Tues 1st April - Catching Up & Sickness In The Family

A slightly quieter day is in order today with catching up with both sides of our family today.
We start out with morning tea at Mary's place with Tante Mary, Om Hans, Lud and Monique.
They have a beautiful Federation Style home which they are renovating themselves. Mary is gradually replacing the windows with Lead-Light windows that she is making herself. Hans has done nearly all of the carpentary work himself and he has some beautiful collections of carpentary tools that he has mounted on the walls around the house. Mary has a beautiful, and extensive collection of little blue & white porcelain Dutch houses displayed on shelves around the house.

Well, morning tea extended into a lovely lunch of salad and cold meat when I realized that it was 12.50, and we had arranged to meet my relatives for a catch-up at the North Ryde RSL, so it was a quick finish to lunch and a phone call to let them know that we were on our way. It was about a 20 minute trip.
On the way, we had to drive down Pittwater Rd, which was where my Great Aunty Glad used to live, so we made a note of where her house is - and it is only a block or 2 down from the main road and probably only about 2km from where we were staying. I feel like I have reached my family roots because my Dad actually grew up here as a little boy and went to the same Primary School that Monique's girls go to. What a co-incidence is that?
The catch-up with Robyn, Dick and Merideth was great - not long enough, but that was partly our fault for arriving late. Unfortunately the kid's playground was closed for the day, so Merideth found them some colouring in to do and bought them a milkshake each. We never heard them once: they were so well behaved. We are so proud of them, because it must be boring for kids when the adults are talking all the time.
After leaving them, we decide to call in on Banjo Patterson Park in Gladesville, but that is my next post.
We have organized with Mary & Hans to go out tonight to the Hunter's Hill Hotel for a Steak Night, but, unfortunately I have to stay home with Tyler and only Rick & Bryce go with Monique and the girls.
As I was getting Tyler ready to go out after her bath, she started vomiting and looked decidedly unwell, so I put her to bed and tell Rick that I will be staying at home with her. I put it down to 4 days of excitement and being generally over-tired. Poor little thing, every time she woke up and moved, she vomited again. We went through about 4 sets of sheets. Monique blew up an air mattress for her and she spent the night in our bedroom with us. She finally stopped vomiting at 3am, but was very tired and lethargic, so we let her sleep as much as possible, whenever she wanted to.

Mon 31st March - Darling Harbour

After the rest of the family had left for school, work etc, we caught the bus into the city and walked back down to Darling Harbour. The first thing we found at the bottom of the stairs was a HUGE playground with lots of slides, ladders, monkey bars, sand etc, where the kids played for 20 minutes or so

The 'Spiral Fountain' at Darling Harbour. A really interesting piece of architecture with every 2nd tier being a dry one so that it is possible to walk down into the centre - just Tyler & Bryce have done.

before we continued on down towards the main shopping area and the National Maritime Museum.

Coffee & donuts for morning tea and a visit to the toilet in the shopping centre were a "must do" before we ventured into the Museum.

A very impressive anchor at the main entrance to the National Maritime Museum, Sydney.

Like all modern museums these days, the Maritime Museum was extremely interesting, especially with our liking for boating and all things to do with boating.

"HMAS VAMPIRE" & "HMAS ONSLOW" "KATHLEEN GILLETT"

Rick and Bryce went on a tour of the "HMAS Vampire" while Tyler and I found the "Kathleen Gillett" which was a yacht owned by an old family friend in Rabaul in our (Dunbar-Reid) sailing days up there, back in the 1970's. I'm sure she was painted white back then and fitted out to be a very comfortable cruising yacht. She looks a little different now! I didn't know, then, that she had competed in the Inaugural Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race or circumnavigated the world. I feel quite priveleged to have known part of her history - albeit (sp?) the later part.

The hightlight of Rick & Bryce's tour of the warship was that they experienced a simulated "All hands to battle-stations" alarm - just when they were underneath one of the deck-mounted guns. This certainly was alarming and gave Bryce quite a fright. Their pass on board the ship also included a tour of the Navy submarine moored along-side, but Bryce decided that he didn't really want to go onboard the sub. I don't blame him really - no windows.

