Our Sydney reunion

The sisters' (and spouses) annual Sydney reunion weekend began last Thursday afternoon. The morning's steady rain and cloud cover disappeared just as we set out from Coogee for Tamarama and the 15th Sculpture By The Sea exhibition on the Tamarama to Bondi coastal walk.

These steel Easter Island figures on Tamarama Beach were an arresting sight as we started our journey of sculpture discovery.

This was the first time we had visited this exhibition on opening day, and in this beautiful late afternoon light.

.........even though the rain earlier had caused some rough seas and the closure of Tamarama beach.

We especially enjoyed Sculpture By the Sea this year. We always feel very happy anyway to be together at the start of our reunion weekend, but this year the standard of works also seemed to be higher than usual.. with quite a few highly crafted works in metal - including this amazing piece with all its plumbing references.

........very aptly placed on this vantage point overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

I am always inspired by my stylish sisters (and their spouses). It's great fun to share some quality time together in Sydney - away from our work and other responsibilities.

Rob and I were excited to see this work by the Yirrkala artist whose work we had admired in Darwin last month.

It must be an enormous job to install the sculptures in this setting. This one still had a few finishing touches to be completed. It made us realise it would be interesting to visit the site in the week before the opening to observe some of the installation processes.

As we got closer to the end of the exhibition we were all starting to look forward to our first celebratory drink and meal together at the Bavarian Bier Cafe on Campbell Avenue, Bondi Beach (the first of many great celebratory meals together this weekend).

Ros (and the other sisters) always enjoy some retail therapy in Sydney, so while we spent most of the day on Friday exploring the new(ish) Westfield in the CBD Rob and Pete took a long drive north all the way up to the oh so exclusive Palm Beach.

Rob caught Pete gazing out to sea at beautiful Avalon Beach, on the way up the coast.......

which seemed to be a magnet for surfers today.....

......and a fully restored 1956 Ford Thunderbird (much to Rob's delight).

On Saturday we spent some time exploring the vibrant suburb of Surry Hills...... time for another visit to Brett Whiteley's studio in Raper Street (first time for Ros and Pete).......

....and a wonderful lunch at our new favourite Polish restaurant Alchemy in Crown Street, and time to explore some of the funky independent stores and galleries in this buzzy suburb.

On Sunday we were able to find our way (eventually) to the wonderful Artisan Eveleigh Markets in Darlington in the morning, then lunch at the Fratelli Fresh Cafe Sopra in Walsh Bay. I would rate our meal here as the best of the weekend but the setting was a bit frantic and Italian to be a relaxing experience.

We all agreed it was a fantastic long weekend. Ros had the chance to eat some sublime gelati, and spend some quality time in David Jones. We all enjoyed Midnight in Paris at the gorgeous Randwick Ritz and Ros and I even squeezed in an extra chick flick at Bondi Junction on our last night (I Don't Know How She Does It). We had lots of time to laugh, drink beer and good red wines, share music and endless family folk lore (and all those styling tips).

Can't wait for our next reunion weekend!