April 1998

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Wednesday 1 April 1998

Thursday 2 April 1998

Friday 3 April 1998

Anyhow, good job I was in pretty early so could skive off early (2pm), rush home to change and dash over to the Sydney Regent. There in plenty of time as it happens so had to hang around (groan - get the pun?) before doing the jump off the roof. What a view from up there (on the roof, 36 floors up), and a weird experience to float past the guests windows, shame the only thing to see through them was a couple of bemused kids waving, you know what I mean?

See what the SMH had to say about the whole thing, it's a shame the picture on their web site isn't the same as that which made page three of the printed edition, still you can read about it at: "Sydney Morning Herald - Daily News - Thrill-seekers take the plunge to raise money for charity".

Here I am, taking the plunge and admiring the view (when I turn round that is) of the Opera House and Circular Quay in the background. And no, I'm not worried, the sun in my eyes - honest!

Feeling pretty good I wondered off to meet Kim in Balmain for her leaving drinks. Only had the one though as I had kindly volunteered to drive her car home (took the ferry there). Shocked her friends with my abseil gear, luck I brought something to change into. Had a great steak in The Royal Oak, was a pity I wasn't more hungry (had snacked on MD's a bit earlier) as the as much as you can eat salad bar looked pretty tempting too.

Saturday 4 April 1998

Went to Roddy and Richard's late house warming come celebration of being paid party in Manly. Drunk lots, ate far too many nibbles such as party pies, sausage rolls, pizza slices, crisps, etc., etc. Luckily Kim returned the favour of the previous night and stayed sober to drive home.

Sunday 5 April 1998

Monday 6 - Thursday 9 April 1998

On Thursday had a few quiet drinks after work at the now becoming regular Berry Street Tavern. Forgot Kim had no keys (as Greg was going to stay at our place over the weekend and had hers) and locked her out. Luckily I arrived home not long after her (having to walk home in the rain) as she'd been to Balmain after work.

Stayed home and packed for...

Friday 10 April 1998

Seemed very weird to have no passport control after landing and picking up the luggage, and for there to be a group of people waiting for friends at the gate. Had a bit of hassle when picking up the car as they thought I'd only paid for three, rather than four days, soon sorted them out though and headed North in the now upgraded Commodore (3.8l V6 - grin). Traffic was a little heavy out of Brisbane, but this was the morning (about 10am by now) of the Easter weekend so what do you expect?

Took the scenic ocean road and arrived at Noosa early afternoon. Checked in at the Noosa International and inspected the place. For some reason we ended up with a massive suite in this very quiet hotel come apartment complex (we had two sofas and dinner seating for eight in the open plan lounge). Also had a huge wraparound balcony with views into the treetops of the palms and whatever growing round the place.

Didn't bother to unpack now (and I never did) and left for Sunshine Beach just down the road. Sydney beaches aren't bad, but they just don't have the mile after mile sand of Queensland, so was very happy to be there.

Couldn't decide what to eat for dinner, so unfortunately ended up taking a KFC meal deal back home to eat on the balcony. Went for a few drinks in the very quiet resort bar (which was sunken in the middle of the pool BTW). Great cocktails, but not very alcoholic so stuck to the beer after the half price intro. Just sat around and was entertained (?) by the barman, who I'm sure thought he was Tom Cruise from Cocktail or something.

It started to rain a bit which put us off walking down to the high street and other bars. Never mind, good excuse to crash out pretty early due to the very early start.

Saturday 11 April 1998

Went to Boreen Point on Lake Cootharaba then on to Kin Kin.

Here's a quaint old outback hotel as seen at Boreen Point. They make it clear don't they?

We were planning on driving up the Cooloolah way to Rainbow Beach, about 25kms of dirt road which was passable in 2WD vehicles, but not after any rain. Given the night before we decided to give that a miss as it was very sandy. Besides that, we didn't have a very good map and the road forked just a few hundred meters into it's length with no indication of which way to go.

Took an alternate main road route, which was still not sealed but at least not as sandy and bumpy as the Cooloolah way. Rainbow beach was pretty busy... well, as busy as things get round here which means there were at least 20 people to be seen on a beach 20kms long. Sat and sunbathed for a while before wondering off to the pie shop for some refreshment (pies, sausage rolls, coke and milkshakes).

This is the 'alternate main road route' to Rainbow beach, very red dirt road. Straight as a die for miles (although you don't quiet see this as we filmed a bit going uphill - doh!).

After being there some time I realised that this really was a busy beach, not for the usual surfers and bathers though, for driving on. All the time we were there, there was an almost constant line of 4WD vehicles driving onto the beach some was down from us and travelling South to look at the Coloured Sands of Teewah. Made me wish I'd hired a 4WD myself so we could check it out, and drive on Fraser Island for that matter.

After most of the afternoon here, we headed back to Noosa to have dinner at Raging Bull restaurant, which was part of the resort complex before crashing early again.

Sunday 12 April 1998

	Here's Castaways Beach... very nice!
	We do like to show you the wildlife don't we? here's Kim with a tiny crab found on the beach. You have to be quick before the speedy little suckers run down their holes.
	And a close up him (or is it her?).

