Tips on catching the ferry using Windows

Hi
Sydney Ferries are not exactly renown for running on schedule.
I live in McMahons Point and need to catch a ferry over to Circular Quay and the city.
Do you really want to have sit in the sunshine and look at this view for several minutes whilst waiting for the ferry ?

 

Here are my tips for minimising the wait.
I am using windows and the operating system is Mark 1 eyeball. Most of you should have this.

Step 1 is to look out of the window or patio door across to Darling Harbour as your ferry is coming from here.

 

If you cannot see the ferry in the photo, here is a closeup photo, however it is no problem for the Mark 1 eyeball.

 

Step 2
The ferry is under way so you have a few minutes to get your self organised.

 

The ferry has got to the Balmain wharf and it's next stop will be yours so you need to be nearly ready now.

 

Step 3
The ferry is leaving Balmain and so it is time to go. You probably have 4-5 minutes to get to the wharf. Just hope that you do not have to wait for too long for the lift in your block.

 

If you see the ferry here at just off McMahons Point you are going to miss it.

 

You arrive at the wharf just as the ferry approaches.

 

Step 4
You board the ferry to start your ten minute journey across the harbour.
Looking back you can see the rather ugly tower block that I live in. However the views are great from inside it.

 

The ferry calls at Milsons Point (Luna Park)

 

Then goes under the harbour bridge

 

You pass the Opera House

 

Soon after you approach Circular Quay

 

Lastly you disembark at the quay

 

This tip will save you minutes.

Peewit

Museum visit, cricket update

Met my daughter and went to see a wildlife photography exhibition at the Australia museum near Hyde Park. Some great photos in there. Maybe I should have got a Nikon slr camera but then again I am not willing to hang around for three days in bad weather just to take a photo.

We spent a bit of time in the park afterwards

 

 

 

 

Nipped across the road to DJ's and got takeaway salads before returning to eat them on a bench near the large fountain.
My daughter had to go food shopping as she was expecting visitors and I headed back through the city and on the ferry to catch up with todays cricket matches on the tv.

3rd Womens T20 Australia v England from Canberra. The English fielding looked to have improved massively. We won on this lovely hot sunny day. Laura Marsh was the Player of the Match having opened both the bowling and the batting where she top scored. England now have won the series 3-0 with two more matches to play. Well done girls.

1st ODI Australia v England from MCG. Our men batted first and got a good total on the board. It looked like we were going to win with Australia needing a record breaking run chase at the MCG. However a great performace from Shane Watson got Australia across the line to win.

Peewit

Sunshine back in Sydney

Hi

The sunshine is back, or at least it was yesterday when I decided to go on a shopping trip to the Westfield mall at Bondi Junction.
Even though it was quite hot weather there was the usual breeze across the harbour cooling us all down.
The journey starts with a 10 minute ferry trip across the harbour to Circular Quay.
This photo was taken from the platform at the station where I caught a train to Bondi Junction via Town Hall.

 

I suppose the total journey time was about 40 mins door to door.
The Westfield mall is ermormous and I had to ask directions to the two places I was interested in. One was selling coffee pods and the other was art materials. After getting what I wanted and a bit of browsing at the latest in smartphones I needed to head home as I wanted to watch the 2nd T20 match between England and Australian women at the MCG.
I made it in plenty of time but at the appointed hour I found that Nine were not showing it. My Tivo is so useless that 9 times out of 10 it seems to record something entirely different to the program you have selected. This maybe because Tivo is practically useless here (no advert skip feature) or because the Australian broadcasters can't be bothered to keep the tv guide up to date. Either way, Nine were understandably showing coverage of the Queensland flooding along with almost identical coverage on every other tv channel. Of course this coverage fell a lowly second to endless advertising breaks. Having tried all the tv channels and failed, I tried the ABC grandstand radio channel as that usually gives good audio commentary. Not this time though as they were wondering about a million different possible problems that may or may not happen as the flood levels decline. Eventually they started showing the match on the Gem channel (channel 90) but it was hard work making the Tivo record the whole match as it thought other shorter programs were running. Luckily I am a million times more intelligent than it. I suspect that even a frog is more intelligent than a Tivo.

The good news is that the England team won the match and are now 2-0 up in the series. The England women's fielding was very scrappy with loads of fumbles and dropped catches. They have been much better when I have seen them play in previous matches. It does not say much for the Australian girls when they were beaten by team butterfingers. The third match takes place in Canberra on Sunday.

Later in the evening I watched the men's T20 that was also at the MCG. It was a close match and although England got off to a good start, by the time it was the last ball of the match, they need six to win. They did not make it so Australia got this one making it 1-1 in this series. The next matches are ODI's

Today the weather is really hot (currently 31C) and it is also humid with no wind. Not pleasant, and for the first time I am using a fan to keep cool rather than just opening a window.

Peewit

Cricket update

It has been a bit hot, humid and cloudy over the last few days so this photo was taken a while ago. It features the harbour fireboat that comes out on ceremonial occasions.

 

I think I already mentioned that just before the last ball of the test series at the SCG, the Barmy Army trumpeter started playing "The Last Post". Maybe he is psychic.
For those of you that would like to savour this moment, you can see it by clicking here
Cricket update: Yesterday the England Womens Cricket team took on the Australian Women at the first of five T20 matches. This one was from the Adelaide oval. I watched it on tv despite Nine's best efforts to ensure that I missed it. Well done England on a really great victory.

By the way, a few hours later the mens teams played a T20 match at the same venue. Guess what - England won.

The next matches take place on Friday at the MCG.

Peewit

Power bands ?

The England team did very well to win the test series and retain the Ashes in Australia. In all I managed to watch a total of five days cricket at the MCG and SCG.
The Barmy Army did us proud too.
One question ? Why on earth were Strauss and Colly wearing those silly Power bands. I was wondering who would be daft enough to pay a large sum of money for a rubber band with a magnet in it. Now I know.

 

Peewit

Ashes final test last day

I watched day four on tv and here is the end of day score. England are doing well and only need to knock over the last three wickets for a 3-1 series win.

 

I was at the match for the last day along with another 15,000 English fans.
England come onto the field.

 

First ball of the session.

 

Tremlett warms up.

 

It was a cloudy start in Sydney and a rain delay ensued.

 

Fatties.

 

"Jimmy"

 

Johnson is not the Barmy Army's favourite bowler.

 

Getting them singing.

 

Furry fans.

 

Sunshine and showers.

 

The Barmy Army trumpeter starts playing "The last post" as Beer takes on the Tremlett bowling. He plays the ball on to his wicket and England win the series 3-1.

 

Final scores.

 

Job done.

 

Test victory tinsel.

 

Lap of honour.

 

Mutual admiration.

 

Press gather for celebrations with the Barmy Army.

 

Collingwood's last test match.

 

It was a great day for the English and I was so happy to be on the fringes of the Barmy Army. Their support and singing was magnificent.
Peewit