I am currently sitting on BA12, somewhere over Eastern Europe. The cactus garden in Changi was unchanged and the atmosphere as humid as I had remembered. The only difference this time was that I wasn't with my family, this is where Dad came to smoke his pipe! I was a bit miffed by the time I had boarded the plane as my water bottle, purchased in the airport was swiftly removed from my bag and binned without warning, grrr. However a lovely airhost gave me a ne...

At the moment I feel as if the last leg might drop off! I am at Changi Airport in Singapore waiting for my onward flight. I got up early (by holiday standards) to say goodbye to the Auty family. I then failed to go back to sleep. I stubbornly lay in bed for an hour but all I did was listen to the big aircraft coming over the house as they came in to land in a cloudy Sydney. We'd had some good storms overnight with grumbling thunder and torrential rain, so I w...

Today was a day to get a few things done whilst I'm still here in Sydney. I Skyped Gaz for the last time before I see him next Tues as he's off to Italy. I started my day in the city by walking from Bridge St to Mrs Macquaries Chair through the Botanical Gardens. My intended walk along the waters edge was scuppered by the team installing the set for Sydney Operas outdoor production of Madama Butterfly. I was seriously impressed by the layout and would lov...

Having bused into circular quay I boarded the Manly ferry to Manly! The 35 min journey was very sunny and I was sitting on a not so comfy wooden bench outside. It made me realise how big Sydney harbour is. On arrival I walked down the Corso to Manly Beach with its soft golden sands. Not quite ready to settle in for some last minute tan topping up I went on a walk. Quite a long walk! I walked around to Shelley Beach, Cabbage Tree Bay Reserve, then up to the Gateho...

After a leisurely start to the day I headed into circular quay on a bus. I headed towards the water to get lost in the Rocks, the place where Sydney as we know it started. I headed to the Rocks Discovery Museum, but got side tracked by Rockhounds. This gorgeous shop had the most amazing selection of opals I have ever seen! I purchased a very cute and colourful boulder opal from Queensland, using the money some family members had given me for my birthday, thanks g...