Jenelle very bravely drove by herself from Clontarf to Sydney. A day and half drive down along the New England Highway. At least she was familiar with the route as far as Tenterfield because we had been there just a few weeks ago. Jenelle had planned to break the trip in half at Armidale but by the time she got there she was loving the drive and the countryside so much she continued onto Scone. The drive from Scone to Charissa and Diasuke's unit in Meadowbank in inner western Sydney was not so enjoyable because of the heavier traffic and the rough roads. Jenelle reckons that the F2 Motorway from Newcastle to northern Sydney has to be rated amongst the roughest roads in Australia.
Pearce and John took the easy option and flew to Sydney on the 22nd December. Pearce had organised his annual leave and booked his flight months before. John had to stay behind in Brisbane because he was on jury duty. Luckily he only had to go into Brisbane on one day and missed being put to a jury by the skin of his teeth. Jury duty normally lasts two weeks but being the week before Xmas the Judges and Wigs clocked off early, so John was released early. This meant he could fly down to Sydney with Pearce on the 22nd.
Charissa and Diasuke have a large two bedroom apartment with a super sized balcony. It was on the balcony that Pearce pitched his tent...
Of course the 22nd December is Pearce's birthday (27 this year) and Jenelle amongst other cooking made a super yummy " birthday cake"...
Jenelle and Charissa also turned their cooking talents to preparing tempura battered, ricotta stuffed zucchini flowers...
Santa managed to find the house on Xmas eve and to load up the tree...
The present opening was stretched out across the morning to savoir the joy...
The boys with some of their toys...
Charissa opens her big present...
A new iPad brings a big smile to Daisuke's face...
Then it is in the corner to download some apps...
While Pearce reads the manual for his new multifunction watch. Look at the size of that booklet...
More pressies for Charissa with John very careful to stay out of the way in the scissor wielding frenzy...
Photos of our Xmas lunch still makes us drool weeks later. The food was even better than it looks and that is saying something. Apricot glazed ham roasted in the oven...
A beetroot,rocket, walnut and feta salad...
Our platter of sliced ham and turkey breast...
Jenelle's special noddle salad...
Tomatoes, olives and bocconcini...
The smorgasbord is ready; come and get it...
The table is set...
Our first Xmas at Charissa & Daisuke's house...
Boxing day in Sydney can mean only one thing; the start of the Sydney to Hobart. We drive over to Bradley Heads on the north side of the habour and park near Taronga Park Zoo. To get a view of the start line we have to take a short but brisk stroll though the park line headland, with just time to snap another Australian icon...
Oh, just one more icon to photograph...
From our elevated position on the south eastern tip of Bradley's head we have a great view of the proceedings...
The old and the modern...
Competitors and spectators...
With less than half an hour to go before the gun goes off and the big boys and girls are coming out to strut their stuff. The dynamic Jessica Watson is captaining Ella Bache to Hobart with a youthful crew on board...
The super-maxi-yachts just tower over the rest of the fleet...
While the rich and famous chug about swilling wine and canapes...
Getting close to start time and the sky is filled with about 10 media helicopters...
The field is starting to get some organisation. The large and small vessels separate to their designated side of the harbour...
The gun goes, the siren sounds and it is time to pull tight the sheets...
They're off...
Even on a dull day the Harbour Bridge demands to be photographed...
New Year Eve in Sydney means fireworks. Daisuke takes us into his office to watch the show. With a view like this, from his office desk, it is a wonder the man gets any work done at all...
We take the train into the city early to avoid the million or so people that are expected to be heading to the habour tonight...
We fill in our time with a toast to the changing of the calender...
At 9.00pm the party gets started with the kiddies firework display...
Jenelle and John pack it in at around 11pm and head home to watch the midnight show on TV. George Street in the heart of the city is a tidal wave of people surging down towards Circular Quay. Even though the night is still young, the drunk and/or the drugged are making their presence felt. This confirms our decision to not be around when this party is over. We virtually have the outbound train to ourselves. Although it is a quarter to midnight, the inbound trains we pass are still packed to the rafters with revelers anxious to get to the harbour before witching hour.
(Charissa's mid night photos here)
What better way to celebrate the New Year than with a round of golf...
