Quiet days

Had a quiet few days just pottering.

I saw a traditional wooden sailing boat sail past the point

 

I went and watched some cricket at the SCG

 

The weather was not great so these were in use later.

 

The sun did put in a brief appearance.

 

A stroll in the nearby park.

 

Checking the pumps.

 

Opera at the end of the rainbow.

 

On the bush path to Taronga Zoo.

 

He was not going to move.

 

You can follow the coastal path to Bradley's Head.

 

Quite a large eastern frilled water dragon.

 

Government House.

 

The Manly ferry overtakes us.

 

Part of the YouTube symphony orchestra.

 

Peewit

Been walkabout

It has been mixed weather over the last few days during which I seen a few interesting things and visited a few places around Sydney.
Firstly a load of guys (and gals) on Harley's turned up near where I live. They were having their photo taken. Shame it was a rather gloomy Sunday

 

Next, having spent a few days at the Barangaroo wharf, the cruise liner Deutschland left with very loud announcements playing over the tannoy. I had an overwhelming urge to stand to attention as it passed my window.

 

The next day the weather started to improve and the fireboat escorted in the next liner to dock at Barangaroo.

 

It was Silver Spirit and I recognised it as being the liner that got to many New Zealand ports just ahead of the one I was on. The pilot boat got bored and decided to go around in circles.

 

With the sunshine back I decided to go and take a few closeups of a well known building. Can you tell which one it is.

 

Curved glass

 

Oh well, I've given it away now.

 

Later that day I went a place with a bandstand.

 

On a Saturday it was time to watch cricket at my favourite oval although the weather was poor again.

 

On Monday the sun was back so I went just about as far East of Sydney as you can go.

 

On Tuesday I went for a walk that took in a boathouse.

 

and a Scottish Castle. It was a beautiful day.

 

Peewit

New maritime radar

New maritime radar scanning system being installed at the Blues Point Tower. Once it is up and running, then the existing tower at Barangaroo can be demolished to make way for shops.

 

 

 

 

Existing Barangaroo tower

 

Peewit

Back from NZ

I'm back from a wonderful two weeks in New Zealand.
It is such a shock to hear about the distressing earthquake at Christchurch just seven days after I was there. It was a beautiful, sunny day on my visit and there many tourists enjoying the sights. I was there on a watercolour painting holiday. Our group did paintings of one of the Cathedral doors on the afternoon of the 15th. The dreadfull aftermath of the earthquake is still unfolding and I send my best wishes to those who are suffering.

Here are just a few photos

The beach at Russell in the Bay of Islands

 

Mount Maunganui

 

Thermal activity at Wai-O-Tapu

 

Geothermal soup

 

Rotorua Museum

 

Exporting lumber and logs from Napier

 

Cathedral Square in Christchurch

 

The Worcester Street bridge over the Avon river in Christchurch

 

Low cloud in Fiordland

 

A good spot for photography

 

Milford Sound

 

Leaving the Sound before a two and a half days of steaming to Sydney.

 

Peewit

Watching cricket with Channel Nine

This is probably the worst experience of your life.
It is however a good advertising opportunity. As this is an ODI, each side will play 50 overs (as long as they do not lose all their wickets) and Nine show adverts between each over. So that means that you may see the same advert 100 times during the match. If you think that is irritating, then it gets worse as you will not see all of the match as they switch to the news three overs before the end of the first innings. Add to this adverts during the overs, interviews off pitch during the overs, endless replays during the overs none of which indicate that they are replays and you get the feel for just how bad it is. I am sure that they must have employed an expert on how to totally destroy any sense of enjoyment when watching cricket. Thank goodness I will see some proper cricket coverage when I go back to the UK for summer.

Peewit

Going off the air

I will not be posting for a couple of weeks as I am off to New Zealand on a watercolour painting holiday and will only have limited access to the internet.
I'm looking forward to some slightly cooler weather as it was over 40'C in Sydney yesterday.

A little light work

 

It looks like this liner has enough solar power to run a kettle

 

Peewit

Bus Bonanza & Balmoral Beach

With the temperatures in Sydney heading into the thirties today, I thought it was time to exercise one of my PET's with some BB & BB.
I am referring to a Pensioner Excursion Ticket that gives you unlimited travel for one day on buses, trains and ferries. You can buy these tickets in many newsagents and they cost $2.50 each (assuming you qualify for this ticket).

In the heat I did not fancy walking up the hill as I usually do, to go and do some shopping at the plaza, so I looked up online the timetable for the local buses. The result was that I was able to walk just 50 metres to the bus stop, get an airconditioned bus to the shops, do my shopping, aircon bus home and all this was accomplished in under half an hour. Luxury.
In the afternoon I fancied going to a beach that would have a cooling breeze and warm, gentle waters for a paddle/swim. Balmoral Beach is perfect as you can see in the pictures. I used the same ticket and buses to get there and back.

 

 

 

 

 

Looking across Port Jackson to Manly

 

This was a great way to keep cool on a hot day.
Peewit