Walking along the beaches and headlands from Manly to Dee Why
What a great first week we have had in Sydney. The first couple of days were a little on the chilly side but we have had no rain and the weather has warmed up nicely. While we were a day late getting into Sydney we have had a full week since arriving here. We spent a lot of time at the beach and caught up with friends and family.
Jumping into the Queenscliff pool
On our first full day we did the walk along the rocks and beaches from Manly to Dee Why. It was a spectacular day, blue skies and a turquoise blue ocean and we discovered lots of interesting sea life along the way. Then we had a delicious lunch at Stellar Blu on the beach in Dee Why (where I lived 34 years ago). Along the way, we discovered a fun pool with a cliff next to it that Jude decided he had to try.
A pre-christmas lunch with the Miers family
We caught up with our dear friends, the Miers family, a couple of days before Christmas. They put on the most delicious lunch and it was great to catch up with them, having not seen them since our trip four years ago.
Catching the Manly Ferry to Circular Quay
On Christmas Eve we caught the ferry into the city to have lunch with Ian’s family. We picked a beautiful restaurant, Squire’s Landing, on the water overlooking the Bridge and the Opera House. The setting was spectacular and it was good to spend some time with some of our Aussie family.
Christmas Eve lunch at Squire’s Landing
On Christmas Day we drove out to Robyn (my sister) and Mark’s place southwest of Sydney. They live in a beautiful rural area with their horses, dogs and cats. They cooked up a true Christmas feast with chicken, pork, ham, king prawns, Balmain bugs and vegetables. It was an amazing dinner and so great to catch up with them. We were sad to leave
Anna with the watch, pearl necklace and earrings from her Australian grandma
We also went through some of my parents’ stuff and we all picked out some things to take. Aunt Robyn was kind enough to give Anna my mum’s old watch that she wore for decades as well as a pearl necklace and earrings. Jude picked some commemorative spoons and I took some of my dad’s antique bookends.
About to sit down to our Christmas Dinner
Yesterday was Boxing Day and I went to join my college friends at a long tradition dating back a couple of decades. My friend Bruce hosts a party at his house in Manly to watch the Boxing Day test match (cricket) so I got to catch up with many old friends and watch Australia dominate South Africa in the cricket.
Old college mates going back almost four decades
While I was doing that Marcy and the kids spent some time on the beach.
Marcy and Anna sporting their new swimsuits on Boxing Day