HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIAM - 25 TODAY!
How can that be, where did the years go?
Anyway, here it is, our last day in Sydney and we're pretty pleased it's arrived cos we've got seriously itchy feet. We've loved being here, loved time together, loved time with our sons individually but it's definitely time to go. Alex left yesterday at 5.35pm, he arrives at Heathrow at 5.55am this morning, or 4.55pm Oz time. I was so jealous, I really wanted to get on a plane, obviously not to the UK though, that would be just stupid!
He text this morning to say the toilets at Bangkok airport have gone downhill, he was seriously impressed with how clean they were on the way here!!
Over the past few days we've visited the zoo, Manly, Cremorne Point and the Domaine in Sydney. The harbour bridge was closed for repair work over the weekend so we walked over it and partook of coffee at the Opera House bar. We've bought boomerangs and a didgeridoo, kangaroo jerky, soft koala and kangaroo toys and sent them all back home with Alex!
An electrician has just been to fix the bedroom ceiling fans - which is handy as it's our last day after 5 weeks here! The apartment is packed up, everything back into cases and tomorrow morning we're off. We've got 4 nights before we need to return the car to the airport so have decided to head south towards Batemans Bay. Well, to be honest we'll just see where we end up. I know that I shouldn't, and I do still feel incredibly lucky to be here, but it's almost like killing time until we leave Australia. It's time to see another country.
Data collected: (some figures are approximate)
Number of dead kangaroos on road: 70
Number of snakes in grass: 4
Number of times breathalysed: 3
Number of times stopped for speeding: 1
Number of times should have been stopped for speeding: 15 (hmm)
Number of middle aged men in budgie smugglers: 100s (yeuch)
Number of fit blokes in board shorts: Kept getting distracted and losing count
Percentage of English programmes on telly: 75
Number of 'big icons' in towns, e.g., sheep, lobster, banana: 40
Number of times experienced slow service in cafes: 30+ (all orders delivered in order, regardless of whether it's 2 coffees or 6 main courses)
Number of inept ticket machines which only issue 1 ticket at a time, no multiples, and take ages to go through the process and where the queue is massive: 24 or at every ferry wharf
Number of G'days: 500
Number of great coffees: 100
Number of amazing views: 1000s
Reflecting upon Australia - it is jaw droppingly beautiful, has very diverse environments and the animals are gorgeous but sometimes weird. The Aussies are friendly and helpful, but very different in the cities to the small towns. They are surprisingly compliant and are very controlled, both at local and federal level. Gun crime is high, in rural areas and in the cities, a series of drug related drive by shootings has occurred in Sydney whilst we have been here. The weather is gorgeous but changeable. Binge drinking is a problem but the culture and all social events have a drinking focus. Salaries are very good and staff levels are high which results in a high cost of living. Beaches are stunning and family life is clearly important, families gather together in parks and on the beaches, having barbies and picnics. Food is not great, portions are large and there is a lot of steak and fried stuff. Overall we have enjoyed our adventures around Australia, our favourite bits have been the Great Ocean Road, Melbourne's parks, the Barossa and Sydney's hidden coves, not forgetting the drive across the barren middle.
Time to go - see you in New Zealand!
- Posted by Annie & Jim using BlogPress from THE iPad
Location:Lindsay St,Neutral Bay,Australia
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