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Friday 1 May 1998 | |||||||
| Had arranged a couple of weeks earlier to go on a camping trip in the Blue Mountains. Kim, Sylvia (medical friend from Balmain), John and I were the only participants in the little jaunt. The weather was pretty dodgy in Sydney (dull and raining), but as it was all arranged and everyone's bags packed we jumped into John's Commodore and headed West, hoping for better. Unfortunately this was not to be and we arrived a couple of hours later in Katoomba which was up in the cloud base by now, and had that drizzle, come water floating in the air feeling. Decided to have a pizza and think about what to do. The decision to return home came quickly, as did the hot chocolate, followed closely by our snack. Ate this while listening to an girl duo (with acoustic guitar) who were performing in the cafe. On the way home went past Echo Point. This is where the most famous view of the mountains can be seen. I'm standing on this overhanging ledge less than a hundred metres from the Three Sisters, the ledge is over a 300 metre shear drop, and there is bush land out ahead as far as the eye can see. There's even a plaque here to commemorate the QE II's visit to this spot in 1954 - it's that famous! And what do I see? The amber glow of spotlights (which are supposed to light the sisters) a few meters below the ledge as their glare is dispersed by the cloud and drizzle! Mega-disappointed we head home via an alternate route only to find the road blocked by an accident and have to turn back and retrace the last hour of driving, finding ourselves back in Katoomba almost two hours after we left for home! John is knackered by now, so I took over the driving duties and got home around 1:30am. At least John and Sylvia got to camp out in our lounge when we finally went to bed. | |||||||
Saturday 2 May 1998 | |||||||
| Another dull day. Couldn't be bothered to do anything. Even gave in when we went for a quick stroll down to the harbour as the rain began to fall too hard. Although this walk through Kirribilli enabled us to pick up a couple of movies on video to entertain us the rest of the afternoon. Ate our camping supplies (bacon, sausages and spuds) for dinner, expertly prepared by Kim and Sylvia before John decided it was time for home.
Tried to convince Sylvia and Kim to come over to Manly to James' drink up (in order to celebrate his birthday a second time) but neither of them were feeling up to it. We decided I should go alone and that way (anticipating my hangover that would follow) they could get up bright and early and go and do girlie Sunday activities (shopping I think). So I showed up at James' place, around 8ish I think with readily prepared sleeping bag and therm-a-rest.... oh, and half a case of beer. Threw a few beers down before going to the pub. The pub in this case being The Steyne. Stayed at The Steyne until they threw out (3am). Got a whip going so much quick drinking followed (why spoil the pace set at James' place). A few stupid photos, a bit of dancing (not bad music, but limited collection - like they played a few tracks three times!) and a lot more beer later we were set to leave.
Wondered home via a great pie shop (pie & sausage roll for me - yum!). Wendy got the obligatory ride home in a shopping trolley, which we parked in the bat cave (aka. behind some bushes) at James' place. I think the name came about because of mine - can't get away from this Batman & Robin thing anywhere! Got back inside and for some unknown reason thought it would be a good idea to crack open another coldie. Eventually crashed out on the lounge floor at 5am. | |||||||
Sunday 3 May 1998 | |||||||
| Woke up with (can anybody guess...) a really bad hangover. Rang Kim to find out what she was up to, and thankfully she didn't want to meet me anywhere, so back to sleep. Or at least that was the plan, but was ruined by several phone calls from the UK throughout the morning (mostly just as I was dropping off to sleep again) for Wendy. Off course, being in the lounge I have to get up and answer the phone - not a pleasant experience. After all the phone calls and a bit more sleep I eventually struggled out of my sleeping bag at 1sh. Played with James' Playstation for a while before the others got up too. Thought about getting the ferry or bus home, but this would have been a very bad idea. Tried a few more games before eventually taking a cab home around four o'clock. Kim was already home watching TV and I was beginning to feel better so went down to the Spit Roast shop for a bit of takeout Sunday lunch. Did nothing much after this though. | |||||||
Monday 4 - Friday 8 May 1998 | |||||||
| Not a very eventful week at all. Knee still damage so unable to play squash on Thursday (not such a bad deal given our performance against North Shore at the previous meeting - the team did win though, so I may not be missed). Usual Friday night drinks at BST. Stayed a bit too long and ended up with room spin (first time in years!). | |||||||
