Off to Sydney...

We departed Mt. Gambier at 4.35pm (1 hour late) - the plane was late getting in due to storm activity in Melbourne. We got going and the pilot advised us that we would have to 'play the waiting game' when we got to Melbourne due to the back log of flights in and out that had been delayed. We actually turned around and flew back to where we had come from twice - that is a wierd feeling!

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Ever changing sky - I could watch the clouds all day...
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Ah, pretty! Finally, we reached Melbourne.
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Anyhoo, we got to Melbourne and were told that our flight had been delayed by approx. 2 hours and even then it might not get off the ground...alternative arrangements may need to be made...
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Sydney has a domestic flight curfew of 11pm (due to planes flying in over populated areas they introduced the curfew for noise reasons). We finally got going and we touched down at 10.50pm. Another 15 minutes delay leaving Melbourne and we would have had to stay put. We got to our hotel at midnight!
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Friday lunch time, I headed off with some other ladies for a lunch cruise of the harbour - doing it tough, I know... This is Circular Quay...
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The majestic Sydney Opera House - it is such an Aussie icon - and very impressive. We attended an official function and we dined in the 'sail' that is pointing out to the right, in Guillaume at Bennelong on Friday night.
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This cruise ship was Aurora - Radiance of the Seas...
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We cruised under the Harbour Bridge - there were lots of people climbing it...
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The sky made the harbour all the more beautiful...
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On board our relaxing cruise, we had a lovely smorgasbord of food to tempt us...
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I had some Thai green curry fish, beef stroganoff (delicious), waldorf salad (apple, celery & walnut), carrots, green beans and fresh prawns. Yummo!
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Darling Harbour...
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On Saturday, we strolled down to Circular Quay again and had lunch at the Sydney Oyster Bar.
Angus had the Flying Fish oysters, topped with rice, seaweed, pickled ginger, flying fish roe & soy...
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For main, he had the battered flathead fillets...
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I had 1 dozen oysters Kilpatrick.
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Later that afternoon, we went and visited Brianna's friend, Maddy - she has moved to Sydney to dance with the Brent Street Theatre group. Such a long way for a 17 year old girl to go but she is loving it. We took her out for coffee and cake... (baked cheesecake to be exact!)
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On Sunday, we were back on the harbour, ferrying our way out to Watson's Bay to Doyle's Seafood restaurant...
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This large cruise ship is a sister ship to the Italian Concordia which sank off Puglia.
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I can see why people like to sail - it really is a relaxing pass time, bobbing about out there in this beautiful harbour ...
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This is Doyle's on the beach at Watson's Bay - most famous seafood restaurant in Sydney. Opened in 1885, 5 generations of family have served Australian seafood to the masses.
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Nice view...
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Oh, my Lordy! We shared 6 oysters Kilpatrick and 6 oysters Mornay...
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The beach got busy with a family group hosting a birthday party, kids running everywhere ...
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The departure queues were huge...
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I had the Tweed Head Sand Whiting fillets and chips...
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Angus had the South Coast John Dory fillets and chips...
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The table to my right had chosen the Hot and Cold Fisherman's Platter...
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and so had the people to our left... Whole Lobster Mornay, Blue Swimmer Crab, Scallop Mornay, Smoked Salmon, fresh Prawns,
Golden Fried Fish Fillets, Calamari and Our own Jumbo Prawns... I do not know how 2 people can get through all that food!
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Dessert was a shared Vanilla Creme Brulee with strawberry and rhubarb compote...
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We arrived home Monday night at 9pm, raced to the supermarket and bought some shaslicks and salad stuff for dinner... real food!
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Monday morning, I was back into it... 4 loads of washing hung, dried, folded and some ironed.
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Look at all those handkerchiefs - they are always ironed.
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There, done! Then it was off to work for the rest of the day...
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Cheers - Joolz