The Sydney weekend

Had an enjoyable weekend just recently, flying to Sydney for Michelle and Catherine's joint 30th birthday bash.

Flew from Hamilton to Essendon in a little 19 seater Metroliner (Michael calls them flying cigar tubes, which is probably an accurate description).

past the Grampians

Then taxi up to Tullamarine and onto a Virgin flight to Sydney. Sydney had been experiencing "weather conditions" which necessitated the closure of one of the runaways, and therefore increased departure times by up to an hour. Luckily, I was shunted onto an earlier flight, which was due to arrive in Sydney half an hour earlier than originally planned.

Ah, Sydney, back to the land of kamikaze drivers, tailgating and split second decisions!! And Livio's pizza! Nothing beats Livio's pizza!!!

Michelle had cleared out the spare bedroom for me, but I was not destined to sleep alone. Bella decided to be my bedmate. I should point out that Bella is a full grown Alaskan Malamute, she took up more bed than Michael would have! But, she was lovely and warm.


The party was excellent. Not too many people that the place was crowded, but not too few that it was uncomfortable. The boys enjoyed watching the Bledisloe Cup on the big screen, food came around regularly and Nanna proceeded to hold court in the smoker's section with the girls from Michelle's work. It was after the fifth drink that she offered to crochet a lap rug for one of the girls, who was looking a bit cold. (The rug was passed on to Michelle on Sunday for onforwarding to Chrissie).
the birthday girls
Mark and Nanna in smokers corner

Michelle and I trying to be taller than the other

The birthday cake was wonderful, a caramel mudcake with a photo of Michelle and Catherine up a tree.


When the girls were serving the cake, I refused to take the bottom half of Catherine, I pointed it in the direction of Dom , her husband. He said that it tasted as yummy as always (more info than needed!!)

Towards the end of the night, Chrissie gave birth to a helium balloon that she christened Monday Cheesecake (as a tribute to Kidman's Sunday Rose (Roast)), and Mark serenaded us with a helium inspired "Doe a Deer". We finally left around midnight, piled copious amounts of helium balloons into a taxi and did a "Macca Run" with a hilarious Asian cabdriver.

We had a lovely fry up breakfast of bacon, eggs and muffins the next morning. Mark refused to sing Nessun Dorma on helium, the piker.


We had lunch at the Revesby Workers Club on Sunday, we were running a bit late but Mark played rally driver quite well through the Sydney traffic.

After lunch, we did another rally trip to the airport and I caught another Virgin flight back to Melbourne. Cruising altitude coming up was 11,500 metres, going back down, it was only 8,500. Got a good look at the mountains with their snow. Even though we were cruising lower, we managed to do the trip quicker than expected.

The snowfields north of Melbourne
flying into Melbourne

Took a taxi to Essendon airport, managed to get a taxi driver who had no idea where it was, it wasn't coming up on his GPS. I had to tell him to stick to the Tullamarine Freeway and we'd see a sign for it somewhere on the left.
the busy metropolis that is Essendon

Arrived in Hamilton just after 6.30pm, exhausted. It felt a lot later than that. The girls were very pleased to see me home and Michael arranged a wonderful dinner for two, expertly done porterhouse and veg. Unfortunately I couldn't do it justice, I was too tired and still coughing up my lungs.