We spent about 2 hours in and around the museum, and by the time we met up with Rick and Bryce, we were all ready for some lunch. We went on back down to the main Food Court and found a noodle bar called the WOK ON INN. We both ordered noodles with pork and vegetables. Rick had Chinese-style and I had the Thai - style. The chilli flavour was lovely - left the lips tingling for a while afterwards, but extremely yummy!! We knew the kids wouldn't eat the noodles, so they were treated with Macca's - again.

An impressive entrance to the Sydney Acquarium

In order to settle the huge lunch, we walked across the bridge to the other side of Darling Harbour where we found the Sydney Acquarium. Of course, we had to see this, so, while Rick waited outside, I took the kids through. The seals were very cute and the glass floor in the Great Barrier Reef exhibit was very freaky, (walking over the top of a LARGE Shovel Nosed Shark). It had been over an hour by the time we re-emerged at the end of the tunnels through the Acquarium.

Waiting for the ferry at the King St Wharf 3.

From here, we walked around the corner to the King St Wharf and caught the 4.30pm ferry home again. Monique picked us up from the Huntley's Point Wharf in Gladesville.

Gladesville Bridge from underneath.

Huntley's Point Wharf, Gladesville

We have arranged to go and visit Gabriel Williams for coffee after dinner - David will be there too. Surprise, surprise, she lives only 3 minutes from where we are staying - overlooking the water.

The kids are really tired from a full day in the city walking everywhere, so we put them to bed before going, and they drop straight off to sleep. Think tomorrow might be a quieter day for their sake.

Sun 30th March - Taronga Park Zoo

Another early start with bleary eyes and Tyler and Maxine are in the bath before we even get out of bed. Bryce and Michaela are dressed and ready for the day (in matching camoflage {?sp} pants) before breakfast.

We are supposed to be waiting for some old New Guinea friends to call in, but when they haven't arrived by the time Chris and Desmond arrive, we decide to go to the zoo with them. Hey! We want to see the zoo too. Monique offers to give them the message for us that we have gone out and that we will call them tonight.

We arrived an hour after opening time, (because Daylight Saving has been extended for another week), and we can't get a park at the top entrance. We follow Des and drive right to the bottom of the park at the water's edge, where the ferry comes in, and we park there and go in that entrance. From there, we get the Sky Safari to the top and then wind our way, on foot, back down through the zoo, stopping at all the exhibits on the way.

Two of the famous landmarks of the harbour and, of course, one of the famous Manly Ferries.

Just before lunch, and about half way down, we find ourselves at the Free Flight Show, where Chris and Des had a lot of experience when they were working here. What a stunning setting. It is set up as an ampitheatre facing out over the harbour with breathtaking views of the city and it's famous landmarks. The main 'stage' for the birds and their handlers was at the bottom of the tiers of seating.

It was here that we experienced the highlight of our day - expecially for Bryce - because Chris & Des had pre-arranged for Bryce to participate by catching one of the owls. We are so proud of him.
Travelling back to the bottom in the Sky Safari.

We finished the day by meeting the rest of the family at Balmoral Beach for fish & chips. The 2 younger girls played in the sand and Bryce & Michaela had a short swim before they found a dog to play with up on the grass. A fitting way to end another wonderful day.

The Laaper/Pasop/Wichems extended family.

Sat 29th March - The Wedding Day

All the kids on the ferry on the way to the wedding. Michaela and Maxine were flower girls/bridesmaids.

A relaxing start to the day at home. We left home at 11.30am to catch the ferry from Gladesville to Darling Harbour. We then changed ferries from Darling Harbour back to Cockatoo Island. While waiting for the ferry at Darling Harbour, we caught our first glimpse of the Maritime Museum with the Young Endeavour moored outside.

The wedding on the island was lovely - very relaxed and friendly with great views up and down this beautiful harbour: and great live music!

Quote: "Mummy, the drums are so loud, they are making my heart go up and down". - Tyler Pasop, 5 yrs

At 4.30, Monique and I took the kids and caught the ferry into Circular Quay where we caught a bus back home. I lost Tyler's jacket on the bus - I must have dropped it.

