I was looking through my passport the other day and noted that I have now been to Australia 10 times (1991,1993,1994,1996,1997,1999, 2002, 2004, 2008 and of course this year – 2009) so it would be fair to say that the place has a certain air of familiarity about it for me. Some say that familiarity breeds contempt but I feel no contemptibly toward Sydney. It still holds a certain magic that makes me want to return year after year. Of course a lot of that magic includes certain blood relatives, to visit, friendly automobiles to ride in, people to meet, and guinea pigs and mischief kittens for entertainment.
Anyway a couple of days during the trip Steve had to work so I went exploring on my own. Having a reasonable idea of where various places were I was able to get around without needing to leave a trail of breadcrumbs behind me (read the story of Hansel and Grettel for handy hints for on using breadcrumbs).
I found the easiest way to town, or beyond from Potts Point was to go via Kings Cross Station and catch a train to the Town Hall (then organise another train if you are travelling further). The station is in the middle of Kings Cross, so the walk there is usually interesting. Lots to see on the way.
Down town Sydney is very crowded and busy, which is how Wellington is getting these days. There is also a lot of traffic and busses and what have you. There is plenty to see and do if you are a visitor for the first time or just hanging round trying to kill off time, including monorail, heaps of shopping malls, Centre Point Tower and tourist shops. If you get the time there is always Circular Quay, where you can catch the ferry to Manly, the Zoo, Watsons Bay, or any of the other destinations that are on offer.
Another thing there is no shortage of is food. Nearly everywhere you look there is some eating establishment or the other, where it be in the form of a juice bar, café, Food Hall, revolving restaurant, Wendys, Subway, MacDonalds or sandwich bar. So if you are hungry a hot meal is never far away.
Well, that’s about all for now. I’ll go into it a bit more in depth later.
Blog you later alligator.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Revolutions of Lunch with a View
-Tuesday 24th March, 2009-
Had lunch with my cousins, aunt from South Africa and another from Richmond NSW in the Centre Point Tower in Pitt Street, large pointy tower in down town Sydney. There were renovations and repairs being done to the building so most of the tower was closed off to the public except for the viewing platform and restaurant and of course the opportunity for the thrill seeking tourist to ride to the top.
Funny I’ve been to Sydney quite a number of times but up to yesterday had never got round to having a meal in the Revolving restaurant. It’s quite high up and one would come quite a nasty cropper if one fell out of the window. Or at least I assume so (anyone who would like to disprove that theory is quite welcome to prove me wrong).
The bar etc in the middle of the restaurant and windows stay static but the area where you sit and eat slowly revolves, giving you a slow birds eye view of the city while you eat. It is fairly well priced considering the views and what they have to offer in the way of food, which you can help yourself to from the buffet (which includes prawns, shrimps and even kangaroo if you should be so tempted).
Afterwards we went for a walk around the Rocks, where the first convicts served their indefinite sentences then went our separate ways.
Had lunch with my cousins, aunt from South Africa and another from Richmond NSW in the Centre Point Tower in Pitt Street, large pointy tower in down town Sydney. There were renovations and repairs being done to the building so most of the tower was closed off to the public except for the viewing platform and restaurant and of course the opportunity for the thrill seeking tourist to ride to the top.
Funny I’ve been to Sydney quite a number of times but up to yesterday had never got round to having a meal in the Revolving restaurant. It’s quite high up and one would come quite a nasty cropper if one fell out of the window. Or at least I assume so (anyone who would like to disprove that theory is quite welcome to prove me wrong).
The bar etc in the middle of the restaurant and windows stay static but the area where you sit and eat slowly revolves, giving you a slow birds eye view of the city while you eat. It is fairly well priced considering the views and what they have to offer in the way of food, which you can help yourself to from the buffet (which includes prawns, shrimps and even kangaroo if you should be so tempted).
Afterwards we went for a walk around the Rocks, where the first convicts served their indefinite sentences then went our separate ways.
Blackwell Shiraz and the Lithgow Reunion
-The Blackwwell Reunion March 2009-
The reunion went well with plenty of relations from various parts of Australia as well as one from South Africa and myself representing the New Zealand side of the family. Met with allot of relations I had not seen in yonks and met others I had not seen before.
We had it in the Lithgow Hall. Quite a gathering of the clan, starting at about 5pm, carrying onto the wee hours of the morning. They had bottles of Blackwell Shiraz for us to try. I don’t think the Blackwell responsible for making this wine was related to us but it seemed fairly apt beverage to drink, considering the circumstances.
A good night had by all.
The next day we had a sausage sizzle at the same hall and then started back for Potts Point by mid afternoon.
