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Tuesday 1 September 1998 | ||||
| Yvette called by (to Kim's surprise, who met her in the car park!) to see us as she had been down in Sydney for a couple of days on some sort of business. Stayed home (Yvette was to be driving early the next day), chatted, showed her our award winning (not!) video of the skiing trip, etc. | ||||
Wednesday 2 September 1998 | ||||
| Zip. | ||||
Thursday 3 September 1998 | ||||
| Played squash away at Evergreen, a good club with tennis courts at the centre (shame I didn't take Kim along for a game of that after). Managed to win 3-0 and the team went on to make it 3-1 for the night. | ||||
Friday 4 September 1998 | ||||
| Someone in the office had bought one too many tickets to see the NRL play off match between North Sydney Bears and Canterbury Bulldogs to be played at the oval just up the road. Not having witnessed a live Aussie sports event I took up the offer, and after a quick refreshment stop went along to see the Bears annihilated by Canterbury, much to the delight of two of the guys we were with, and most of the crowd we ended up standing by (as they insisted we stand on the half way line, rather than take a seat nearer either end). Had a snack at BK later and went to a very dead Metropolis for a few drinks and played a bit of pool. The Canterbury supporters piked quiet early though - you'd have thought they should have been celebrating, followed closely by the rest. | ||||
Saturday 5 September 1998 | ||||
| Kim and I were feeling very lethargic, and did nothing much all day. Were at a loose end in the evening too, so were glad to receive a call from Robert wondering what we were doing, and invited him over. Just hung out, went out to forage for food, but couldn't make a decision and ended up back home - typical of the whole day I'd say. | ||||
Sunday 6 September 1998 | ||||
| Pretty disappointed at the previous days efforts we got up early (8am) and went for a jog round Kirribilli. Later, Wendy came over and we took a trip to Balmoral beach and had fish and chips for lunch as we sat in the sun (as this was a very nice day). The evening event was a BBQ at Arthur's place (as it was Aussie father's day) at which I didn't see the cooking device once. At this very civilised event the food was cooked outside by the host and brought to the dining table for public consumption. Very bizarre... but I think this is the norm here as we've done it before. | ||||
Monday 7 September 1998 | ||||
| Zip. | ||||
Tuesday 8 September 1998 | ||||
| Are we crazy? For some reason Kim and I got up at 6am and went for a run round Kirribilli. However, it might have been worth it to see the excellent sunrise over Neutral Bay... maybe! | ||||
Wednesday 9 September 1998 | ||||
| Had a stroke of luck and scored a free ticket to the Gala Preview of Les Miserables (the movie that is), Kim being over at Wendy's that night I went along with a group of work friends. Not your average night at the pictures, free snacks for all and champagne at Planet Hollywood (over the road) afterwards. Was pretty interesting to see what the producer (Bille August) had to say when he gave a quick introduction before the screening. For those who are interested: Apparently, they were originally going to make this film with Gerard Depardieu and Roman Polanski, who wanted to record it in French, but no-one would finance a French language production, so that idea was canned. Bille went on for some time about this story, and how they eventually ended up with Liam Neeson and Geoffrey Rush as the male leads, and how it was probably a better product in the end because of this. Funnily, he very quickly skipped over the story behind the female leads with something like, "...oh, and then we got Uma (Thurman) and Clare (Danes) to join us... hope you enjoy it anyhow..." I thought it was a pretty good movie anyhow, and no, the cast never once broke into song (shame the musical version of this story is the most famous, eh?). Some might find it a little slow, but in the words of Bille August, "...the pace is subtle, rather than fast", whatever that's supposed to mean? Later, after the quick drink (only the one -damn) at Planet Hollywood decided to eat there too and ended up getting home pretty late. | ||||
Thursday 10 September 1998 | ||||
| Was going to have a quiet night in and rest up for the eagerly anticipated PC III (Friday), but was called upon to play squash (this was meant to be my week off). Not that I didn't want to, was feeling pretty good from all the activity earlier this week so went along and have a great (felt very energetic, and couldn't do much wrong) 3-0 victory. Just as well as we ended up drawing in matches and games, and only won this round by six points. | ||||
Friday 11 September 1998 | ||||
