A day on the coast

This was our last full day in Sydney alone so we decided to go up the coast to Palm Beach which we have always loved since we went there on our first visit. Our departure was delayed by washing and wrapping. We had to wait for the washing machine to finish so we could hang our clothes out and whilst we were waiting we wrapped David's birthday present.

We travelled up in bright sunshine and arrived just gone midday, Rosemarie went in for a swim and I went of a paddle. We then sat under the shade of a tree to eat our picnic lunch and lay there for a while just chatting in a pleasant way.

After our lunch we moved from the inland side to the sea side, about 100 yards away over the spit and Rosemarie, very bravely, went into the monster waves. We watched the sea for a while and a thirty year old man building a sand castle. We would have stayed a little longer but our parking ticket was by this time running out and so we had to leave. Over our lunch we had several minutes of enjoyment watching individuals and groups of people coping with the vagaries of the car park ticket machine. One woman said she needed a university degree to operate it but as far as we could see you just put in three dollars for an hour , six. For two hours and so on. However, many people appeared to be totally perplexed.

We drove back to Manly put some fuel in Zoe's car and bought her some flowers before returning home.
In the evening we went to a beautiful restaurant on the water front to celebrate David's birthday and had a wonderful meal. Another evening to remember.

All around us is news of the bush fires, there are several in New South Wales but none near to us. Our problems may begin tomorrow when we move to Bright as apparently several roads may be closed. The really bad sinews is that the forecast is for another day with 45C temperatures and thus the whole state is in the middle of a total fire ban and watching and waiting. It is hard to believe but several teenagers were arrest yesterday for deliberately starting fires in the Sydney area and from what I can gather the judicial system will not be lenient with them.

There is also a hint of sadness in the air as we prepare to leave, as I write this the master packer is preparing our suitcases with a heavy heart and little determination. This four weeks in Sydney have been amazing we have seen and done so much as well as having the opportunity to sleep in the same bed for several nights. This is a month we will never forget, the fine details may blur over time but we will always have the overall memory of a wonderful time.