(Before the cataclysmic New Years Eve fires on the South Coast of Canberra we took a mini break in Sydney. We met some friends in Sydney (including our friends Judy and Jurgen) for a very special lunch on the harbour. As we all were enjoying ourselves we gave not much thought at all to the possibility of imminent danger to Judy and Jurgen's house at Rosedale. I was writing this post as I heard the shocking news of the terrible damage from the fires on the south coast.)
We said goodbye to the Canberra smoke haze (temporarily) and set off for a mini-break in Sydney last Friday. Although we stayed at Chatswood this visit we made it our business, as the first thing on the to do list, to take the new light rail all the way out to its terminus at Randwick - which is not far at all from our FAVE Coogee Beach.
We were impressed with the new light rail - and amazed at how much of the track runs independently of the mainstream traffic - making it a very smooth efficient ride!
Claire's tried to teach us how to take selfies (with our fave Coogee Beach in the background and those BEAUTIFUL blue skies!)- but we obviously still have a lot to learn!
The beach, and the rest of Coogee, were really pumping this bright, beautiful afternoon.
For old times sake we rewarded ourselves with a glass of Pale Ale at the Coogee Bay Hotel (which was also pumping!).
Back at our 31st floor Chatswood apartment we continued to marvel at the clear blue skies all around us (we haven't seen any in weeks and weeks).
We met Judy and Jurgen, Jennie and Wayne for lunch on Sunday - at a beautiful new venue for us: Aqua Dining at North Sydney.
The location is breathtaking - with views that stretch across the harbour to the Opera House, then right around to Luna Park, on the other side of the building. How many Australian icons can you fit in one view?
Popular entrees were the scallops (tartare) and the octopus.
Jennie and Wayne had BYO'd a very special Cotes du Rhone Shiraz Viognier so the wagyu beef was a popular choice for our main course. It was a magnificent wine - and the beef was a worthy match.
Judy was happy with her choice of mango crémeux, coconut and lime sorbet and almond crumble for dessert.
And I loved my cannolo, strawberry, mascarpone, with lychee sorbet
The restaurant does a brisk trade for NYE - with its amazing view of all the icons - but the per head rate for NYE is a lot higher than for our Sunday lunch. It's probably worth it though - in the scheme of things.
It only took us a day of being in Sydney for the smoke haze to start rolling in! It follows us everywhere..
We met up with my friend Tania, her Alan and Aine for brunch on Monday morning at Roseville - before Tania drove us to the historic old Q (Quarantine) Station at Manly to see her two sculpture installations in situ at the Wharf Precinct looking onto Quarantine Beach and Sydney Harbour.
The last time we saw her massive "A Terrible Beauty" work it was filling an atmospheric room at the National Art School in Darlinghurst. It looks truly wonderful (awesome) in this outdoor setting.
It was great fun to watch people walking through and responding to the work. This lady in the lilac top asked us if we knew what the work was about!!! Tania was able to tell her - such a great conversation full of more questions and lateral observations.
The works were part of Tania's graduating exhibition for her Master of Fine Arts Degree. "A Terrible Beauty" was inspired by growing up during the Troubles in 1970s Belfast. A very powerful work involving huge physical and structural challenges for the artist in the making.
There are plans for a more extensive Peace Park of sculptural works that will develop over time in this part of the Wharf Precinct. This smaller work of Tania's is "The Fragility of Peace".
We felt so proud of all this amazing woman has achieved over the past two years of research, study and art making!
Tania dropped us off at Manly Beach around 3.00 - another city beach that was really pumping on this hazy Monday afternoon.
The harbour was very calm for our ferry ride back to Circular Quay.
We drove back to Canberra on New Year's Eve - increasingly alarmed by the high winds and tinder dry conditions around the M5 - There was no happy NYE for anyone this year as the shocking news of the south coast fires started flowing through.
We said goodbye to the Canberra smoke haze (temporarily) and set off for a mini-break in Sydney last Friday. Although we stayed at Chatswood this visit we made it our business, as the first thing on the to do list, to take the new light rail all the way out to its terminus at Randwick - which is not far at all from our FAVE Coogee Beach.
We were impressed with the new light rail - and amazed at how much of the track runs independently of the mainstream traffic - making it a very smooth efficient ride!
Claire's tried to teach us how to take selfies (with our fave Coogee Beach in the background and those BEAUTIFUL blue skies!)- but we obviously still have a lot to learn!
Jennie and Wayne had BYO'd a very special Cotes du Rhone Shiraz Viognier so the wagyu beef was a popular choice for our main course. It was a magnificent wine - and the beef was a worthy match.
The last time we saw her massive "A Terrible Beauty" work it was filling an atmospheric room at the National Art School in Darlinghurst. It looks truly wonderful (awesome) in this outdoor setting.
We felt so proud of all this amazing woman has achieved over the past two years of research, study and art making!
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