| Friday night, another planned office pub crawl occurred, as usual there was a schedule to stick to and a route planned, this time through the city. Details: 5pm, The Berry St Tavern (Level 1/77 Berry St). Obviously we made this one - you can't go far wrong walking out of the office to the building next door. 6:30, Legends (Sheraton Wentworth Hotel, Elizabeth St). Almost on time, we took the train to Town Hall and followed the crowd to Legends (I had no idea where I was going). This is a pretty cool place which played good music and was pretty busy, unfortunately it turned out to be a bit too good, drawing everyone to the dance floor and causing us to overstayed this visit. 8:30, Paragon Hotel (1 Macquarie Place). Yeah, right... more like 10pm! I was meant to meet Kim in here at the planned time of 8:30 though so ended up running between Legends and the Paragon a couple of times before I convinced everyone to join us here. Things in full swing by now the whole crowd pilled on to the dance floor to some dodgy displays of movement. 10:00, dinner is served, McDonalds next door to the Paragon. Well, actually we did visited MD's, but about 20 minutes before going into the Paragon. Eating's cheating, but as everyone did I suppose we'll forget about it. Actually met Kim milling around here at 9:30 - about 20 minutes after she got to the Paragon, good jobs she knows our timekeeping by now. 11:00, Brooklyn Hotel (225 George St). Tried to get in here at something approaching midnight but was foiled by the lack of a collar on someone's shirt (even though the bouncer wasn't wearing one - figure that out!). 12:00am, Riva or CBD. Turned out to be CBD at 12:15ish (after the walk down from the Rocks). Another cool, but rather up market looking bar opposite The Forbes. Were disappointed to find the top (?) floor closed (which apparently houses the dance floor - but I was told later by a bouncer that this didn't exist) so sat around in the almost relaxing atmosphere for a few. Also bumped into Rod (again!) before leaving at around 2. 1.00pm, City Hotel. This venue was scrapped, not suprisingly, given the late arrival at CDB and the amount of grooving that had already gone on. | ||||
Saturday 12 September 1998 | ||||
| Got up late (surprisingly?) and didn't do much for most of the day. Given the previous weeks interest in NRL, watched Canterbury beat Newcastle Knights one of the best games of League I've seen, with Canterbury staging a remarkable comeback. In the evening, went to Phil and Jono's to laze around and watch the AFL (Aussie rules football) grand final. | ||||
Sunday 13 September 1998 | ||||
| Drove over to Centennial Park for a spot of skating, doing 4 laps (around 14Km in the end). A pretty good place to skate with a 3.5Km main circuit which is a little hilly, and a little rough in places, but nothing too severe to worry about. Strangely, I never felt that much like I was coasting downhill, but did find a couple of the uphill sections were very noticeable. Perhaps this would be different going the other way, but it's a one way road shared by bikes and cars so I doubt we'll ever know. After a brief rest went to the Mosman round robin practice session for quiet a long time and returned home exhausted. | ||||
Monday 14 - Thursday 17 September 1998 | ||||
| The energy from the weekend was carried through (most) of this week. Had an incredibly close game of squash on Tuesday, when I was very disappointed to loose my match (15-9, 13-15, 14-15, 15-14, 13-15) in the last game after saving match point in the fourth. The team went on to loose 1-3 and we're now only fourth (out of seven) half way through the season. On Wednesday, went for a swim after work at the Olympic pool on Milsons point. The weather is getting better (and was beautiful all week), and must be a sign of what's to come as the bubble over the pool (put up in winter to keep us all a bit warmer) was scheduled to be removed at the end of the week. Thursday saw a friendly game of squash with Darren at Australian Squash Club up the road from work. | ||||
Friday 18 September 1998 | ||||
| I don't normally mention work, but on this day had a free BBQ and drink up courtesy of my employers at The Oaks in Neutral Bay. A very good afternoon with copious amounts of beer and barbecued baby octopus consumed, wine and pizza, and a few shooters thrown in for good measure. Free pool was provided all afternoon, as was the entertainment (thanks to various drunken work mates). For some reason (no mystery really) I couldn't manage to find my home through the maze of streets between Military Road and North Sydney High Street, so ended up falling into a cab after wondering round for longer than I care to admit. Given this afternoon session, nothing much happened that night. | ||||
Saturday 19 September 1998 | ||||
| What an excellent day - just took it easy and soaked in the sun in Milsons Park. That night went to the Northpoint Tavern to see Bellchopper (John Bracks' band) play their last ever gig. Apart from the dodgy surroundings (the Tavern is a less than impressive venue),the music was very impressive. As Kim commented, sort of a cross between Pearl Jam and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers. | ||||
Sunday 20 - Wednesday 23 September 1998 | ||||
Did nothing for the start of the week at all, just stayed home and vegged out. Played squash at home against Willoughby on Tuesday night (3-0 win to me, team lost 1-3 though).
