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| 26th March 2004 |
| Less Than 1 Week Until I'm Back Down In Aus! Sydney: Sat 3rd - Mon 12th April Adelaide: Mon 12th - Wed 21st April New Photos Uploaded! Click Here To See 26th March 2004 Hey all, I've noticed that my web site has had a distinct lack of cultural information about Ireland since I arrived other than me going on about how good the Guinness is (it really does taste better here) and how bad the constructions are. So here's a little bit of Trivia for you: What do the colours of the Irish flag represent? Some of you, like me, might have guessed that the green represents one of the famous 40 shades of green you can find in the Irish country side but you'd be wrong. In fact the colours are a lasting symbol of peace between Catholics and Protestants. The green representing the Catholic population, the orange representing Protestant and the white in between representing peace. Where that leaves Buddhists, Muslims, and Atheists I'm not sure but I think it's a great story. Someone asked me what the meaning of the Australian flag was and other than a star constellation and a symbol of a bygone empire I couldn't really offer more. With only one week until I step back on the shores |
| Plans are all starting to fall into place and I can't wait to get off the plane and start walking around in my trusty old sandals again (I'm sure Lou will appreciate how much I love walking around in my sandals, I used to brave the Canadian snow in the mornings in them when I went to get the newspaper from across the street). I'm spending the first weekend up at a place 2 hours North of Sydney near Port Jackson. Gary (my soon to be brother-in-law) is having his bucks weekend up there and we're going to spend a few days camping, fishing, and diving for crayfish. My trusty tent that Lou and I bought in Germany will be getting some more use. After that I return to Sydney to meet up with the family (trust me, there not happy that they have to wait). First things I have planned for Sydney is catching the old ferry to Manley and spending a day surfing (I first learnt to surf at Manley, thanks biggest sis!) and also heading down to the Sydney fish markets to enjoy a dozen Oyster's Kilpatrick along with an icy cold crownie. I'm also hopeing I'll get a few brunches in cafes with my family along the harbour while I'm there. There's nothing like baking yourself in the mid-morning sun, looking over the glistening harbour water, while scoffing into a big plate of bacon, eggs, and mushrooms. I'm also hoping that I'll get a round of golf in with the family members who play, and we're also planning on doing some wine tasting in the Hunter Valley (I know, the Hunter Valley reds don't even come close to the Barossa and McLaren Vale but we'll see if we can't hunt down some good ones). Later that week will be the big build up to the wedding but not before my 24th birthday on the Friday. It's kind of scary, 24 seems like a whole new stage of life, ahhhhh!!! Saturday the 10th marks the big day when biggest sis gets married in Balmain church followed by a big reception on the harbour just near the bridge. Should be amazing. |
| Monday morning and I'll be on a plane to Adelaide. Plans for Adelaide include beers on Rundle Street and heading out to the West End (of course), walking through the central markets and having lunch in my favourite asian place there, doing a winery tour in the Barossa, going for a drive down to the Fleurieu Peninsula, having dinner at Paul H's place and seeing the wedding photos and the house, having a few rounds of gold with dad and mates, having a Feather's Fish & Chip shop burger with the lot (including betroot, Paul will understand this bit) and chips, beers at the German Club on the Friday Night, and of course, most off all, seeing all of you and catching up on what's been happening in your lives for the past 15 months that I've been away. |
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| So, I can't wait to see you all soon. I have 3 flights (Dublin-London-Hong Kong-Sydney) ahead of me and I'm going to be damn glad when I eventually step off that plane into Sydney airport. By the way, a big thanks needs to go out to my parents for sponsoring this little return trip home. Not surpisingly, after 15 months of travels, I'm not overly flushed with funds and so I had to call on the oldies to help me out with the ticket so I could make it to biggest sis's wedding so thanks Mum & Dad. See you soon, Ned. [email protected] |
| What dreams are made of |
| of our great southern land I'm naturally getting pretty excited. Spring hasn't quite sprung here yet so the warm weather is the second thing that comes to mind (after catching up with family and friends) when I think of home. |