amy Johansen - she is a University of Sydney organist and carillonist - it was an enjoyable concert and the organ was impressive
Justine, our tour guide on the walking tour of Sydney
St. Andrew's Cathedral
Town Hall
statue of Queen Victoria
Town Hall
Queen Victoria Building
The Talking Dog - a statue of Queen Victoria's favourite pet, a Skye Terrier named 'Islay'
St. Mary's Cathedral
Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park
Sydney Tower
St James Church - oldest church building in Sydney
Hyde Park Barracks
Il Porcellino - statue of a wild boar - people rub his nose, make a wish, and drop a coin in his basket. This is supposed to bring you good luck - the money goes to the Sydney Hospital
Australian coat of arms (kangaroo and emu) on the Sydney General Post Office
Sydney Cenotaph - one of the oldest World War I monuments in central Sydney
Forgotten Songs commemorates the songs of fifty birds once heard in central Sydney, before they were gradually forced out by European settlement. The calls, which filter down from the canopy of birdcages suspended above Angel Place, change as day shifts to night; the daytime birds’ songs disappearing with the sun, and those of the nocturnal birds, which inhabited the area, sounding into the evening.
Cool building I saw along the way
Dad sitting with bronze statue by artist John Seward Johnson II - called 'Waiting' - he created a variety of statues which are actually castings of living people of all ages depicting people engaged in day-to-day activities.
Sirius anchor and Sirius cannon - the wrought iron anchor and bronze cannon belonged to the H.M.S. Sirius, flagship of the First Fleet which arrived at Port Jackson in 1788.
Bonds of Friendship sculpture - represents two links in a chain and there is a companion sculpture in Portsmouth, England, from where the First Fleet sailed to Australia and represents the bond between England and Australia
In the Customs House - the ground floor of the building houses a 4.2m x 9.5m scale model of Sydney's city centre viewed through a glass floor
Customs House
Cadman's Cottage is the oldest surviving residential building in Sydney - it is from the first 30 years of the colony of Australia
old buildings in 'The Rocks' area of Sydney -
The Rocks became established shortly after the colony's formation in 1788. The original buildings were made mostly of local sandstone, from which the area derives its name. From the earliest history of the settlement, the area had a reputation as a slum, often frequented by visiting sailors and prostitutes
another view of old buildings in 'The Rocks'
Me with the Sydney Opera House in the distance
Dad with the Sydney Opera House in the distance
Dad with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the distance
Me with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the distance
The Sydney Harbour Bridge
On Tuesday, I met up with Rosie, her daughter, Becky and Becky's son, Liam (4). We had our usual stop at the coffee place (another iced chocolate for me) and then we walked around the downtown area for a bit and then stopped for lunch. It was nice being able to get together with them and hang out with them for the day.
Becky and Liam
Me with my iced chocolate and Rosie with her cappuccino and passionfruit muffin
Me standing beside a sign which mentions Wagga Wagga
On Wednesday, Dad and I took the train downtown again - this time, it was to take a guided tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens. We almost had a private tour, but at the last minute, a young German girl joined us. Our guide was very knowledgeable and we really enjoyed walking around the gardens.
interesting tree in the Botanic Gardens
view of the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge from the Gardens
Me sitting on 'Mrs. Macquarie's Chair - it is a sandstone rock cut into the shape of a bench overlooking the Sydney harbour. It was hand carved by convicts in 1810 for Governor Macquarie's wife.
Dad in the Royal Botanic Gardens
Me in the Royal Botanic Gardens
Me listening to our guide, Steve, as he told us about the trees and plants in the Gardens
Interesting tree in the Gardens whose branches were entwined with a second tree
The Wollemi Pine tree - one of the world's oldest and rarest trees - it was discovered only ten years ago by a bushwalker in a national park in Australia - very few people know the whereabouts of the find to help conserve this endangered species
another pretty tree in the Gardens
another pretty tree in the Gardens
Tree with the roots growing down toward the ground from above
That evening, we met up with Niles and a couple of his friends who he worked with at Cathay Pacific a number of years ago. He treated Dad and me to dinner to say thanks for me cooking so many dinners for him in Melbourne. We went to a restaurant called 'Hurricanes' where we had an amazing meal of pork ribs - yummmmm! Niles' friends, Leoni and Sally, were super nice and so fun to hang out with.
Me and Dad with our yummy fruit mocktails
Dad and I shared a pork ribs meal - this was my half of the ribs - they were amazing!
Sally, me and Dad (in the back) and Leoni and Niles in the front
Dad and I shared a dessert - a caramel cheesecake that was so delicious!
On Thursday, I met up with Rosie at her place and we worked on our family history. Rosie is really into it and is really good at finding information. She has been imparting her knowledge to me and together we have found so much info about our ancestors. I love it when we find a name or date or other information we have been looking for. We also got some photos printed of some of our ancestors which Auntie Norma had at her place. It's so neat to be able to put a face to the names we are researching.
my mandatory iced chocolate when I am out with Rosie and she needs her coffee :-)
On Friday, Dad and I took the train to Rosie's again and went out for dinner to a restaurant called 'The Brewery'. Rosie's daughter, Lauren, joined us along with Cheryl and her daughter, Nicki. We had a great time chatting for a couple of hours - it's always neat to get together with my cousins and their families - we get along so well.
Dad and I went out for lunch before meeting up with Rosie - the cafe is called 'Patchett's Pies' and was right across the road from our hotel - I got a beef pie with mashed potatoes and mushy peas (yum!) - naturally I added ketchup to it :-)
Dad and I shared a pavlova for dessert - this was not even half of it!
L to R: Lauren, Nicki, Cheryl, Rosie, me, Dad
Yesterday, we flew home from Sydney and, because it was the weekend, we got to fly direct to Hervey Bay. It was so nice to be home - we enjoy travelling around Australia, but it really is nice to get home as well.
Today, we were welcomed back to our ward (from the pulpit even) and it was great to see everyone again. I love how much they miss us when we get back from wherever we have been. :-)