Monday 13 April 1998

First stop was Maroochydore, then on to Mooloolaba (I'm not making these names up - honestly!) where we visited Underwater World. Big aquarium type place with underwater tunnels and the like. Very much a typical tourist attraction being built on a wharf with the usual shops, arcades and attractions. Wondered down to the beach and ate lunch (great fish and chips) while watching the world go by.

Instead of the main highway back to Brisbane took a slightly more scenic route through the Glasshouse Mountains and Beerburrum. Drove to a lookout point and admired the strange landscape (these 'mountains' being volcanic mounds in an otherwise flat landscape).

	A couple of the Glasshouse Mountains, not very mountainous really.
	How artistic, got a rainbow in the shot and everything.
	Some more wildlife, this time it's a ?? bird sitting on a Blackboy.

Arrived in Brisbane too early so tried to call Yvette, but she was down in NSW. Went to Deception Bay and took a long walk on the beach and sea front before showing up at the airport an hour or two too early. Shame there's no duty free shopping on the internal stuff, eh?

Tuesday 14 - Thursday 16 April 1998

Friday 17 April 1998

Some guys at EDS arranged a pub crawl round North Sydney. Not that much of a crawl though as they only had five (I think) bars on their well planned route. This went straight out the window in the start though (Berry Street Tavern at 5) as it was raining outside and we didn't fancy getting too wet.

Ended up staying quiet some time and doing a few cocktails (bad move, but happy hour, so what can you do?) in Berry Street Tavern. Then down to the Victoria Cross at around 7:30 for more beer and cocktails. Drank some Cranberry Juice concoction and instructed the barmaid on how to mix Lynchburg Lemonade, more beer, etc. Kim showed up at around 8ish, and I think we left around 9 for...

... all a bit hazy from now on in, but I think Burger King for food was next, followed by The Greenwood and then back to BST just before 11. Some guy kept insisting on buying Jo and I drinks and that we play pool with him, nutter! Didn't really mind though as I was a bit too knackered to 'Cut Some Rug' (local phrase for dance) by then, although Kim was being a Solid Gold (some TOTP type show) dancer on the speakers on the side of the dance floor at this stage. Ended up leaving at 3am for the short stroll home.

Saturday 18 April 1998

Sunday 19 April 1998

Later afternoon Kim and I went to Kirribilli pub for lunch/dinner but found they were in the gap between the two and not serving. We stayed for a few drinks before deciding to go home and eat rather than wait for them to open up again.

Picked up a roast chicken and some veggies from the Spit Roast shop next door and took them home to scoff.

Monday 20 - Friday 24 April 1998

Parisha's (Kenan bod) last day at Optus so went to VC to meet up with her and pals when I finally dragged myself away from everyone at BST. Decided not to go for dinner with them though, as I didn't really like the sound of Japanese food during a drinking session.

Returned to BST when we parted company only to find everyone else had already left, so went home and found some Rugby on the TV which entertained me until Kim came home (she was doing her usual Balmain drinks).

Saturday 25 April 1998

As luck would have it, Flea was driving so we went to another bar in Balmain, name and location unknown as I wasn't paying that much attention. Went back and crashed out on Scott's excellent futon sofa - better than our real bed any day (as your feet don't dangle off the end!).

Sunday 26 April 1998

Decided to go down to Pyrmont and visit the fish market. Had a quick look round at all the weird stuff on offer before trying some. Well, Kim did at least (baby octopus & chips), the rest of us had more usual dishes, if you can call a fish and chip takeout that serves salmon steaks as normal.

Sunday's adventure over, and Scott and Rachel dropped back at home Kim and I spent the rest of Sunday afternoon/evening lazing at home as usual.

Monday 27 - Tuesday 28 April 1998

Wednesday 29 April 1998

BST as usual before James (was it him?) decides he wants to go to Planet Hollywood for a meal. Although I would never step into such a tourist trap in London, being here, and a being a tourist (albeit working one) seems to be a good enough excuse.

Took the train over to Town Hall (James, two girlies from UK who are dossing at his place for a while, Scott and I) to meet up with Rachel in P.H. Had a couple of cool cocktails (never seen so much crushed ice pilled high above the rim of the glass), some more beers, etc., etc. before settling down for a bit of Mexican grub.

Huge portions, and a mammoth piece of cake with candles for the birthday boy (who was forced to stand on his chair with said cake held aloft while the whole restaurant sang to him).

See how gentile birthday boy James is in his consumption of the cake.

The food was good, so jokingly asked for a doggy bag for Scott's leftovers, which were actually brought back all wrapped up.

The mob on George Street. See how proudly I hold my trophy (Planet Hollywood carrier bag with the remains inside) - what a plonker!

Train home alone at midnight as the rest either took the ferry to Manly, or a cab over to Balmain.

Thursday 30 April 1998

This they did, and we ended up at a quiet busy Black Stump Chargrill (seeing as we all had buy one, get one free shop-a-dockets). Chicken pastry thing was good for me, and the rest ate steak (as is their speciality). Back home for a few swigs of beer before sending the guests on their way and falling into bed.