Thursday

Sydney is certainly a busy place and people who visit here seem to be busy as well - if you take S and I as an example. 

And even though it would be sensible to have fairly early nights - once we do get back to the hotel room - that is impossible for me - what is it about me and wanting to watch television when I'm in a hotel room?  Could that be a throwback to my using the television for company on the trips I made for work without S? Or that we don't have a television in the bedroom so it is something of a novelty?  But at least I was up on time to be able to get ready for the start of what was a busy day.  We only had three appointments slotted in but since they were in various parts of Sydney, it was going to be a challenge - but at least we had Lars and the GPS to help get us around.  I shudder to think how much time we would have had to spend getting between places on public transport - and how much less time we would have been able to spend with folk along the way.  Even though Sydney's rail and public transport system is quite good, it does work on a hub system - so if you are out at one extreme you have to go into the middle to come back out again in another direction.  But luckily, we didn't have to rely on that. 

We met my brother G for breakfast across the road from the hotel and spent a very pleasant two hours with him going through family news, seeing photos from his recent trip to Mexico and Florida with his youngest daughter as she played in tennis tournaments, and pics of the house he and the family have recently moved into.  It was great to have a proper catch-up, but I was still sad that we weren't seeing the rest of the family as well. 

Then, we were in the car (thank you Valet Parking) and off to Wentworthville to see some mates out that way.   

They should have been away on holidays themselves but a recent hospitalisation of their oldest, and his  need for continuing treatment, meant they were at home for the duration.  But as they say "it's an ill wind ..." so at least we were able to spend some time with them and catch up with their news and goings-on - and have BBQ #1 of the day.  L, their youngest, probably the world's most voracious reader - to the point where she has been known to walk into poles while reading - was off visiting someone so we didn't get to see her and because we were due at our next appointment, we also didn't get to see the new Christmas puppy someone was about to bring over. 

Dinner with D and P (BBQ #2) was wonderful, as was catching up with them, seeing their renovations, and having a play with Ruby their blue cattledog whose favourite activity seems to be putting something for you to throw to her on your lap, and if you don't, she nudges it and you and does a drool (thank goodness both S and I were wearing long pants) until you finally give in - whatever it is ... a piece of grass, a small stick, a half-chewed lemon - and throw to  her.  She loves it.  D and P have done a great job on their renovations and except for the kitchen splashback, painting and the back deck - they are all but done, except for a lick of paint for the rest-of-house. 

We finally dragged ourselves from them at after 11 and made it back to the hotel and upstairs by midnight - where I settled in for another bit of television - hoping I would be able to rouse myself (and S) for another early start - checking out of the hotel (which has been fabulous) and going off to breakfast at an old stamping ground, Bar Italia in Leichhardt.