Exciting, glamorous and pulsating with life - we are in Sydney.

 I’m sitting in the foyer of a noisy hotel in Sydney - it’s hot outside and I’m jet lagged! We arrived on whatever day it was - I’m still getting my head around losing a day of my precious life in transit. When we landed we threw ourselves into the waterfront nightlife at Darling Harbour after being cooped up mid air for too many hours. We went to bed - he slept while I tossed and turned, played sudoko and read.

Yesterday we planned a stroll around the harbour - there’s a boat show on - but ended up hopping onto a ferry, meeting a couple carrying a life size purple banana in a witches outfit which they’d won at a funfair. She had her life story etched on her face and tattooed on her body and he kept wanting got talk to us about Manchester United! We hopped off the ferry to return to Darling and hopped on the wrong one which took us to the zoo so we stayed on and returned to the ferry terminal to find the right one and get us somewhere for lunch. Sydney Harbour was full - a massive cruise liner was docked and sightseers in Instagram poses everywhere. I’ve never understood the point of someone taking a photo of the back of your head while you stare into the distance but there was plenty of that and some contortionist, would-be cameramen trying to get the perfect shot - just how many photos of a bridge is too many?

I love people watching and the ferry and surrounding quay was the perfect place. As well as the mad couple with the purple banana - did I mention that it was life size - we saw so many people in fancy dress. It was Friday but this took casual day to a new level - two brides to be, a bumble bee, an angel in wings, a clown ( it could have been a designer outfit hard to tell these days) a pirate,  a witch or was it a wizard of Oz. The mind boggles - clearly Fridays are party days down under.

We found a perfect lunch spot and watched the world go by while an opportunistic seagull watched us. Seven thousand steps later we arrived back our hotel and had a hour to change and step out again - another ferry but this time to Manly carrying a long box which held an ancient barometer being relocated to Nicks nephew along with some other heirlooms. We arrived at the terminal just as the sun was setting and were met by the family for the handover and catch-up and enjoyed a lovely meal with a fabulous view al fresco.

Clearly Friday is also ‘let your hair down’ night and there were loads of young people looking glitzy and  glamorous, sun-kissed and sparkly in skyscraper heels, flirting and laughing while I felt like a country bumpkin in my H&M cotton frock and sandals. 

After 10pm we hopped back onto the ferry past the illuminated Opera House under the bridge and back onto dry land - into an uber and back to the hotel exhausted but happy. You’d think I would have slept but no……. I tossed and turned, dreamed of turtles WTF then gave up and read the paper online - I’m not sure if it’s tomorrows or yesterdays. 

 We’ve just enjoyed a late breakfast and relaxed in the foyer while housekeeping sorted our room out. Two gorgeous girls all glammed up in a backless red dress and a sequinned gold dress have just walked past us heading out and I just know for sure they will be enjoying an Instagram moment.

I’m going for a nap - well I’m praying for a nap. Tomorrow we have an early start and fly to New Zealand and another time zone. I’ll do the Wordle puzzle and then maybe I’ll sleep……..

Sydney is always exciting, glamorous and pulsating with life! It’s great for a few days and then it becomes exhausting and I am craving fresh air and a quieter pace of life. Looking forward to the blue blue skies and the  mountains and lakes of Queenstown. Here we come!