I arrived in Sydney drained physically and emotionally. I had been on a ‘memory lane’ trip in Hong Kong that wasn’t healthy, I had spent my time retracing steps and sometimes it’s best to see things afresh but there is a lesson learned, but it did mean that I arrived in Sydney without that wide eyed wonder I normally bring to the party with me.

I called up some people I knew from Reading and they kindly put me up for the night. I probably would have been better had I booked a room at a hostel though, not because the hospitality was poor, they were wonderfully welcoming, but because I could have been a lot better company than the sorry knackered wretch that arrived on their doorstep. I was also Christmas eve and I hadn’t bought a bottle at duty free as we had originally arranged to meet up the pub so I didn’t want to drag booze around with us for the evening – I therefore decided that I would go to an offy (bottle shop) and repair this upon arrival – but John had been ill for the day so we met at their house. We popped out for the aforesaid ales but nothing was open. I sat supping a few beers that a neighbour had nicely brought down as my enthusiasm to get a few beers was translated as my wanting to get wasted, I felt mean.

Anyhow it was a nice evening, John made a pile of chip butties, Jason brought down a top kung fu movie and we all made the best of Christmas Eve – next time I’ll bring my enthusiasm with me, but John and Eddie (Edwina) aren’t the kind to hold grudges, they are salt of the earth people and will get a fine slap up feed at the first opportunity.

So, I’m going to save my musings on Sydney for when I have recharged my batteries, meanwhile I am wandering around munching on Australian delights (big fat sandwiches and pies) trying to get my head around this place. The harbour is busy, the weather not too hot and I can see it’s a cosmopolitan place, if we decide to live here it might be my home for a good while so I had better make the most of it.