Sydney first day sunshine..

First day in Sydney I cannot believe I seem to have brought the Wellington wind with me, but it is sunny with blue sky and the buzz is all about football here in Sydney, with two codes, Aussie Rules, my code, and Rugby League. There are two Grand Finals on and both include Sydney and Melbourne teams so the rivalry is intense and madness is in the air.

The blue sky belies the chilly wind blowing....

A blurry vision of bro in sarong...

The front page says it alll...Sydney hosting Rugby League Grand Final....

Sydney has food mania but also consumer problems, with proposed high rise buildings such as these   proposed ones on the foreshore at Barangaroo unfortunately obliterating the beautiful harbour scenery.

Aussie PM Turnbull is going under...fast.

Malabar Beach Café for a good coffee and poached eggs...

Fitzsimons - the Mark Reason of Sydney, but not quite as sharp I think.

Finally the truth about Aboriginal women and early racism, two good books.

Couldn't resist this shot of a long white cloud, over Malabar Beach.

Melbourne Cricket Ground for the Aussie Rules Grand Final

Last coffee at Memphis

Drama at the finish line!

This morning on getting up I realised I had a problem still with my luggage as my carry-on bag was too big for the cabin! So a quick rejig made me think I needed a bigger second bag to take the rest and then take my regular trolley bag, which is the right size, on the plane.

 Confused? So was I, as I quickly  rang my friend David to see if he could give me the bigger bag Viva had offered on Wednesday. He was there thank goodness, and said 'come by after ten'. So I dropped everything to go into Memphis for just ten minutes instead of my usual two hours, and when I got there Paris was smiling as always so I knew all would be right. I would still have time to see Chanel at NZPC as I had planned and also drop in a bag of clothes to the Sallies which was nearby.

At the Sallies I just happened to look for another suitcase which might work and the pefect one was there for me, well loved and only eight dollars. It was not an expensive one but just the right size with a handle to pull it on wheels. I breathed a sigh of relief as I said to myself, I'll ring David at 10.15  to say all was well after all, he would understand. A quick jaunt up to NZPC and Chanel looked wonderful and gave me a big hug. She is such a wonderful person and a beautiful Soul. I will miss her and will stay in touch that's for sure.

So feeling more relaxed I got the next bus home and had a good two and half hours to repack and say goodby to Julian who was still in bed I think. I was young once, I say to myself,  and tell him his bed linen which I had washed this morning will be dry when he comes home tonight, if he does, that is.

So after several repacks I descend the very heavy two bags my steep sixty-nine steps, (they have kept me fit for three years so I am not complaining) to leave them waiting on the roadside for my booked shuttle taxi at 1.30pm, or so I thought. I wanted to be early so I was there on time, at least, if not before. 

Twenty minutes later, still no Shuttle, I panicked and began to ring for a taxi as I thought it may have gone earlier without me. But just as Combined Taxis answered, the Shuttle Bus appeared around Point Jerningham and the driver was effusively apologetic saying the traffic had been horrific....in Wellington?

So all was well after all and I got to the airport in good time. 

Air NZ, fully automated, gave me my Boarding Pass and two stickers for my now two bags, and I shunted them, nearly breaking my back, to the moving carriageway, that is, after the charming girl asked me how much I thought they weighed, and I lied smiling, saying twenty-two kilos and seventeen kilos. Fine, she said and waved me through. I had made it, only just, with a 'new' old bag which had seen much travelling in New Zealand I'm quite sure.

I felt much lighter as my my bags slid down the rolling track and I hoped I would see them in their two pieces in Sydney in a few hours.

So I passed quickly through immigration and the charming woman said she hoped I'd be back one day as she checked my 'permanent departure' tick on the form.

I sat in the lounge where I have been many times before, and ordered a decaff coffee to celebrate my successful negotiating of the always stressful departure protocol.

Paris wishing me luck on my travels....

Putin, forever the criminal, may eventually get his come-uppance, but I wonder?

Although this proof of Russia's guilt is now in the papers....

My last supper with the three housemates last night, Chris, Barbara and Julian. I baked the orange cake for Barbara's birthday which is very soon.

Our flight is late and all the Kiws are quietly wating for their flight...they seem to be used to it.

 And now for my return to Sydney and the long October weekend. It is a fitting start to my Aussie life as this holiday weekend heralds the arrival of the swimming season and is a salutary reminder of the great difference in climate with New Zealand. I have also now decided now to spend the three days in Sydney with Mike and return to Gosford on Monday, perhaps with Peter K. as he is in Sydney for a show and this could be very convenient indeed.

Farewell at Memphis- nearly!

Raining today unexpectedly. So I rush back up 69 stairs to fetch my raincoat as I have a few things to do in town. At Memphis everyone is there, even Tom who pops in for a final goodbye.

Things have settled after realising yesterday I had excess baggage and my friends at HU gave me an extra carry-on bag and told me how to book online an extra bag as unaccompanied. So I have relaxed into knowing I won't be stopped with an unwanted $200 excess fees.

Smilng couple Gloria and Anita...

Celia leaving the same time as me.....

Tom giving a rare smile....

This is the winning WOW design, weird ay?

A great initiative from Vic University Maori students....

Tom Scott's cartoon right on the ball as always....Lesley tells me this Judge is a bit tricky.