The reunion went well with plenty of relations from various parts of Australia as well as one from South Africa and myself representing the New Zealand side of the family. Met with allot of relations I had not seen in yonks and met others I had not seen before.
We had it in the Lithgow Hall. Quite a gathering of the clan, starting at about 5pm, carrying onto the wee hours of the morning. They had bottles of Blackwell Shiraz for us to try. I don’t think the Blackwell responsible for making this wine was related to us but it seemed fairly apt beverage to drink, considering the circumstances.
A good night had by all.
The next day we had a sausage sizzle at the same hall and then started back for Potts Point by mid afternoon.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Certified for Danger
As if it was not good enough for the Wellington City Council to expect me to be committed, they also want us certifiable. Today I went one step beyond and became dangerously certifiable.
I suppose I should elaborate incase you get the wrong idea. Part of my job requires the occasional transport of goods that could be deemed as dangerous, or at least hazardous, so in keeping with legal requirements I was put on a one day Dangerous Goods Course. It dealt with, among other things, the dos and don’ts of such an undertaking, things such loading certificates, loading plans, what goes with what and what to separate from what and applicable signage etc. Next step is to get my license endorsed to show I am a dangerously certifiable driver.
Anyway enough of all that. Not long to go now before I am back among the Crows, Bats and Kangaroos. Yes it’ll be good to be back to Potts Point and mingle with the locals. Dad and I made a short tape over the weekend to show the rest of the family at the Blackwell Reunion. Took a bit of editing, but it turned out quite good for a low budget home movie.
Still waiting on Telecom to send that Splitter thingy. I’m sure it’ll get there before Christmas, this year or next. Travelling by an aging carrier pigeon, I imagine.
Well almost through the Hammer House of Horror DVD. Watched “The House that dripped blood” episode the night before last, quite full-on in parts.
That’s about all I can think of for now. The flu I was telling you about last time seemed to ease a lot on Sunday, but returned for Round Two yesterday. Today hasn’t been too bad. Let’s just hope it clears altogether by Friday. Still have the occasional coughs and dry throat. Never mind, could be worse, as they say.
I suppose I should elaborate incase you get the wrong idea. Part of my job requires the occasional transport of goods that could be deemed as dangerous, or at least hazardous, so in keeping with legal requirements I was put on a one day Dangerous Goods Course. It dealt with, among other things, the dos and don’ts of such an undertaking, things such loading certificates, loading plans, what goes with what and what to separate from what and applicable signage etc. Next step is to get my license endorsed to show I am a dangerously certifiable driver.
Anyway enough of all that. Not long to go now before I am back among the Crows, Bats and Kangaroos. Yes it’ll be good to be back to Potts Point and mingle with the locals. Dad and I made a short tape over the weekend to show the rest of the family at the Blackwell Reunion. Took a bit of editing, but it turned out quite good for a low budget home movie.
Still waiting on Telecom to send that Splitter thingy. I’m sure it’ll get there before Christmas, this year or next. Travelling by an aging carrier pigeon, I imagine.
Well almost through the Hammer House of Horror DVD. Watched “The House that dripped blood” episode the night before last, quite full-on in parts.
That’s about all I can think of for now. The flu I was telling you about last time seemed to ease a lot on Sunday, but returned for Round Two yesterday. Today hasn’t been too bad. Let’s just hope it clears altogether by Friday. Still have the occasional coughs and dry throat. Never mind, could be worse, as they say.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Of Cracked Mirror, Silent Phone and Runny Nose
It was Friday the 13th today, unlucky for some, busy for others like Jason from the movie series of the same date.
Been a little while since I last blogged, so there is a few updates I need to keep you up to speed with.
Broke the passenger wing-mirror of my car last Saturday and had to get another one installed, which wasn’t cheap, but having a mirror can be a help when it comes to merging, changing lanes or parallel parking (saves hitting the curb and having another dent in the wheel spats).
Had a slight mishap, broadband wise. I found out the other day that the phone would not ring when the modem was plugged in. You could ring out but if anyone rang, though they would hear the ringing noises their end, it would not make any noise my end; thus I missed out on quite a few calls, having been like that for over a week or so. Did not notice at first, though it did occur to me that I hadn’t received any calls for quite sometime (a little unusual, I normally get a least one phone call a night, whether from a friend, someone asking me to partake in a survey, or a company bulging money).
I rang telecom and after a lot of pressing this that and the other button on my key pad, as well as being transferred several times, I finally got some sense out of them. They said the problem was in the filter and they will send a replacement one out to me. Hopefully that will solve the problem. Until then I have disconnected Broadband and using dialup and other people’s computers, so please be patient for blog updates.
