Today we had a very relaxing day. Catherine was at work and Steve was away doing a land survey, so we did some domestic duties and then went down to Manly to do some shopping and general wandering about. We walked the length of Manly Beach (barefoot in the sand) and then around the heads into Cabbage Tree Bay and Shelly Beach. The mandatory 'two flat whites with muffins' and macadamia nut icecreams were consumed.

The beach was veryt quiet early in the morning but became noticeably busier around midday when shop and office workers came down to eat lunch and chill out around the coffee shops and bars, or sit on the beach and read.

There are two schools in Manly very close to the beach. The junior school was opened in 1858 and is still in a brick building opened in 1896. Both the senior and junior schools hold PE lessons on the beach and in the sea, with the aid of coaches from Manly Surf Rescue Club. What a great idea - and no arguments about going in the showers!

There was plenty of wildlife about, too, despite the human activity - see the photos!

On Thursday evening the liner Queen Mary 2 was in Sydney harbour and was heavily covered on both the TV and in the newspapers.

Tonight Steve is back and he and Catherine are going out with friends to a concert. Denise and I have bought ingredients from the local Coles supermarket and will cook an evening meal before going for a walk to watch the sunset over the bay.

'Bye for now!

David