I finally meet Gloria's grandson, Bjorn, who is a dedicated Personal Trainer with Les Mills. We had a good chat about staying healthy with good nutrition and he does know what he's doing having spent an educational couple of years doing this in Sydney which he said was far tougher than Wellie, but with a much higher standard.

Count-down..two days to go

Memphis alone

It's another cold wet day in this non-spring in Wellington. You just gotta live with it as the summer is a long time a'coming in this town.

Even in Memphis  I am the only one in the café. Paris makes my long versato, only three more coffees before I leave! It's getting serious.

Yesterday's attempt to find someone to help in the i-pad stakes was a real gamble as the SeniorNet Club was run by people like me, so it was essentially the blind leading the blind. I think I wasted my membership subscription, but they did try to help just couldn't. I need a young geek who is an Apple nerd to help me, but I will survive and do the best I can.

Serious barista Paris makes a mean coffee ....

Whereas the mad Putin is decimating Syria with his horrific warfare. Syria is now totally a ruined disaster zone and the world is accepting their refugees, but not enough of them. 

New Zealand certainly has androgynous models...

Look at this young man and his cat...the'new look'?

But it also has amazing achieving athletes like this Ultra-marathon runner....

Savoury profiteroles, what a good way to go, this will be my next challenge, but without the rare beef!

The recipe....

I am now at The Godfather, my Brazilian barber, for a final haircut before I hit the Aussie shores...

I have been going here since I arrived in Wellington and it certainly is a very 'cool' barber shop, and the two barbers certainly know their trade. The shop is superbly decorated with his eclectic style and he has a solid and faithful clientele which he needs as there is so much competition in Wellington in the hair-cutting world. You've got to be good, and you've got to have a gimmick, and this man has both.

Later today I am having a meeting for a coffee with Beth at my second favourite coffee place, the City Library. It is to say goodbye as although I see her rarely she has shown herself to be a good friend. Her lovely home in Wadestown is where I have spent not one, but two Christmases and also where she introduced me to the fabled Kiwi writer and philanthropist Jean Watson, who strangely died suddenly, the day after I met her on Boxing Day 2015.

The Last Supper

Last night at Tom's we had his long table  set for twelve but only eight turned up to a pot-luck dinner. It was the perfect number and we all enjoyed some lovely food, especially the profiteroles made by Brent who excelled himself. They were were my friends fom BP mainly, and it was also Tom's birthday, a good excuse as any to have a dinner party, and also to celebrate his newly painted dining room. We all ate well and were accompanied by Tom's great CDs of Janis Ian and Nina Simone amongst others.

Today I shook Koujiro's hand and said goodbye. His has been an inscrutable stay for six months as I never really had a conversation with him. Apart from struggling with English, his demeanour is so respectful towards me as his elder that there seems to be an insurmountable barrier between us, but he smiled yet again, and we parted good friends, or so I think. Another bridge crossed and left behind.

I am having a computer lesson with  'SeniorNet' today, another area which I have neglected but I am hoping they may answer a few questions about my recalcitant i-Pad. Then I am on to a great RV with Keri and Pakea her husband, newly transitioned from female to male. My life with the Trans population here has been both highly instructive and most enjoyable. Who know what I will learn today?

Anita smiles....

...Memphis my Café I will miss terribly.

More Memphis...

The US election circus continues with Schwartz for Clinton and Flowers for Trump being recruited to thwart the opposition progress....what next!

Jeremy Corbyn finally gets his wish to lead Labour in the UK, let's hope he gets up and does some good.

These innocent looking young men eating their way to health and support the law in NZ...

Tom's table for the Last Supper with Kjel and Lesley.

My gracious hosts Tom and Brent

With Lesley and Tom in front of the delicious croquembouche made by Brent - miam!

Monday, more packing...

Well, another big weekend is now over and I am counting down, only two weekends to go.

The  potluck lunch at Heta's yesterday was great with a dozen in total eating a wonderful kai and I was presented, touchingly, with a parting gift of a 'taonga' to wear on special occasions around my neck. I have always thought they were the quintessential Maori artefact, and now I have been presented with one, in a Maori ceremony by Kevin an elder friend of mine. It certainly was a fitting farewell from a group who have influenced me so much in my stay of three years on these windy islands.

Tiwhanawhana are my group of Maori and friends who encompass everyone's beliefs and sexualities, and they are a delight to be with, learning the Maori Waiata, poi, and the culture at the same time. It has been  real blessing for me here.

This poor state of the Mongrel Mobs on Meth.create a an image of NZ which is very coarse, but is there all the same.

And this one of rash overspending on God-knows-what seems to go on a lot...

I am going to see this great movie again it is such a great laugh and so important politically...

Gideon and the team in action this morning...

Outside the apartment with my whanauafter a lovely kai on Sunday - me in electric blue!

Inside their fabulous sunny flat..

Sophie Pascoe, dual gold medal winner for NZ.

At Thistle Hall Gallery for theopening of the Trans-gender Art Show where we sang two Waiata instead of our regular meetup at NZ PC

Portrait of the wonderful Wye,by the very talented Jack Trulove, a print-run of 200 of which I was lucky to buy the last one!

Paul and Heta, both Art collectorsin front of my purchase.

This was after a quiet day Memphis and I have now packed ten cartons, possibly with only three to go!

A movie at Cuba Lighthouse looked good, a John Le Carré thriller calle 'Our kind of traitor' it was OK but it lacked something,  and was really just a nice picturesque travelogue of Europe - three stars.