Week 28 (South Australia, New Castle and Sydney)

12/28

Woke up at nine. Breakfasted in the kitchen with the three of us. Got my confirmation about my ticket and Jan even arranged my boarding pass, so on 30th i can just hop on the plane to go and see Tony (who called the same morning... and made me feel welcome (just like in 2002; great guy)).

Then.. a day on my own. Cycling along the coast, which convinced me more and more that South Australia is such a great place to live. (Seriously thinking of retiring here, if i get the chance.)
Great beaches, great people, great climate, great food, great hospitality. Love it here!! Absolutely do (and i thank that for a great deal to the very warm welcome Jan and Jeannette gave me).

A flat tire ended my little cycling trip. A call "home" and Jeanette picked me up.
Did a 5 KM run along the beach (again astonished by the beauty over here), showered, updated my blog and ate.
A game of triviant before we went to sleep (guess who won). Laterz....
It became 3 AM, after a good conversation with Jan. Slept like a log obviously.


12/29

Woke up at 10. FB-ed and breakfasted with a farmers omelet (that's a dutchism I'm afraid). It's my last full day here and I'm sure I will miss the environment and, even more, Jan and Jeannette, who's hospitality and generosity seems endless. If ever i can do anything to return the favor i will, but ... that will be hard. Friends for life. Unconditionally.

Slept good. Long time since i was woken up by an alarm clock!


12/30

Woke up at 7. Last breakfast with Jan & Jeannette. They brought me to the airport. Felt a bit sad (obviously) when saying goodbey. Flight went well, and we landed 15 mins ahead of schedule. Had to walk around a bit before i met Tony. Good to see him again. After 12 years. Still the same hospitable guy as he was in the old days. We did some shopping (got some stuff for his friends Justin and Sarah, where we will celebrate new years eve (got them a nice bottle of champagne)) and he took me to his house. Lunched and i'm updating my blog here now. Laterz.

Then, the coincidences began. I decided to go out, find out how the trains work here, to go to the center of town. The basic things every tourist does. Opera house and Harbour bridge. All went well, i strolled around for a while (lots of preparations for the big celebration of new years eve obviously).
A italian tourist asked me for directions and ... i knew where she had to go (hadn't been here for 12 years, but hey... just happened to have passed to where she wanted to go (WU Agency)).
Wanted to go back to Tony, so i passed a nice bar/cafe. Someone was singing in there beautifully. I stopped to listen for a few minutes. Just as i wanted to continue i glanced through the door and ... couldn't believe my eyes... saw Dennis and Corrine sitting there. I went in and , well you can imagine the surprise. It seemed that the both of them also had met by coincidence, so... a city of 4,5 million inhabitants and the three of us meet by coincidence, without knowing the others were there. It was great and of course it had to be celebrated (beers that is). Called Tony to explain to him that i would be in later.
Arrived at Tony's house at 9.30 or so. Chatted a while with Abe (Tony's brother) and went to bed at 11.15. Slept good, but short since i had to ...


12/31

Wake up at 4.15. Abe took me to Tony's work and from there we drove to New Castle, north of Sydney. We arrived at Traceys place (nice house, with lots of space around it) at 7. Slept some more and breakfasted at 12. Did some shopping and went to Justin and Sarah's house (met them 12 years ago too) because we were invited to their new years eve party (hospitable as ozzies are, i was very welcome to join). Went over there at 16.00 to do some preparation (smoke the chicken, did some BBQ activities, and have a few beers (ozzies <-> beers). I finally had the chance to play some guitar too (justin has a nice western and a 12 string too). That was great and appreciated by the "audience" (i think). So, beers, chats, lots and lots of food made it a nice evening, though i was tired.
Just before 12 we (Tracey, Tony, Jade (daughter), Braxton (2 yr old grandson) and I) went home, for the last 30 minutes of the year. Went to sleep (completely exhausted) when the year was only 20 minutes old. Slept good and long.


01/01

Happy new year!. Slept in till 11.00. The rest had gone out to buy a bed for Jade, so i had the privacy of the house for a couple of hours. Nice!! Watched 4 episodes of Family guy!
When they got back We packed, said goodbye and drove back to Tony's work, where Abe picked me up. At "home", i was introduced to Ziggy, a friend of Tony and Abe. He gave me his wifi password, so... im connectable again. Bought the greyhound bus ticket on line, updated all FB messages, and had a good steak with Abe. Watched the tele over a beer (more Family guy) and then it was now. Abe is asleep and since Tony and Abe are going to NZ, to visit family i will have "my own" house for about a week here in Sydney. So nice of them! Again great hospitable Ozzies, just like Jan and Jeanette Schutter. I'm lucky with such good friends. Laterz....


01/02

Woke up at 6 to say goodbye to Tony. Couldn't sleep anymore, so... FB, Mailed, got myself a coffee and so on. Try to catch up now. Visit Greyhound (buscompany) agent later in the center of Sydney. Laterz.

Nice stroll through the center, did the greyhound bus reservations and checks, sipped a beer and went back to Melrose Avenue (where I stay). Made myself some baked beans and eggs on toast and spent the evening watching tv with Abe. Feels like being home a little. Slept for more than 9 hours.


01/03

Woke up late! 10.30 or so. Abe left me some fried eggs and bacon. Thanks dude.
Did the necessary reservations for Greyhound and Hostel in Port Macquarie (first stop on my way up north to Brisbane). Facebooked. Got some money and made a print of my e-ticket for greyhound at Lembaka (area name).
Did the shoppings for the spaghetti i will make for the six of us Tracey's sister is here with husband and 2 kids. Updating blog now.

The shopping, cooking, eating and the dishes went smooth. Nice meal. Ran 4K's (up and down!) in a park near by, showered and spend the rest of the evening with Abe in front of the TV. Went to bed at 1.30 and slept good.