Sydney, January and February 2024.
As reported in our last post, we had a festive new year on Sydney Harbour, celebrating Annie’s 69th birthday with family and friends on the 1st January.
A Southerly to sail back to the Pittwater was predicted for the 5th January. With Graeme and Jason Smith on board, we set sail at 10:30 and reached Barrenjoey lighthouse on the Pittwater at 14:30. After many days of Northerlies, we encountered a confused sea and the predicted 20 knot Southerly to push us through the chop, barely reached 10 knots, forcing us to motor sail all the way.
Karen our daughter had an unwanted New Year’s present up in Orange. A mob of kangaroos live in the surrounds of the Orange hospital. On her way home after work, a kangaroo decided to jump across the road and hit her little Nissan Micra, damaging the front end, bonnet and roof of her car.
I celebrated our 28th year in Australia on the 12th January like a good Aussie bloke, by mowing the lawn, washing the car and doing 3 loads of washing. The next day we picked up Ron and Michelle Watson to sail up to Hallett’s Beach for a “yacht rock” lunch BBQ with the Sail Cruising Division. The pizza dinner on Esprit carried on till late, with me folding early, unable to keep up.
Australia Day on the 26th January was contentious this year, as a group of people protested the arrival of the first fleet in 1788, as the occupation of their land – ironically, mostly white fellas masquerading as black fellas. They now mark 26 January as a ‘Day of Mourning’ and more recently ‘Invasion Day’, or ‘Survival Day’.
Either way, I took the B-line bus into the city to celebrate the invasion, having not done so for the past seven years, due to our absence. I enjoyed the buzz and music events around Circular Quay and Darling Harbour. In the evening, we celebrated Australia Day at our friends Martin and Rose Campbell, with our old Madison Way neighbours.
The following evening was a humdinger with dinner at Michael and Jackie, before hitting the DY RSL for an INXS tribute show. Having caught an Uber home, Ron and I fetched our car in the RSL parking garage the next day. We joined the Dipper’s, Dunlop’s, Wade’s and Fox’s the next day for a long lunch, ending at 5:30pm. These are St Luke’s parents from Karen’s final year at school, who have kept in touch and invited us to a reunion.
“Febfast”, “Dry July” and “Octsober” are all month long events to try and encourage Aussies to abstain and not drink alcoholic beverages for a month. I decided February, being the shortest month, would be the one for me. Also, after relentless pressure from Annie to start gym, I caved in and started a free month long trial the her gym “Freshstart” on the 1st February.
After nearly splitting my pants in a 7:15am Circuit (60+) class during weight lifting, I retreated to the 10:15am Yoga class the next day. I am now happily settled in with the ladies at 10:15am each day, for 3 classes of Yoga and 2 classes of Pilates a week. The “Febfast” caper was not successful either – as a result of aforementioned Yoga and Pilates, I had to start self medicating to relief my body aches – so, back on the turps again it was on the 8th February!
In the meantime, our old friend Jim Petrie from Cape Town came for a short visit. We had a pleasant afternoon at the Church Point Cafe and General Store with Morris and Rani Rosario, rocking away to Matt Trapnell’s “Mama said Don’t”. Lead singer Narelle Thistlethwaite’s pregnancy didn’t slow her down in the least. I returned to the real world on the 8th with our “Old Sailor’s WhatsApp” group, sampling the bevies at the Modus Brewery in Mona Vale.
The Coastal Cruising Club of Australia asked us to do a circumnavigation talk and slideshow at Drummoyne Sailing Club on the 15th February. The talk was well attended and was also transmitted via Zoom to the members elsewhere.
I was invited by our friend Ian Addinsell to attend a Beefsteak and Burgundy Club dinner at the Waterfront Cafe, Church Point on the 20 th February. This is the RPAYC chapter of a club that was started by some winemakers in South Australia, in July 1955. It has grown to 175 affiliated clubs worldwide with more than 5,000 members. It was interesting to hear the comments on the wines in the blind tasting, which accompanied the three course dinner.
Finally, I attach two photos showing the progress of the two gardens I have established on common areas in our complex. I have named them after the famous English landscape architect Capability Brown (1716 – 1783).
That wraps up our news for January and February. Tomorrow, we will sail south for two days, to the new Shellharbour Marina, with the RMYC Sail Cruising Division for a weekend full of fun events. Cheers,
Annie and Dirk.