OUT AND ABOUT ROUND THE HARBOUR

Sydney is so busy at the moment that it is a waste of time trying to get into the Opera House or any of the main attractions. There has been a bit of breeze by the water so it has been quite pleasant using the ferry to visit some of the quieter beaches.  New Years Day we tried to visit a beauty spot on the Harbout but we could not get near it never mind park  the car. So much for thinking it would be quiet after the festivities on Hogmanay!! We had a trip out to Watson Bay on Friday and walked round the headland past the Nudist beach. I behaved and didn't take photos! A few potbellied men strutting their stuff! We had  lunch by the beach and watched the queues waiting for the ferry.  I will definitely be on the 5/2 diet when I come back because we then went out to dinner with Wilson and Gil. Gil is an amazing cook - good job they are off to Vietnam on Monday for a couple  of weeks. On Saturday we took the ferry from Neutral Bay over to the Rocks (so called because it is built on the rocks under the Bridge) where there is a market on Saturdays and Sundays. It is a very interesting place to visit because it is where the colony was first established so lots of information and historical sites as well as a great market area.  One section of the market is full of Australian memorablia, gifts etc but there is another section with beautiful things to wear - silks, linens, hats etc etc. I love a market!  On our way through one of the narrow alley ways there were a group of lads practising their parcourt routines. Scary! I could just see Leo and Bobby wanting to join in.  We watched them for a while until the security guys warned them off.  Had a quiet evening when we got home but thought of absent friends and family and opened a special bottle of wine. Cheers Fergus! Sunday we had a trip to the Northern beaches.  Dee Why and Manly and walked up to the headland where they do hang gliding - unfortunately the wind was blowing into the cliffs so we had to be content with the views. There was a beautiful golf course, Long Reef, which looked very like the Fife courses - on the headland, exposed and very windswept as you can probably see from the angle of the trees on the course.

Pat has files to share with you on SkyDrive. To view them, click the links below.