On the high seas - Sunday 27->Tuesday 29 September

Fiona and Gordon have a share in a yacht (a decision of which we approve immensely!) and marvellously booked it out for 2 nights of messing about in the water.  

Having stocked up to feed (and water) the five thousand on Saturday, the weather didn't looking wholly auspicious as we left on the Sunday morning...

but seemed to have cheered half an hour down the road at the marina in Sydney basin.

Duncan focussed on taking a rest, and watching how it's done

The winds were up that first day to make it a wee bit choppy

but we woke next next morning to a big blue sky and dazzling waters

Work was quickly underway to blow up the dinghy and make for the nearest land

where the locals were friendly and quiet

After a turn around the island

we recovered the dinghy

and Gordon did the hard yards back to the boat

It was a clear, clear night

and another bright morning

as we sailed back towards Sydney, seeing the house from the water for a change (brown, double-roofed, in the middle)

and onward to the city for a turn next to the sights. Marvellous.

Sydney and the Blue Mountains - Friday 18->Saturday 26 September

Highlights of a few days in Sydney 

Mona Vale : catching up with Fiona and Gordon, and reacquainting ourselves with that breakfast balcony view

the Manly ferry into town with a view which never fails to impress

a damp day in town

and visiting the State Library 

with its interesting take on the flag 

and foyer floor mosaic of Abel Tasman's map

We took the train to spend a couple of nights seeing my family in the Blue Mountains, including my uncle John in his smart new house

and ended the NSW visit with a few days on a yacht, as per Part 2!

DOWN UNDER - SEPT-OCT 2015

Duncan's cousin Sheila having obligingly moved to Brisbane, we've another reason to visit  Australia. The only downside of course is that the Rugby World Cup has kicked off in London so we're watching the pool games in the middle of the night... 
  
We're seeing friends in Sydney, catching up with the family in the Blue Mountains and then heading north to Brisbane and a new State.