'Visit to Katoomba'

8th August

Today we went on our first sightseeing trip. We drove further up into the Blue Mountains to Katoomba and went to see the 'Three Sisters' rock formation. I met a busking aborigine playing a didgeridoo! He said, 'Come here woman!' I said, 'Even my husband doesn't get to call me that!'

We walked across to the lookout called Echo Point and there in all their splendour were the 'Three Sisters'. Legend has it that the aborigine sisters were turned to stone by their father to keep them safe, intending to turn them back but he lost his magic stick! 

It was bitterly cold up there so as you can see from the pics we needed to be togged up. Violet borrowed a sheepskin coat!

We had lunch in the cafe and then took a ride in a cable car across the ravine to another lookout over to Mount Solitary across Jamison Valley. I even filmed through the glass floor! The colour of the Blue Mountains come from the haze given off by the eucalyptus trees which fill the valleys.



'Settling In'

6th and 7th August

We arrived at Linda and Kevin's home. We had a brew which was much better than the ones on the plane. We were now 9 hours ahead of British time but we still felt tired enough to go to bed. I didn't unpack, just climbed into bed and fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow!

Woke up to squawking and screeching. Instead of the sweet singing of blackbirds and chirping of sparrows it was lots of parrots. The native birds of these parts. The sulphur-crested cockatoo is the loudest. Who needs an alarm?

Saturday-It was a chilly morning so I wrapped up and went to sit on the veranda with my breakfast. It was warmer outside than in the house! The rest  joined me and we spent time catching up with news. I gave out pressies, a RHS calendar for Linda and Kevin and English soap for Lara, their daughter and a Blackburn Rovers gift for their son Ryan who is a BRFC supporter!

We had a quiet day because there was jet-lag to get over. I received a lovely e-card from Eliel as it was our Wedding Anniversary. I texted, emailed and skyped the family which felt good. I brought my net book with me and I'm so glad I did or else I wouldn't have been able to do this blog!

Sunday was slightly warmer. We got dressed up and went to church. I was dressed in summer clothes because I felt warm but the people were all togged up in jumpers, coats and scarves because it was a cold winter for them! It was 22o; more like our summer.

We went to L and K's church which is Presbyterian. We went to the informal Family Service and I enjoyed being part of it. Strange to hear someone preaching with an Australian accent.

We took Violet to visit her brother, who, believe it or  not lives just half an hour away but suffers from ill health and is not up to having Violet to stay.

Linda, Kevin and I went off to visit a small art gallery because it was pouring down by then. We found a coffee shop and I ordered a 'short black' thinking it would be a smaller 'long black' but it turned out to be an espresso! So I took it to the counter to ask for a 'long black instead'! I thought I would know what's what in an English speaking country!

The Next Leg to Melbourne

August 4th Part 2

So we arrived in Abu Dhabi. What a beautiful airport inside. We didn't have to pick up our suitcases as they were going straight through to Melbourne. After we had our boarding passes checked Violet and I went to Gate 36 as indicated on the electronic boards. We arrived and there was only us and one Aussie waiting so we walked round the elasticated barrier and went and sat down to wait for our flight. Eventually lots of people arrived and all sat down with us in the same area. Then a rather panicky security official waved his arms about and asked us to all go back through the barrier. Violet and I laughed as we had caused all these people to stray to the "wrong side"!
So we boarded the plane for the 13 hour flight to Melbourne. As we boarded there were clouds of steam everywhere! I'd not come across this before. Violet said it was to cleanse the air. Wow! it was like being in a sauna (how I do not like saunas)!
By British time it was early evening. We had our evening meal. Arabian meatballs and rice. Don't ask me what the meatballs were made of!!
Then they put the lights out and we had to close the blinds and we were encouraged to sleep and sleep we did! I don't know for how long but we missed our snacks and drinks through the night. When we woke I had a wash and brush up and felt ready for a new day which had started hours before as we were travelling east.
The trolleys arrived with the next meal. It was Navarin of Lamb but my body clock wasn't ready for that.
Soon we landed at Melbourne Airport. Next stop Sydney. Yes we had not arrived at our ultimate destination yet so there was baggage collecting, customs and security all over again. The last flight was only for an hour and as we went for our bags in Sydney airport there were our friends Linda and Kevin with lots of smiles and hugs for us!
See more tomorrow....

'The Leaving of England'

4th August 2011, 6.30am


A cold and damp summer? morning. The taxi arrived on the dot. Eliel helped to put my heavy luggage into the taxi and then we said our goodbys.
The trip to the airport wasn't too bad. We hit the rush hour but our taxi driver Bernard was obviously skilled at nipping in and out of the traffic!
On arrival we were able to jump the queue because I had booked Violet and myself in on line.
We went through security and guess what?  I had to be frisked because I kept going 'bleep' through the scanner. It was the extra large trendy zip on my jog pants!
Then I discover my bag of liquids has gone off somewhere only to be told that my plastic bag that contained these things wasn't the right type and I had to go and buy one from the machine! This is when I became extremely grumpy but the security man was very patient and calmed me down. Don't envy him his job with people like me around.
Time then to board the plane. It was an Etihad flight and the seats were very comfortable and there was plenty of leg room. Pillows, blankets and headphones were provided.
Then we were off on the first leg of our flight. A seven hour journey to Abu Dhabi!
The food and drink came thick and fast throughout our journey. No sooner had we finished one lot when the trolley was coming along with next provisions.
There was plenty to watch on the screens. TV, films and games and something that kept cropping up-readings of theThe Koran! Oh well, we were on board an UAE plane.
So the first leg of our journey went ok......
More news tomorrow