Thought I would have a relaxing journey from Melbourne to Sydney, got the train which turned into an eleven hours overnight journey of contented sleep and views, a very good journey. Met by Russ at Manly ferry port after a very choppy journey from Circular quay in the centre of the city through the harbour and out to sea before turning back inland to Manly. Got on the wrong train at first and realised when we appeared out of a tunnel into the fab view of the Opera house, I was crossing the Harbour bridge so my frustration turned to wonder at possibly one of the most iconic sights in the world and one I remember fondly from my last visit 23 years ago. It is so good to see Russ, Ann, James and Sammie again, their hospitality is so generous. What a first week in Sydney, not a moments rest, so much fun all topped off by a brilliant evening in a pub with the Sydney Crystal Palace FC supporters club as we won the championship play off final and celebrated like it was south London, me and Russ had such a good evening, singing, dancing, shouting and having a few drinks, we celebrated so long into the early hours we got the first ferry back to Manly! I have visited a few art galleries, very good, spent a day in the botanical gardens which is the best place to see the sunset behind the harbour bridge and the opera house, had three great evenings with Nichol and Mary, I used to work with Nichol in London in one of the best teams I have been in, we had a great lunch and evening at Manly, went for drinks and saw Kraftwerk at the opera house and then they very kindly treated me to dinner at their place over in Neutral Bay, great hosts. Sydney likes to celebrate the arts and I was lucky that they had the annual 'vivid' festival which comprised of lights and projections onto buildings all over town, the best being trance like projections onto the opera house, so cool all celebrated with families, locals and tourists crowding the streets of the city, really bringing it alive. I celebrated a global cultural event by seeing the new Star Trek film at the IMAX cinema, biggest screen in the world apparently, had a few drinks in Darling Harbour with a fellow traveller after. No visit to Sydney would be complete without attending a lads night in watching rugby, so thats what I did at one of Russ friends house watched rugby and drank red wine, red wine does seem to be a feature here and very nice wine as well from the vineyards of Australia. Went out on Russell's boat and was lucky enough to see whales diving in and out of the water on their way up the coast to their mating grounds in the Tasman sea, so cool. Went out on an older boat with Greg and John, two of Russell's mates as well, if the boat was a person it would be an older eccentric gentlemen capable of misbehaving, it is in need of a lick of paint and the fishing trip was curtailed as the anchor would not work, still a good trip. Walked the scenic Clontaf to Manly coastal walk, great views looking out to the ocean along the cliffs and across the bays, this really is a great time to visit Sydney, no humidity, sunshine and a temperature where shorts can still be worn and this is winter! Amazing that just a short distance from the centre of a thriving city you can see whales, golden beaches, cliff walks and even fab curry restaurants! Had time to catch up with an old boss Andy as well, had a quick drink in his well positioned office looking over the harbour bridge, a bit different to the old days in a generic communal office in Edinburgh! Being in Sydney does not have the uncertainty or confusion of being in a different culture and therefore feels very comfortable which is great and a little disappointing as well. It reminds me of London prior to recession but with a warmer climate, beaches and whales - not better just different.