A rough ride

If you visit Sydney, it is almost compulsory to catch a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly, with one side of the suburb facing the harbour where the ferry berths, and the other side, the open Pacific Ocean, great for surfing.

Once when returning from Manly to Sydney's Circular Quay, we were tossed about a bit and a little water sprayed those sitting outside at the bow. Seeing people outside being sprayed was very amusing. However, it was nothing like what is in these videos. The only dicey part of the trip is when the ferry crosses Sydney Heads, open water to the Pacific Ocean, and was no doubt where this occurred. I hasten to add, this is very unusual.

I believe these videos were taken by Matt Lambley, maybe. I've seen a different name embedded in the video. 

 

Rough rides for me? Nothing will beat the ferry journey from Fremantle in Western Australia to Rottnest Island. Grace, can you believe that in a couple of months it will be ten years ago when we were in Perth?

Same same, but different

Getting rid of an unfinished post that was going nowhere. 

New South Wales. Dammed road potholes.

Victoria. Damned road potholes. 

Sydney tourist: Your public transport is wonderful. 

Sydney local: Twenty five damned minutes and no 333 bus, then three arrive.

Melbourne tourist: Your trams are just such a wonderful way to get around.

Melbourne local: (This might be me) A tram every 90 seconds at the stop, so why the hell is the next tram seven minutes away.

Sydney: Crime out of control. A machete attack in a western Sydney suburb. Police arrest two youths in a stolen car, repeat offenders who were already on bail for a home invasion. 

Melbourne: Crime out of control. A machete attack in a western Melbourne suburb. Police arrest two youths in a stolen car, repeat offenders who were already on bail for home invasion.

Sydney: Property prices are ridiculous and there is nothing to rent.

Melbourne:  Property prices are ridiculous and there is nothing to rent.

Then differences appear.

From a low base over ten years coffee in Sydney has much improved, and I generally found it fine now.

I noticed quite a number of Melbourne impersonators in Sydney during this visit, all walking around in black clothing.

That was the year that was

Aside from my step mother dying in September, it wasn't a bad year for me. A family outing was organised for the first anniversary of Ray's death in April where we all met at Werribee Plains Open Range Zoo, and that was a good and distracting outing.

The attempt to avoid any celebration for my birthday by visiting Sydney was a failure, with just delaying the inevitable. 

December 2024 was a couple nights at Sister's on the Bellarine for Christmas and Boxing Day taking the car on the ferry to the other side of the bay for more family celebrations.

January I picked up Sister's cats from a cattery and took them to her home and stayed several days to look after them.

In April I took Phyllis and Kesav for an overnight stay in Daylesford, with separate cabins. 

Come May it was an overnight stay in Ballarat with my age closest ABI brother for a family get together and see the Sound and Light Show at Sovereign Hill.

I was back on the Bellarine to look after Sister's cats again in July.

As I mentioned, I was in Sydney for two weeks in October, the highlight being my return journey by sleeper train. I so enjoyed that, even though much of the time was spent asleep.

More recently in November were two nights away in Marysville, sharing a two bedroom cabin with Phyllis and Kosov.

Other outings with Phyllis and Kosov were day trips to, one to Mount Macedon with a stop off at the Organ Pipes National Park, a trip to the Bellarine for Jo's 18th where Phyllis and Kosov met most of the family, the trip to Geelong to see Jo slay them is the aisles in Anything Goes. There was also the surprise for Kosov with a trip to the Dinosaur Park, and a trip to travel on The Eagle chairlift at Arthur's Seat. I may well remember something else later. I did, a family trip to Funky Farm.

I was spoilt for my birthday once I returned, especially by being taken out for a surprise lunch by Phyllis and Kosov where we ate at a cafe in a train carriage (I want to say teetering, but that would be a lie) atop a three story building.

And who could forget the arrival into my home of Jass.

I can't take any pride in Phyllis graduating with a Master's degree in Food Science and Technology, but I sure as hell will take pride in teaching him to drive and obtaining his driving license. Once I realised he was at a level to pass a test, I worked hard on making him a better driver, smoother, more economical with fuel and reading other motorists' actions in advance. 

There was great sadness when the lovely Sue in Canberra unexpectedly died. She will be remembered by many of us forever. At times I return to her last blogpost, a Sunday Selections, which if her numbering is correct, they were over sixteen years. Just a week or so before, while weakened by treatment, she made the Out of the Shadows walk for suicide prevention. She has been posthumously honoured for her service at Lifeline over many years.

The world has seemed like a terribly messy place the year past, certainly not helped by the instability in the US and discontent in the UK. The year ended so badly in Australia with a horrific mass shooting, killing 15 people. We can make our own small efforts to make the world a better place, but we can't take the weight of world issues on our shoulders.