Saturday 9 May 1998 | |||||||
| Kim wasn't feeling too well so we didn't feel the urge to get up and go out. Just as well given the night before. Watched highlights of a crazy Aussie spectacle on TV. Some iron man (triathlon) race: 2.5km (I think, 45 minutes worth anyhow) swim, 180km bike ride then run a full marathon (40kms). After over eight hours the leaders (two guys who've been together all day) come into the closing straight side by side. 50m from the line one of them sprints off and the other just looks in disbelief and almost stops. How annoying would that be? And the last official finisher? 1003rd or something and took over 15 hours! Had arranged to meet Pete, James and Scott in the Rocks (Orient Hotel) then go over to Darling Harbour for the Big Boys Toys exhibition. Kim still not feeling to good so did the show with the guys. A bit of a disappointment really - not enough toys (gadgets) and too much home cinema and car hi-fi gear. There was also a lack of the anticipated promotional staff - if you know what I mean. Called Kim as we left and persuaded her to meet us in One World Sport (bar in Darling Harbour). She, Rachel and Leigh showed up and we moved on to Bridie O'Reilly's in the City. Irish bar that actually served pints, and had Stella on draught. Had some drinks and dinner (pie and chips) here before taking the train over to Milsons Point and home. | |||||||
Sunday 10 May 1998 | |||||||
| Australian mothers day. Kim went to see Wendy and left me to laze in bed, as I couldn't face the shopping they were planning. Aussie TV is basically nothing but sport on the weekend so I managed to find a selection of motor sport to watch. UK touring cars, Safari of Kenya Rally, and some crazy Aussie formula that sees the most diverse range of cars imaginable line up on the grid. For example, this had the likes of the Suzuki Swift racing your standard Falcons and Commodores, through MR2s, Supras and BWM M3, right up to a Ferrari 355, Lotus Elise, Dodge Viper and a few Porsche 911s thrown in for good measure. How bizarre - guess they like the moving chicane concept here! Did nothing much else all day, even ended it watching the Spanish GP. Very dull season this one, but at least I didn't have to stay up late to wait for the result as I rang Sean to break the monotony and discovered the race broadcast was delayed by an hour here. Being really live in the UK I found the result out half way through the broadcast and saw no point watching the rest. | |||||||
Monday 11 May 1998 | |||||||
| Kim's rostered day off, so left work early and went to Chatswood to do some shopping. Usual story of looking around but not being able to find anything to make you part with cash. Kim, having written a couple of letters already discovered how to send email (as some of you may know). Had the usual TV and curry Monday night. | |||||||
Tuesday 12 - Wednesday 13 May 1998 | |||||||
| Nothing to report. | |||||||
Thursday 14 May 1998 | |||||||
| As a prelude to Friday, went over to Kim's mum's after work (on the train - Kim was working late) to go out for a meal with her, Greg and Karen. Had Chinese grub at North Rocks, very nice. Washed it down with beer, red and white wine without a thought for the train journey to work the next morning (bad move!). Went home and watched Ab. Fab. before we retired (well, Kim and I did anyhow). | |||||||
Friday 15 May 1998 | |||||||
| Wendy's birthday. Hangover, train, work... ermmmgh... actually, not as bad as it could have been, felt almost human by the time the train pulled into North Sydney. Wendy and Robert came home with Kim after work and we went to the Imax at Darling Harbour to see. "Amazon" which was pretty cool on the huge screen. Went to the Rainforest Cafe just round the corner afterwards. Can't say I'd recommend this to anyone as it' was pretty mediocre grub, and the theme really could have been implemented a whole lot better. | |||||||
Saturday 16 May 1998 | |||||||
| Lazed around all day for the nights activity: BBQ and the FA cup viewing round at Steve's place. Took Greg and Karen to enjoy this British spectacle. Had some great steak, snags, etc. from the barbie and loads of beers to wash it down. By the time the game started Greg was nicely on his way and missed the lot, preferring to hang around outside and talk about Aussie sports with Steve and his son. Kim and Karen just sat quietly laughing at Greg (and the rest of us shouting at the TV). Went home around 2:30 and sat around trying to wake up the neighbours (lucky I left the real stereo in the UK) and drinking until 4ish. | |||||||
Sunday 17 May 1998 | |||||||
| Had a huge lay in, briefly interrupted by the birds and Greg and Karen, who wanted to get up and go home (so they could go back to bed again). Didn't do anything much at all when we finally got up, managing to walk to the Spit Roast shop and get a roast lunch was as much as I wanted to do. | |||||||