And finally, as usual, right on the cusp of deciding to do the old Trans-Tasman thing, my nose has started running. Hopefully it is just a passing thing, 24 hour bug or what have you. Last thing I need is to go over to the reunion all snotty and give my ozzy-rellies a taste of kiwi germs. Still, I’ve got over a week to get over it.
I’ll let you all know how I’m getting on, I know how much you are all concerned about yours truly especially a certain cute pair of guinea pig bloggers from NSW; AKA Wiggley and Ginger. A big hello to you guys!
Big brother went back to Australia on Tuesday, early morning flight. We had to get up at 4am. Wasn’t much traffic that time of the morning but the airport seemed fairly busy, considering the time. Guess there were a number of flights taking off about the same time. Had a latte with him then went to work. Felt a bit tired during the day, for some strange reason but managed to get through it without falling asleep, which is a real plus when your job involves a certain amount of driving.
He left his copy of Hammer House of Horror with me to watch, have to remember to take it back with me next Friday (would I forget a thing like that? Me with the memory of an elephant with Alzheimer’s.) Also have to remember the Open All Hours DVD that my Uncle Gordon lent me last time. Some sort of list may-hap be of an advantage me thinks.
I’m still having a bad-run with tenpin bowling. My average is not good, nor the handicap. Have to think of some new strategies, such as bowling in a way that wins games, not loses them. Still, its only early I the season, or have I already made that excuse before?
Just before I sign off I though you might like to know I wrote another story for Editred. Well, two actually but the first one is the one I think turned out better. Read and enjoy, blog you all soon.
Running on empty
Been a little while since I last blogged, so there is a few updates I need to keep you up to speed with.
Broke the passenger wing-mirror of my car last Saturday and had to get another one installed, which wasn’t cheap, but having a mirror can be a help when it comes to merging, changing lanes or parallel parking (saves hitting the curb and having another dent in the wheel spats).
Had a slight mishap, broadband wise. I found out the other day that the phone would not ring when the modem was plugged in. You could ring out but if anyone rang, though they would hear the ringing noises their end, it would not make any noise my end; thus I missed out on quite a few calls, having been like that for over a week or so. Did not notice at first, though it did occur to me that I hadn’t received any calls for quite sometime (a little unusual, I normally get a least one phone call a night, whether from a friend, someone asking me to partake in a survey, or a company bulging money).
I rang telecom and after a lot of pressing this that and the other button on my key pad, as well as being transferred several times, I finally got some sense out of them. They said the problem was in the filter and they will send a replacement one out to me. Hopefully that will solve the problem. Until then I have disconnected Broadband and using dialup and other people’s computers, so please be patient for blog updates.
And finally, as usual, right on the cusp of deciding to do the old Trans-Tasman thing, my nose has started running. Hopefully it is just a passing thing, 24 hour bug or what have you. Last thing I need is to go over to the reunion all snotty and give my ozzy-rellies a taste of kiwi germs. Still, I’ve got over a week to get over it.
I’ll let you all know how I’m getting on, I know how much you are all concerned about yours truly especially a certain cute pair of guinea pig bloggers from NSW; AKA Wiggley and Ginger. A big hello to you guys!
Big brother went back to Australia on Tuesday, early morning flight. We had to get up at 4am. Wasn’t much traffic that time of the morning but the airport seemed fairly busy, considering the time. Guess there were a number of flights taking off about the same time. Had a latte with him then went to work. Felt a bit tired during the day, for some strange reason but managed to get through it without falling asleep, which is a real plus when your job involves a certain amount of driving.
He left his copy of Hammer House of Horror with me to watch, have to remember to take it back with me next Friday (would I forget a thing like that? Me with the memory of an elephant with Alzheimer’s.) Also have to remember the Open All Hours DVD that my Uncle Gordon lent me last time. Some sort of list may-hap be of an advantage me thinks.
I’m still having a bad-run with tenpin bowling. My average is not good, nor the handicap. Have to think of some new strategies, such as bowling in a way that wins games, not loses them. Still, its only early I the season, or have I already made that excuse before?
Just before I sign off I though you might like to know I wrote another story for Editred. Well, two actually but the first one is the one I think turned out better. Read and enjoy, blog you all soon.
Running on empty
Saturday, March 07, 2009
CSI New York PC Game
I have for sometime been a fan of the CSI PC Games. In the past I have found them intreguing enough to while away the hours: sifting through evidence, checking finger print and DNA matches and interviewing witnesses/suspects, as well as getting the low down on techincal info from the Crime lab experts. With that in mind the new CSI New York game caught my eye as a must have addition to the others" CSI, CSI Dark and CSI Miami(the last one being my favoirte).