My evening was spent at home, declining an invitation from HH to watch the fireworks from her apartment with her city views. Instead being antisocial, I will watch the 9.30 fireworks from the tramstop below. By midnight I will be sound I was almost asleep, as Sister and her family prepare to party on for Hogmanay in Edinburgh. I warned Phyllis that I would probably drink too much and cry at some point, but he wasn't around to see that. Kosov was at work.

All in all, not a bad year for me. To all my blogmates, those of you who I know personally, and readers, my sincere best wishes for 2026. 

Happy New Year.

Sydney Summary

I enjoyed my visit to Sydney, but of course I was pleased to get home. Sydney is quite some city and it should be all tourists' prime destination. Many Sydney visitors won't be used to using public transport, but it is truly the best way to get around the city. I didn't need a cab or an Uber once. As a card carrying Senior, the daily cap of $2.50 to use trains, trams, buses and ferries is a bargain. For full fare payers, the daily cap is $20 Monday to Thursday and $10, Friday to Sunday (AI generated, check yourself). 

But, was it a good idea to visit a city I know so well, stay in the same place and do much the same as what Ray and I used to do? I don't really think it was. Cathy picked up on something I must have said, and yes, since I returned, I've felt somewhat fragile and emotional. At times I feel overwhelmed with sadness, but it is brief and I just get on with my life. Forty five years is a long time to spend with someone, and then they are suddenly no longer there. In a way, it was like a reason for being was taken away. I suddenly had no obligations or responsibilities beyond my own needs. 

Here is some advice for helping people who are grieving. Yes, by all means be there for them in the immediate period afterwards, but 3 months later, 6 months later, 1 year later, 2 years later, ask them how they are doing with a direct reference to whoever has died. I would have liked that, but no one has done so with me.

Some of you have been through this already, and could add to what I've written, and some of you will go through this. You will have a lot of administration to do, and just get on with it. Getting angry with idiotic bureaucratic processes passes the time. Socialise as best you can. But most of all let your eyes water. It your party and you can cry if you want to. Crying and deep sobbing is nature's way of dealing with grief. 

When you post nearly daily, you select a time to post, and my blog posts are normally scheduled at 5.00am EAST, a time I judged to suit the early rising late Sue. 

Sydney and Homeward Bound

I hadn't been to Coogee during my visit, so on the day my overnight sleeper train was to depart, I caught the 373 bus to Coogee, and it was a splendid day, with it being quite busy at the beach. I bought some lunch and sat around for a good while passing people entertained me. Why aren't all these people at work, I so often think.

Rather than go straight back to my hotel, I caught the 370 bus to Randwick and the L2 tram back to the city, and walked back from the Town Hall stop.

I slowly packed my things. Why, with nothing more than I brought, doesn't everything fit back into a case like it did when I initially packed! I then took a second shower for the day, a very leisurely shower, even though there are showers on the train, they are awkward.

My train departure time was about 8.40pm, with hotel checkout time arranged for 6.00pm. I went down to the Thai restaurant below, and consumed a large bowl of seafood tom yum, with a couple of fish cakes on the side. The train has a buffet for light food, but an evening meal is not included with the travel. With me was half a sandwich as a snack and there would be a light breakfast delivered in the morning. 

I prefer Coogee to the famous Bondi, with the bus stop closer to the beach, less crowded, especially on the bus, and there is good seating for 'those who need them', like me. 

With my case in the correct place on the bus, it was a quick trip down to Central, where my train was waiting, although I couldn't board immediately as the cleaners hadn't finished. 

Central was looking grand in the evening light. The information said to arrive half an hour before departure time. I was there in good time but certainly not the ridiculous half an hour. All you do is step on to the train. That doesn't take half an hour. My ticket was never checked at any point. 

The train is old, built in 1982 and replacements have been ordered and are arriving, but it is not yet known if there will be a sleeper car. Given it is often booked out, that would be a terrible mistake, in my view. But, perhaps I should wait until I had made this trip before deciding on that.

If the train looks familiar to people in England, it is based on the old InterCity 125, which can travel at 125mph/200km/h. The train was modified for Australian conditions, better air conditioning, with lower gearing to climb the steep slopes of the Southern Tableland, so it can't travel at 200km/h, but regardless, it is limited to 160km/h.

It has of course been renovated since 1982 and first appearances pleased my eyes.

It had one powerpoint for the use of cleaners. There was a warning that it could possibly fry any device plugged into the socket. One light switch was for the main lighting, and the other for a night light.

This flimsy table lifted out and and an extension was dropped into this socket. It swung about quite a bit with the train movement and was kind of annoying, however with its lip at the edge it was probably a safer place to put drink than where I used, resulting in a minor catastrophe. 

I would describe the train as somewhat old world stylish. I think the carriages were very well made. 

The man in the next room to me was also a sole occupant of a double cabin. He was blind. with his seeing eye dog accompanying him. I heard the staff escorting him off and back onto the train at a station for no doubt a call of nature for the dog. 

