sydney1

Sat 22.12 - Woke at 8.30am as the bus was crossing the Sydney harbour bridge. We opened our eyes and on the left was the Sydney Opera House. We waited to be lifted by Claire's mum's cousin, Paul. We drove us to his flat in Coogee. He and his fiance, Emma, showed us the local area. We slept from 1 to 4pm and then went to the "3 Wise Monkeys Bar" on George Street.

I met Mairead Daly (who I worked with in Compaq, Galway). We also met Dermot from the Whitsunday cruise. Good nights craic.

Sun 23.02 - HUNGOVER!!! Had lie in then Paul took us to Watson's Bay and "The Gap". This is a popular suicide spot with the locals. Lovely! We then drove to Bondi, but couldnt find a parking space. Went to Covelly and Tanarama beaches. All very nice.

Steve Murphy (a fella I worked with in Coventry and who is out here now) rang and we met up in Kings Cross (the red light area). We also met up with Ali Dayani (a fella I dealt with on the phone every day whilst working in Coventry but never met). His girlfriend, Joanne was there also. We had one drink in O'Malley's, well, we almost had one drink. Two pricks from Dublin stole our jug of beer. We caught two taxis to Darling Harbour, and had a few beers in the Sports Bar. Steve was on the cokes after a hard weekend (a 36 hour bender!!). It was a good night. Great to catch up.

Mon 24.12 (Christmas Eve) - Claire and I caught a bus to the City Centre. Walked down to the Circular Quay area and there it was. The Sydney Opera House. It was really great to be standing in front of it. Took loads of pictures and give out about all the tourists there.   The harbour bridge is right beside it and it is massive. We walked into the Botanic Gardens to get the postcard view from Mrs Macquaries Chair!! (supposedly a place where the first NSW governors wife used to come to sit and reflect). We then went shopping and bought Paul and Emma a Xmas present and caught a bus back to Coogee.

We ate and then caught a taxi to the Cock and Bull bar, in Bondi Junction, to meet Shane and Padraic. We also met Christina Rock (another girl I worked with in Compaq, Galway!) and her fella. Also saw Michelle Donnellan from Cappatagle.   The bar was ABSOLUTELY JAM PACKED with Irish, English, Scottish and Welsh, but mainly IRISH. Loads of beer was drank. Great nights craic.

TUES 25.12 (CHRISTMAS DAY) - Up 10ish. Santa didnt come to me. I must have been a BAD boy this year. Paul and Emma were going to a friends for dinner so were went to a restaurant on Coogee Beachfront. The temperature was about 30 degrees, but half the sky was clouded over with the smoke from the bushfires in the Blue Mountains. Afterwards we went from a stroll on the beach and met Tim, Nick and Joe from the Whitsundays cruise.

Nick had a guitar so we messed about trying to sing different songs. Nick did a jazz version of one of Tom Bombadil's songs. (Tom Bombadil is a character in the Lord of the Rings Book). It was hilarious. Joe sang the Beatles song, A Jealsous Guy, but sang bits in the style of James Brown. It had Claire and I in tears. There was a running joke all day about Magnum and Blue Steel (Anyone who has seen the film "Zoolander" will know what we were talking about. In most photos Blue Steel was the pose we assumed. About 10pm, we were still on the beach drinking. Claires Dad and my Dad rang. I must admit I missed being home, but sitting on Coogee Beach is a close second!

Enda, my cousin and Godchilds father, rang and put my godchild, Erin on the phone. She had received my present on Xmas Eve. Talk about good timing. She was chuffed with her pressie. A koala rucksack, in case you're wondering.

Wed 26.12 (Boxing Day / St, Stephen's Day) - Paul, Emma, Claire and I went to the Royal Randwick racetrack to the horse racing. Met Shane and Pauraic. I won $40 on first race and then lost it all on the rest of the races. There was a horse called Hayden in the last race. I didnt back it, but (God bless her soul) Claire stood by Hayden and backed it. And low and behold it won and Claire collected $30. We chilled out for the evening.

Thurs 27.12 - We went looking at accommodation for Claire's mum, Catherine, and her uncle, Martin. There are coming over for 5 weeks from 1st January.   Finally booked them into the Royal Hotel, in Randwick.

Fri 28.12 - Emma, Claire and I went for a walk from Coogee Beach to Bondi Beach, passing through the other beaches of Gordon's Bay, Clovelly, Tanarama and Bronte. It took just over an hour. We stayed they sunning ourselves for 3 hours and then walked back.

Sat 29.12 - Claire booked a campervan for 3 weeks from 5th Jan, so that Martin and Catherine (and Claire and I) can see a bit of Australia. We caught bus to city centre. Walked around "The Rocks" area and then walked the length of George Street to meet Kev and Kyla in The 3 Wise Monkeys at 6pm. We also bumped into Kirsty. At 2am we finally left. Quite intoxicated.

Sun 30.12 - Went to Coogee Beach all day, then to mass and the to the local legion with Paul and Emma for a steak.