ughhhhh delay at sydney airport

 DEPARTING FOR NZ      Little sister BIG case all 22 kg of it ! big brother small case all 12 kg of it...



Should have been on our way to NZ by now ,instead we are settling down for LONNNNGGGGGGGG delay .5 hours so far !

never mind... William is enjoying munching his way through the free meal vouchers... lowenna is organising us all with activities and keeping check on the departures board...

Last few days in and around Sydney

Fun at Smiths Lake for Daddies and Daughters....... theres nothing like messing about with boats and lots of trips out on the biscuit , walking and beaching and generally having much needed down time...

the area was fabulous for just chilling out and having time to catch up with Phil and Julie, long standing school friends we have known since childhood.... much reminiscing about school days and with Phil at school with Tim and Julie at school with me there was lots to chat about - we wondered how many people can have that comfort of long standing friendships made a lifetime ago and still standing now.....

jobs and kids take us all in differing directions over the years but those friendships made in early years stay forever...

Could not believe our eyes on the way back - thought we'd just woken up from an amazing dream ! the route home from Smiths Lake was littered with English Names of places...

 Back in Sydney there was time for some 'brother 'time and a trip out sailing in Middle Harbour while Tim and I had a couple of hours FREEEEEEEE

 We all caught up later... after Tim had climbed one of the towers on the harbour bridge ... toooo many steps for me ,so i got an hour on my own to potter about and have bit of FREEEEEEEEEEEDOM .

Next day we all headed into the fabulously diverse Ku-Ring-Gai NP and did and 10km walk... or was that 100 km !!  yes to those of you out there who know we well.... i can walk... ( just) and it was so  well worth it....
the trees are AWESOME ...I could swear they talked to us all the way round and despite all the hilly bits and rock climbing bits I just felt completely at peace in the world we were invading ,just for a bit....
I take my hat off to Lowenna who never complained once....despite the heat and length of the walk - but she enjoyed  seeing all sorts of lizards and birds and a green snake and loads of spiders !

 Sunday -the Blue Mountains
What can I say except they were AMAZING - and yes they huevfrom the eucalyptus really does turn them blue...
Gorges ,peaks, atmospheric and truly fantastic-- needed a whole week really but a flavour of a gem on the doorstep of one of the most vibrant and modern cities... what a contrast.....

So... Monday now and packing for our next phase-- NEW ZEALAND ... we are all really excited and getting ready for off....Have had an amazing 10 days here... fallen in love with Australia.... have found a real feel of space, vibrancy, pride of place.... whether in cities or NP everywhere exudes pride of place....

as for our hosts... P,J,Lonita and Chris have been fantastically welcoming... have ferried us aobut, directed up to places they know we'll love, lent us their cars and all that on top of looking after Will these last few months...

 that is more than friendship, thankyou seems somewhat inadequate.... and I just hope at some point ,somewhere we can return the favour.....

Here's to the MANN FAMILY !!!!!! thankyou

smiths Lake -3 hrs north of Sydney

Sunday

Smiths Lake about 3 hours north of Sydney ,our home for the next four days with Phil and Julie ,Lonita and Chris, Kariba the dog and the ‘boat’ ...

Left Tim and Will behind in Sydney to enjoy Will’s surprise pressie - a ticket to the England /Sydney one day test....

Taxi, Train and Bus should get him here tomorrow .... hopefully...

Wending our way out of Sydney along the Pacific Highway, boat trailer in tow we made great time... even managing at the end to miss our turning due to too much nattering and not enough concentration on what the lovely Sat Nav lady was saying... who promptly ordered us to do u turn in 17km , you could almost hear her laughing! 

Mmmm...  how did we manage that... never mind... an extra 34 km later we arrived at the house which has great views over the lake, loads of space ,enough to have all kids downstairs plus dog... and us up near fridge !

Quick unpack... a walk to discover the boat ramp and loads of fruit bats.... a barbeque, a cool beer and bed !

Monday

Boat preparation ,a quick to trip to discover the amazing bakery and the bottle store, well what else would you need ? and then a catch up with Phil  and three kids who went off doing water activities... unfortunately Chris ,who had been stung by hornets yesterday, had managed to catch his foot on the propeller of the boat and rather a lot of the red stuff meant it was off to casualty for 4 stitches......

Tim appeared bang on time ...12.33....having bused and trained up from Sydney.. plus a hitched lift to the lake....still on a high from the cricket even though they lost.... 

Those not heading to casualty headed off to explore and find a good beach... true Mr. Penny style meant a few miles down unmade tracks, a walk through some forest which had trees with stunningly beautiful bark.. and out to the fabulous Cellito Beach which was awesome....blue as blue, soft white sand and it went for miles.... swimming ,running ,fabulous big waves breaking over the sand.... fresh footprints and freedom !

3 hot hours later, back home, Chris returned safe if sore and a few beers later it was time for a marathon cribbage four... with Phil,Tim , Julie and Lowenna.... its getting later and later... i’m off to bed.