The cost of the trip was more than flying, but what price can you put on comfort with little stress. The fare was calculated by buying a first class ticket, then an add on for the sleeper, and in my case that was double because I bought the upper bunk for Ray as he expressed he would have liked to use the train, and then a pensioner discount was applied. Last year after we took the day train to Sydney, Ray wanted to return by sleeper train. I said no, as he had complained about the day train on the way up and we would have lost our already paid airfares back. I really wish I hadn't said no. He always slept well and he would have enjoyed the trip. At times I don't like myself for being so sensible and cautious. Had I only have known what would happen the following month.

So, the drink catastrophe; I bought two glasses of red wine from the bar and took them back to my room, one for my aforementioned companion. I drank the first one and put the second one on  the window ledge, where it sat quite happily for quite some time. The window ledge seemed safer than the moving table, but it wasn't. Staff knocked and turned my seating into a very comfortable bed. I then against the regulations, took a bottle of scotch from my suitcase and poured a large glass and then sat that on the window ledge. The train was very quiet and smooth, and the two glasses didn't move on the ledge, until they did. The train lurched and down fell the red wine, thankfully landing on a towel on the floor. Before I could grab it, then my scotch fell down too, also onto the towel. There would no hiding the smell from staff but hopefully they would just think it was wine. I poured another glass of scotch, then staff knocked again to take the breakfast order. I put my scotch into a cupboard before opening the door, and staff noticed the spillage, took the towel away and brought me a fresh one. 

Phone reception is very patchy, so I had downloaded something to watch on my tablet as I ate my half sandwich and half a packet of potato chips (crisps) I'd bought ten days earlier. Whatever chemical was in them, had kept them crisp. 

I shared a bathroom with the blind man. I hoped his aim was good in spite of his vision. A drop down sink and toilet, with a shower, which I didn't use. I had showered a few hours before I boarded and would do so once I was home.

I went to sleep just after 11 and slept very well. As I discovered when we caught the day train to Adelaide some years ago, Victorian train tracks are rougher than those in both South Australia and New South Wales. I think I half woke to some rough Victorian tracks once over the state border, but no big deal.

I can't remember what time I woke but I saw Seymour Station and a VLine country train. Breakfast was delivered some time after 6.00.  

The train arrived on time into Melbourne Southern Cross at about 8.00am and with a feeling of being in an unreal situation, I walked to William Street, my case in tow and my backpack over my shoulder, along with office workers going to work, and caught the 58 tram home. No stress. I am in Melbourne where I know my way around and how things work, so no concentration was required. Jass cautiously greeted me at the door, and after I showered, Phyllis and Kosov woke to give me a welcome home hug. 

Would I do it again, oh yes. While the fare does cost, I didn't have the cost of transport to Sydney airport, around $20 by usurious airport gate pricing, nor the cost from Melbourne airport to home by cab, around $80. I did have to pay a bit extra for the late hotel checkout, and if I travelled from Melbourne to Sydney, an early hotel check in, so maybe it is around the same.  

I will write a brief summary of the whole trip in the goodness of time. 

Sydney day whatever, 20th October

The day was my last full day, and it's is ages since I have visited Kings Cross and Potts Point, so onto the rather interesting 311 bus that begins its route at Central on the edge of the city and travels through the nearby inner east area and ends up back on the edge of the city at Millers Point. The service isn't very frequent, every thirty minutes, so if I wanted to stop off in Kings Cross, I needed to keep an eye on the timetable. 

Halloween must be approaching.

The Green Park rotunda. 

The Gay and Lesbian Holocaust Memorial on one side and on the other side, The Wall, where rentboys used to ply their trade. Maybe they still do. 

The Holiday Inn is coming down. We stayed there once and in the foyer we could hear the rumble of trains below at Kings Cross Station. The replacement; luxury apartments, naturally. 

 

Juanita Nielsen was murdered and probably ended up in the concrete foundations of a building. No one was ever charged over her disappearance and presumed murder. Wikipedia starts with this, "Juanita Joan Nielsen (née Smith; 22 April 1937 – disappeared 4 July 1975) was an Australian newspaper publisher, urban conservationist, and heiress."

If that teases your interest, you can read the article here, and the Google search takes you here. 

Her former home is the one with the bins in front.

I never tire of visiting the splendid El Alamein Fountain. It looks fab at night too.

After the bus tour of the inner east, I left the bus when it reached the centre of the city, bought a sandwich and caught a bus back to my hotel. I used Museum Station several times during my visit as it is a short walk to my hotel. It is underground but has lifts.

This in Qtopia, the GLBTIQ etc centre at Taylor Square, within an old, men's underground toilet and electric substation. I believe Qtopia is in several other premises nearby. I haven't visited as it seems to have an entrance fee, whereas Melbourne's Pride Centre doesn't.