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Thursday 24 September 1998 | ||||
| Scott, having missed out on the beer last Friday due to being on medication, decided that finishing the course was all the excuse he needed to have a celebration. Organised drinks over in The Rocks, kicking off in the Lowenbrau Keller which we all thought would be a decent German boozer, but turned out to be a pretty dodgy restaurant). On to The Orient for pool a few games of pool, and then to The Paragon. Now there we were, complaining that given it's Thursday night there's practically no one in the place when in strolled a huge party of girls (70 of 'em out on a hen night). This soon livened the place up and we ended up staying long after they'd gone, eventually getting home for 1am. | ||||
Friday 25 September 1998 | ||||
| After a slow start to the evening, met Kim and a couple of her work friends for drinks at BST and ended up staying there 'til 1am. Was pretty much a standard night though. | ||||
Saturday 26 September 1998 | ||||
| Slept all day. Went over to Balmain to have drinks at the Exchange with Scott, Rachel and Pete, but everyone was pretty beat so went home early (11:30). | ||||
Sunday 27 September 1998 | ||||
| Woke up early to a beautiful morning and, feeling energised after the early night, went for a 6Km run to Cremorne Point and back. Took a great route through Neutral Bay and Cremorne (surprisingly!) and along the harbour side path (with bridge and opera house views) to the point which was very quiet and peaceful, you wouldn't guess you were just minutes from the centre of Australia's largest city. Had a brief rest before Robert (fresh from an outback rally escapade) showed up with Scott and Rachel who he bumped into downstairs. Thanks here to Scott who had a go at him for parking behind our space and blocking Kim's car in... and thus learning he was coming to see us too. Balmoral beach beckoned as this was turning out to be the best day of spring so far and took a swim (albeit brief) in the ocean for the first time since April 12! We all enjoyed fish & chips for lunch and lazed around most of the afternoon to complete a truly excellent day. | ||||
Monday 28 September 1998 | ||||
| Louise (Dave's girlie) turned up and stayed over night, but otherwise a quiet day and night. | ||||
Tuesday 29 September 1998 | ||||
| Got up very early (5:45) to let Louise get ready and go to the airport to pick up Dave, Mark and Darren. While she did this, Kim and I went for a run round Kirribilli as it was an excellent, pretty warm morning. After work, Kim and I met Dave, Mark, Darren, Suzy and Louise for drinks and dinner in the Kirribilli. Not a very late night, but even so, a few cocktails and shooters appeared... the calm before the storm you might say! | ||||
Wednesday 30 September 1998 | ||||
| Met up at The Duxton before walking over the Harbour Bridge to the Rocks. The group (minus me, as I'd already eaten) had dinner in the Australian Hotel (gourmet pizza of such varieties as tandoori chicken & yoghurt, crocodile and pumpkin and broccoli) before going on to The Orient, where we sat outside in the courtyard on this very pleasant evening. Next it was on to a very empty Observer with a loan guitar player doing his thing (and getting the crowd to sing along remarkably well) before ending this leg of the night in the Paragon, but not before subjecting the place to an exhibition of the Bognor shuffle, and almost getting expelled for letting Louise ride round the bar on Darren's back! Was gutted to hear the next day at work that they were giving away booze, pint glasses (hard to come by in Australia) and other mechanise in Bridie O'Reilly's down the road. Caught a cab back to The Duxton, went up to Dave and Louise's room, 'just to check out the view', and ended up playing some stupid drinking games with Smirnoff Blue Label. Here's my tip for the night - don't mix 50/50 blue label and coke for yourself in such an event, always make the other contestant's drinks twice as strong as your own. Unfortunately I didn't heed this advice and ended up wishing I had after loosing terribly in this event - not a pretty sight. | ||||
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