Toronga Zoo the Harbour and Opera House

Toronga Zoo must have the best Zoo view anywhere.... and the baby ellies were a hoot- playing in the rubber tyres and messing about with each other.

Despite searing hot sun ,the shade of the trees made for a really easy relaxed day pottering around taking in the great setting..... the Zoo does a lot of conservation work and really highlights all the positive things everyone can do to try and preserve the wildlife and the environment ..... the sustainable message was always there but subtle..... a good lesson for all of us communicators... 

THe cable car ride down to the harbour but Tim and Will couldn't handle gondola without skis !!!

On to the ferry and over the harbour... more ferry options for Mr.Light.... and yes the opera house and bridge are as awesome as you imagine... the sheer presence of

the opera house towering over the water was magnifico....
the heat and lowenna were not a good mix.. and it was getting late so folded arms were the order of the day as we pottered off to explore... the buzz of the quay... the buildings were all a bit too much... so big brother time, ice creams and Will took her off while Tim and I got

some time to go inside and it is just MASSIVE.... it has to be seen to be believed and can only imagine what it would be like seeing a concert there... awesome
After a potter through the fab Botanical Gardens we hopped on another ferry to Darling Harbour and a Pizza al fresco on the harbour overlooking Endeavour and the

Sydney Maritime Museum

It was a hectic but truly awesome day-

and easy to see where the appeal of Sydney living comes from...

Have never been to such a clean, cared for city. no rubbish, clean, happy easy people

mmm.... wonder if there is room for holiday business here ???

if I was 20 years younger... 

Hello Sydney

so... on to Sydney...

after another 9 hours in the air... we are here
flight was Ok  - no one slept - but it passed in a trice ,well nearly !


So to Sydney immigration - very strict immigration rules here and we had to tick we were Farmers which caused bit of a stir and a few phone calls as we passed through - but they let us in anyway...

The drive to Julie's house took us over Sydney Harbour bridge and views down over the harbour and opera house -wow it is simply awesome-can't wait to get down and explore more ...

 

We were all a bit jaded definately upside down - so a quiet day on the beach which was a real reminder of home with its big surf waves... then William came over after work...oh it was so good to see him looking really tanned and healthy and so happy... a big bear hug from the 'Bear ' ...what a lucky mummy !

One Day in Bangkok

Bangkok - wow, an assault on all the senses , but a good one...

where to start- Day two in Bangkok - a busy itinary for our only full day- carefully planned and ready to execute but didn't count on over sleeping till 11am-  whoops !!

Not sure wether we were more disappointed to have lost good exploring time or more importantly the rather spectacular breakfast in the hotel - but in their true to the exemplary standards Thailand does so well,  they very kindly whistled us up some delicious eats before we headed out  on a trip up the canals.


a little boat was kindly summoned from the pier,  powered by what looked like a large lorry engine stuck on the end.. and off we went up the busy hub of the river then off a side 'street' to wend our way round the canals that make up home and life to its many river living community.... the diverse little homes most with stunning hanging gardens and trees, most with birds, lots of river sellers paddling out with their wares and incongruously- satellite dishes on most  !

It really struck me how incredibly vulnerable theses whole communities are - with the river just a foot from their level- a tiny rise in sea level will wipe them out ... and there just a tine sample of the millions of such communities world wide in the same position- a truly sobering thought but one we should all have..

so, on to spectacular palaces and temples.. words cannot even begin to descrice the sheer scale ,colour and awesomeness- over whelming beauty and amazing serenity- immaculate and just awe inspiring...

Lowenna loved the colours, the temples and towers and punting around the rivers but was totally not impressed by the world renowned Emerald Buddha who sits in a spectacular temple and sits high on a plinth while buddhists from all over the world come and pay homage - she felt he was rather small, at about a metre high ! and compared to the massive 5.5 t gold buddha we also saw and which stands several metres high and wide- I suppose through an eleven year old eyes  he was a bit small but nonetheless totally captivating and mysteriously mesmeric

We could not fail to be totally in awe and somewhat humbled by the whole experience and the absolute peace and serenity surrounding these amazing places ,despite being massive tourist attraction, is a lesson to us all in how to preserve integrity while sharing a huge piece of religious history.

Travelling by Tuk Tuk through the crowded busy streets was an 'experience 'not to be missed .... the speed we travelled, while weaving in and out of the cars , lorries and  taxis was a bit hsairy but great fun...

 After a long and hot day- a quintisentially high tea ,a swim, Happy Hour and then an simply amazing evening at dinner by the river..
International Buffet- it said-.... well seemed that was a good plan ,with varied willingness on the part of some to try 'new 'things... so we toddled off to what can only be described a feast of cuisine from every corner of the world... a gastronomic haven of delight...
Thai, indian,Chinese,European, Fish form all over the world, salads, sushi... and.... as much as you want !and then there was the chocolatier and dessert area.... wow... well... chocolate heaven on a plate !!