Looking across Taylor Square to the south.

I bought a beach towel here with the Aussie Boys logo embroidered on the towel thirty years ago. I think it was a different shop location, but it was still called Aussie Boys. Thirty years later, I still have it and its condition is ok. Phyllis and Kosov are now using it as a bath towel. 

Dinner was fish, chips and salad at the Oxford Hotel. I am returning to decent eating. 

Sydney Day 9 continued

As I said, some photos of the view of the hotel rooftop. We'll begin with East Sydney, or is it Darlinghurst. I've never worked out the difference.

Sydney Harbour is visible.

Jacarandas were at their best towards the end of my visit. Oddly, in inner western Sydney, they has passed their best.

Paddington to the right.

The war memorial in Hyde Park.

The view of the city. Centre Point Tower has changed it's name so many times, but I still call it by its original name. We've dined at the revolving restaurant near the top of the tower. The experience was pretty cool.

I think this is looking down Wentworth Street.

Sydney Day 8 & 9

This Saturday turned out to rather interesting thanks to a blog mate Hels, and blog mates who I have met. 

I caught 333 bus to Paddington to visit the cafe/bookshop Ampersand, which Hels wrote about. It was a very cool place, on a few levels and full of people eating, drinking tea and coffee and surrounded by books. I looked for any old street directories but found none. They are quite precious now and highly desired. Thanks for the tip about Ampersand, Hels. I forgot to take a photo until I was at the bus stop to return to my hotel. With a bus approaching I quickly snapped a 'proof of being there' photo. You can make out a bit of the Ampersand sign.

This book looked interesting.

I suppose it is ivy. I didn't get close enough to this shop near the bus stop to find out

I left the bus at Taylor Square to check out the famous gay bookshop called The Bookshop. I understood it had recently been sold, but the sale fell through and is now going to close. It was so busy, it is hard to imagine it isn't profitable, or were all the people just browsing. 

The last time we were in Sydney, Oxford Street was a mess, but the works have been completed and it looks fine, and seems to work well. It is certainly a much calmer street now, and once it becomes all electric buses, it will be quieter still. Outbound the footpath is wide, with a bi directional bike lane, a bus lane and two car lanes. There is some on street  off peak parking further along. The other side is more conventional, with just the footpath and bus stops and two traffic lanes.

 

Next up was meeting James O'Brien for coffee and cake at Joe Black Cafe in Commonwealth Street, a very cool place, and a short walk away. I didn't get to return during my Sydney visit, but it is there for the future. It was great to see James and the conversation was easy. James' life has changed dramatically since the last time Ray and I met him, and obviously so has mine, but James' life changing experience has been very physical, and I admire his mental strength, dealing with whatever life chucks at him. This train map was quirky, with stereotypical names for areas in Sydney.

Back at my hotel, and there were drag performances underway at the rooftop bar of the Burdekin.

I was then picked up by Marcellous who took me for a marvellous drive to see the sights of inner south western and inner western Sydney. His knowledge of the area and his personal anecdotes were so interesting. 

We stopped off at the Everleigh Train Sheds, a closed maintenance depot, full of history and there was a ceramics exhibition and sale underway. Within Carriageworks there are performance spaces.

The purposeless tall steel structures are art, so they do have a purpose really.

Oh my, what a nice saw tooth roof.

More driving and history led us to the former tram depot at Forest Lodge, next to what was the Harold Park horse racing course. Along the way, and earlier, we passed some stunning houses and some quite average housing. It was a mix of styles and fineness of the buildings.

 

The old Forest Lodge (Rozelle) tram depot, Tram Sheds, has been turned into a small shopping centre, so we stopped for a bite to eat and a drink.

A restored Sydney R1 Class tram, the last trams built for Sydney. The tram system closed in 1961.

 

Marcellous had an overdue law book to return to Sydney University, so I was able to see that amazing set of buildings. 

Well, well.

I understand the White's Creek Aqueduct was built to carry sewerage from the western suburbs. It may even have been an open sewer drain. Nice.

With a little more street exploring, the terrific three and a half hour outing was over. I had half a pizza left in the fridge, which did for dinner. My Sydney diet was not improving.

If I wake during the night, it will usually be from 5.30am on but this night I woke at 4.00, and below you can see what woke me.

The next day was Sunday. I had plans, which I can't remember, but there were the usual demonstrations in the city, leading to buses being diverted. I worked out where the buses were being diverted to but I wasn't feeling great, rather annoyed, and I just said to myself, stuff it. I'll buy something to eat at the IGA supermarket and go back to my hotel. I think for dinner I had more Thai food at the restaurant at the base of the hotel. 

In the morning though, I did take some photos from the hotel rooftop, the location of the pool and spa. I'll put those in another post as this is quite long enough.