I have only played about half of the first mission but from what I have seen so far the game seems to have gone down hill abit. In the first three games you became very much a part of the investigation with the freedom to pick and choose who you interviewed, what you asked and where you conducted your searches etc. The vibe I have picked up so far is that you are very much restricted to a set pattern of where to go and as for the animation, though I will say has improved as far as scenery etc the people you interact with don't bother moving their mouths when they speak, which use to happen in the previous games.
There are of course a lot of new and improved things that I do like about the game such as the realistic x-rays in the mortuary and the idea of tracing the outline of a pool of blood to get DNA matches. There are also items you can pickup and show to witnesses/suspects as promps for furthering info on the crime. Of all the changes I think the idea of tracing a line from one side of the screen to the other without touching anyother items to make a computer match to find out more info on a suspect. Before hand Grishim would do all that sort of thing for you on his laptop or you could use the Lab Computer system instead. I also miss the original cast.
Anyhow I'm sure I'll get use to it after awhile. I don't play many computer games, so it is a real pain when the ones I do play end up not as good as I had hoped. At present I only own about half a dozen games: CSI,CSI Dark Motives, CSI Miami, CSI New York, Starship Titanic (Douglas Adams-will blog about this later), Abes Oddysse - Oddworld, Last Express (murder mystery on a trian), Neverhood, Riven and The Crystal Key.
Blog you all later.
I have only played about half of the first mission but from what I have seen so far the game seems to have gone down hill abit. In the first three games you became very much a part of the investigation with the freedom to pick and choose who you interviewed, what you asked and where you conducted your searches etc. The vibe I have picked up so far is that you are very much restricted to a set pattern of where to go and as for the animation, though I will say has improved as far as scenery etc the people you interact with don't bother moving their mouths when they speak, which use to happen in the previous games.
There are of course a lot of new and improved things that I do like about the game such as the realistic x-rays in the mortuary and the idea of tracing the outline of a pool of blood to get DNA matches. There are also items you can pickup and show to witnesses/suspects as promps for furthering info on the crime. Of all the changes I think the idea of tracing a line from one side of the screen to the other without touching anyother items to make a computer match to find out more info on a suspect. Before hand Grishim would do all that sort of thing for you on his laptop or you could use the Lab Computer system instead. I also miss the original cast.
Anyhow I'm sure I'll get use to it after awhile. I don't play many computer games, so it is a real pain when the ones I do play end up not as good as I had hoped. At present I only own about half a dozen games: CSI,CSI Dark Motives, CSI Miami, CSI New York, Starship Titanic (Douglas Adams-will blog about this later), Abes Oddysse - Oddworld, Last Express (murder mystery on a trian), Neverhood, Riven and The Crystal Key.
Blog you all later.
Friday, March 06, 2009
friday the 13th
Only a week to go until Firday the 13th of March 2009. They say that Friday the 13th is meant to be an unlucky date, but it has never really been proved. Most times you will find that it is not any more unlucky than say Saturday the 14th or June the 9th or even July the 18th...well that one is especially lucky, after all it was the day I was born. Just imagine if I had never existed, then this blog would never had exisited and then the fabric of the spacetime continum would be all stuffed up. Micheal J Fox would have to get into his Delorium and zoom up to 88 miles an hour to get things back on track again. That's assuming he could find the Doc and work out a way to fix the flux compassitor thingy. Anyway I digress.
Big brother has been over for almost a week and seems to be having a fairly good time. The weather has been on our side for most of the time, though at present it seems to be raining cats and dogs. We went out last night for diner at Floriditas Cafe & Restaurant and had a look round an arts exhibition in Able Smith Street. Had a coffee today at Aunt Daisy's Boathouse Cafe in Titati bay, then went see the exhibit at the Portrait Gallery - AKA Shed 11 Queens Whalf.
Big Brother bought over a couple of DVDs for us to watch "The Hammer House of Horror Collection" and "Hollow Men" which we are slowly getting through.
Blog you all later.
Big brother has been over for almost a week and seems to be having a fairly good time. The weather has been on our side for most of the time, though at present it seems to be raining cats and dogs. We went out last night for diner at Floriditas Cafe & Restaurant and had a look round an arts exhibition in Able Smith Street. Had a coffee today at Aunt Daisy's Boathouse Cafe in Titati bay, then went see the exhibit at the Portrait Gallery - AKA Shed 11 Queens Whalf.
Big Brother bought over a couple of DVDs for us to watch "The Hammer House of Horror Collection" and "Hollow Men" which we are slowly getting through.
Blog you all later.
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