Day 21

Today should be interesting, I'm not really sure what to expect.

I'm meeting some family, family that I have never met before, and up until a couple of years ago, didn't really know existed.

They live in a place called Broadmeadow, about a 3 hour train journey from Sydney Central We board the train nice and early and arrive before noon, met at the station by two family members, who have been living in Australia for over 50 years. They are to be our tour guides for the day, and we are pretty much in their hands until we catch the train at about 2200 this evening.

From Broadmeadow station, we head towards Newcastle and follow the coastline around there, past Port Scratchley to the Esplanade where we park up and grab a pub lunch. Not your typical English pub lunch...this is where i tried Kangaroo for the first time. Smoked Kangaroo to be exact, and i think it is a taste that has to be aquired...

Knowing that we are out there predominantly for the Rugby, we are then taken to the clubhouse for the local side, the Waratahs for a couple of drinks, and the chance to see the trophy cabinet and spend and some time at leisure.

It's at this time that we head off to the suburbs, to the families home for a cup of tea and we are told of the plan for the evening. We are going to a local social club where a family reunion has been arranged over dinner, with 22 family members in attendance. I had no idea that there were that many out there and it was a fantastic night.

Everyone was so friendly, and spending the evening chatting to them and getting to know them was one of the many highlights of the trip, especially as it was so unexpected.

We say our goodbyes later in the evening and head back towards Sydney on the train, arriving at about 0130. Such a long day, but so worthwhile.