We dropped the kids with the neighbour across the road at 7pm and then caught the ferry back to join the"after party". Unfortunately, that ferry went "U.S." (broke down) and they dropped us all of at Cockatoo Island (again) to be picked up by the ferry behind us. They took us back to Circular Quay - not Darling Harbour!! No more ferries back to Darling Harbour at this time of a Saturday night, so we caught a taxi back to The Loft at Darling Harbour.

Finally, we arrived at the "After Party", only to find both Rick and Andrew outside on the footpath having a cigar each.

It was an adventure.Thank God we didn't have all the kids with us.

Some of the sights of the city were just stunning!! The Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, Luna Park - and all when I didn't have a camera to capture them all. BUGGER!!!!!

We had to leave at 10.30pm to get the final ferry home again at 10.45.

What a great day - one that we'll remember for a looooong time.

GOOD NIGHT

Well, it's getting rather late, so I'll leave you here and carry on with some more tomorrow night.
'Nighty night everyone.

FRIDAY 28TH MARCH - THE FINAL LEG......

I didn't get to put photos with the last post, so I'll put them here. I didn't give it a proper title either, so I've put the title on this one.

28th March

We woke up at 6am after a rather uncomfortable night' sleep in the cabin. After a shower, the kids had a yoghurt and drink of milk, and Rick re-pack the car. We drove out of the caravan park and were on our way.
Onward to Sydney..............
Driving conditions were beautiful. The air was cool, and the road was wide and very few cars.
After an hour, we were starting to get hungry and had about an hour of extra time so we detoured off the highway into Forster/Tuncurry.
What a beautiful area situated on both sides of the river/inlet joined by a big bridge. We drove into the Marina/Caravan Park to use the public toilet. This is a beautiful holiday destination!
Note: remember this destination next holiday break.
Still hungry and McDonalds in sight, but Rick diesn't want McDonalds, so we keep driving back towards the highway via "The Lakes". What a pretty drive! Lots of corners and hills with a new lake to see around every bend. About 1/2 way along, we come across a service station with a Takeaway attatched. We stopped here and ordered an Egg & Bacon Roll each and Tyler had a hot dog. We had to go into the Service Station to get a flavoured milk each. YUM!!!! What a nice breakfast.
Petrol price here was 150.9 cents/litre.
Next stop - Sydney. The freeway from Newcastle to Sydney was a spectacular drive. We arrived at Monique's place right on time at 1pm.
Thank God for the GPS!!!!!

Thurs 27th March - Setting Out.........

Well, the day has finally arrived to set off for our lon-awaited holiday in Sydney.

We woke to the alarm at 3.30am, and after all the last minute packing, we locked the garage door and set off at 4.20am. We only got as far as Coomera before Bryce complained of "feeling sick in the tummy", so we stopped at the BP Roadhouse opposite Dreamworld for a sanwich, flavoured milk and the kids shared a sausage roll.

Our next stop was at Grafton for a 'proper' breakfast at McDonalds. This was at 8.30.

We missed having lunch but stopped in Coffs Harbour for a look at the "marina" and a walk along the North Wall to stretch our legs.

We finally arrived in Port Macquarie at 1.30 (2.30 DST) when the kids promptly had a swim in the pool before it rained.

We went for a drive around the beaches, took some photos and had a walk through town.

We had a beautiful dinner at the Port Macquarie City Bowls Club then home to bed.

The weather was mainly overcast all day and nice rain on and off mixed with periods of sunshine.

We topped up the petrol here. Petrol was 147.9 cents per litre.

It's Been A While.............

Well, I know it's been a long time between updates, but boy, do I have some updates now........

Last year, Rick's cousin got married in Florida and she has just brought her new husband (and a few other friends) back to Oz to celebrate with her Aussie family and friends with a Wedding Reception on Sydney Harbour.

We decided to make this our family holiday, so Rick & I both took Annual Leave from work and we drove down with the kids. I haven't been to Sydney for about 28 years and it was well worth it all. We all had a great time.

Here is my holiday journal.......................