Monday 18 - Tuesday 19 May 1998 | |||||||
| Given the usual Monday lethargy and the state of the weather lately, finally gave in to the power of the Playstation and bought one (with Gran Turismo and a dual shock controller). Given the bargain prices here you really can't go wrong, is very entertaining... I suspect this will keep me occupied for some time on those dodgy rainy days this winter. | |||||||
Wednesday 20 May 1998 | |||||||
| Still injured, thought I should at least go and see the squash team as they were playing at home. Went to Mosman and had a bit of a knock around before the match began, and to explain my absence over the last few weeks. | |||||||
Thursday 21 May 1998 | |||||||
| Went to see a Physio. on Geoff's advice. Turns out I have a kneecap tracking problem, where the kneecap doesn't fit between the upper and lower leg bones as it should, causing the joint to become enflamed and (very) sore. Joel (Physio.) gave me some exercises to fix this and estimated it will be fully recovered (able to play serious squash) in 3 weeks. Shame that timing is just right to miss the end of the squash competition. Went to Metropolis after work for a communal leaving drink up. We had a room with loads of pool tables booked, music, nibbles, etc. Was a pretty good effort for a work related thing. Kim showed up later on and stayed an hour or so before going home. | |||||||
Friday 22 May 1998 | |||||||
| Brilliant day (oh, apart from the "W" word) - not a cloud in the sky. What a relief from all the cloud and rain in the past week. Went out for drinks at the BST as usual, but only for, "a quick few". Some time later I got a call from Kim who had met up with Rachel in Balmain, so they came over to our place to meet Scott and I. Had some more drinks there and a curry while watching the State of Origin rugby (great game for a couple of Aussie sides!). Scott and I proceeded to have a (now drunken) battle of skill (and not much judgement) on the Playstation, got to bed pretty late as a result. | |||||||
Saturday 23 May 1998 | |||||||
| After dropping Scott and Rachel home (who crashed on our slightly dodgy sofa bed) went to Centennial Park a midday to meet Kim's group of ex-work mates for a picnic. Feeling a bit seedy I relaxed on the end of the bench and took it easy. Felt a bit more life like after some grub though and had a good time. Kim wanted to go shopping on the way home, but I didn't see much point and went home. Just as well as Chris (from Woolgoolga) had arrived for his visit (was staying the night and flying out to the UK Sunday) a bit early. Had a few beers at home with him before going to Bridie O'Reilly's in the City to meet with Greg, Karen, Simon, Pete (his birthday booze up today), etc, etc. They showed up only an hour late, giving us time to sample the pub grub in peace. This could have been a very messy affair, but luckily Chris' flight the next gave us an excuse to leave early and avoid the impending mayhem this group would surely cause. | |||||||
Sunday 24 May 1998 | |||||||
| Kim dropped Chris off at the airport, then persuaded me to go shopping in Chatswood. Shock - she actually made three purchases!! | |||||||
Monday 25 - Wednesday 27 May 1998 | |||||||
| Another dull start to the week... | |||||||
Thursday 28 May 1998 | |||||||
| Went to an agency drink up at The Summit in Australia Square (over in the city). Pretty cool place - a rotating restaurant on the 47th floor of a round building. Free food and nibbles so had plenty... then a few more at the bar when the official end came. | |||||||
Friday 29 May 1998 | |||||||
| Had the usual Friday drinks at the BST. Almost ended up going to Balmain for a few there too, but couldn't fit in the cab - just as well as it was described later as a bit of a long and messy night in the end. Anyhow, was quiet happy to go home have some grub while watching the Rugby on TV. | |||||||
Saturday 30 May 1998 | |||||||
| Kim had gone to Katoomba with a few of her girlie friends form Balmain, so lazed around all day before trying to round up a few people for drinks in the Rocks. Had to take the train (and a bus for the first stop - as they weren't running over the bridge) to Wendy's to pick up Kim's car. Went home via Balmain to pick up Scott before taking the ferry over to Circular Quay. Not a bad night, but we must learn to pace ourselves more. Jackson's on George (ended up there after meeting at the Orient and a quick visit to the Observer) was still lively at 2am when we left, hardly surprising as this is a 24 hour bar, but a pitiful display really for an 8pm start. | |||||||
Sunday 31 May 1998 | |||||||
| Lazed around all day again. Only ventured out to pick Kim up from Balmain where she had been dropped off. | |||||||
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