Spiders, Shining and Screws

Yesterday afternoon we decided to take a peek at Glebe - another suburb of Sydney. We have pretty much done the main suburbs now. I have it on good authority that Karl once lived here and funnily enough when I asked one of the locals he said - "whaaat? Do yow know my Karly do yow?"

Over the past few weeks my bonce has grown to uncontrollable proportions and I was walking around with what looked like a helmet on my head. Time for a haircut. Crazy prices - cheapest £45 and dearest £80. Even Toni and Guy back home only charge £35. Finally managed to find a Chinese guy who said he would do it for $25. Took one look at him - he had had greasy, straggly hair down to his waist which put doubts into my mind. You know - kind of like looking at your prospective mother in law to see how the daughter will look in 30 years ...... yes I've had a peek Jean ...

Anyway, got the bonce cut - bit too short so it makes my "kite" look big. Box ticked, back to the apartment and out for a nice Thai meal in the local neighbourhood. At this point Anna did something I have never ever seen her do. What is it you ask? Pay for the meal? No. Go the bar? No. She was spontaneous and suggested we go back over the river to the city. Suspicious of this new found spirit of adventure, further digging revealed she wanted to get her "monies worth" from our weekly travel pass. Christ, I thought, why don't we just ride the ferries and trams for the whole night.

On the way down to the ferry terminal, Anna had a near miss with a rather large arachnoid spinning down from one of the trees. I saw it at the last moment, screamed and jumped into Anna's arms. Big b***** -we had to duck and weave to get past. We also saw some huge bats flying around the trees.

Anyway, back at circular quay we decided to visit the opera house bar which is something we have missed off our list. God job we did. It was a perfect night. Very still and fresh, yet not cold. The harbour bridge simmered in the foreground, it's lights reflecting off the river creating a magical aura around us. The opera house imperiously stood tall and proud like a ship's sail guiding us to pastures new with a whisper of a better world. It would have been a perfect time for someone to propose ... imagine that - by the sydney harbour bridge! Anyway I didn't notice anyone who did and I needed to go the toilet. After a quick walk around the front of the opera house to "take it in" we caught the ferry back. Anna said I had missed another chance to "shine"?! I took it as a compliment and a sign that my Boots No 7 anti shine facial moisturiser was working.

This morning we went back for one last look at the opera house and botanic gardens before taking a rather splendid lunch and heading to the airport for our flight to Auckland. The security at Sydney airport is a bit "over the top" and rude. Anna's bag got searched by an over zealous, humourless women who said to her "you have screws in your bag". Anna said she didn't think so, to which the witch replied "ohhh we know so". After a thorough search revealed nothing she just left the stuff everywhere - no apology. Up yours.

I, on the other hand was told to pass through the new full body scanner. You know - the one which can assemble a picture of you "in the knack" and doses you with radiation. Apparently I caused quite a stir as the imager showed what they thought was a third leg. I had to explain to them it was just my "appendage" and my nickname was "tripod". I believe Bill has encountered similar problems at airports.

As I write this we are on route to Auckland and the Virgin flight has been excellent. Sad to leave but another place to explore and adventure to enjoy. Australia was fantastic. I will write a blog reflecting on it in the next few days.

Onwards, dear boy, onwards ...