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We checked in with Emirates who by the way have looked after us brilliantly. We played the now familiar game of filling outs stacks of immigration paperwork and we managed to get our hiking boots cleaned for free this time without the $200 surcharge. You do, however have to pay a departure tax for the adultd!

The strap has fallen off our largest suitcase so we were a bit apprehensive doing the journey to our hotel via the train but we needn't worried. The trains were very good and Sydney felt big very like London to us Warringtonians. We changed at Central to catch the train to Parramatta but as it was the weekend the trains terminated at Granville and buses were laid on. A nice Indian family took pity on Isaac and carried his suitcase and took us to the buses despite being in the opposite direction.

We then had a 3 block walk to our serviced apartment, part of the Merriton chain. It was about 7pm and the party people were just on the way out. Parramatta is a suburb and has loads of bars and restaurants. It felt a bit like Croydon.

The room was beyond our wildest dreams. It had 3 floors! We could stay indoors without even visiting Sydney. Its that good. It has a rooftop terrace on the top floor Huge! The floor below has a flat screen TV, DVD, Sky + living area. Down stairs there are double bedrooms.one en suite, another bathroom with a whirlpool bath! A utility room with washer dryer. The dryer is on the wall at head height. What a great space saver. Amazing as we really did land lucky as we struggled with booking accommodation for Sydney and we nearly booked into a backpacker hostel, above a night club in a duboius district. The ferry into the city is outside our front door, wonderful.

The children had a pizza and Angela and I had a Thai in a box. A meal you create yourself with 5 options.

The next day we were up early... thanks Isaac and Joe. TV in the house! We noticed we could see the Sydney harbour bridge. Its 20km away but its visible as is the Parramatta ferry who's terminal is directly below us. So the plan is that we catch the ferry into the center of Sydney tomorrow . For those that don't know. Parammatta is on an inlet so the ferry can operate. The Olympic stadium looks to be about 5km away.

The washing machine was on 10 times. Its only a 5kg load so we nipped out to explore. We seemed to find a hair dressing district so my hair tribute to Michael Jackson had to be addressed as they were starting to call me fur face. Patrick and Isaac both in need of a haircut both decided they would rather be in Miss Lennon's good books when they return and got a short back and sides followed by every 5 and 6 yr olds favourite look spiky gel. Joseph ran away as is the norm when faced with scissors.

As the hairdresser couldn't use his No1 chat line. "Where are you going on holiday?" the conversation quickly turned to Sport. Rugby league was big in Sydney and we were round the corner from the Parrammatta Eels rugby ground and they were kicking off in 1 hr against the Brisbane Broncos. It was an opportunity too good to miss

We saw a great game. It ended up 21-14. but it was 0-0 for 30 mins and fascinating and 14-14 for the last 10 mins. The game could have gone either way but WE scored a drop goal and then a try in injury time. We were hooked and I for one have a team if we emigrate to the southern hemisphere. Beth even had her picture taken with Sparky the Eel It was a different game to the one Warrington Wolves play even though they play by the same rules and in a similar colour. It was more skillful, more offloads. On the way out the boys celebrated with some victory rolls down a grass bank and the excitement must have caught Joe as well because on the way home we "persuaded" him to have his haircut. He looks like a different lad and is now camera shy but at least he too will be allowed back into school!

We finished off yet another great day in the swimming pool.