Hello faithful blogees, how you been doing without me??!!
Sorry for the lack of action but it has taken me 2 days to get over an unplanned hangover (more to come on that) and then the fact that Fred does not have t'interweb, so I am currently sitting in the foyer of my apartment block in Surfers Paradise (Oh yes, I have moved on, stay tuned to find out more) and attempting to make sense of my notes from how ever many days ago it was, being looked at like a retard by everyone coming through the door (including all the kids who are treating me very kindly....)
Right, where did I leave off? Sorry but I actually had to physically go and look at my old posts!!
Right, I had walked Pops into the ground so this morning was all about a lay in and then back on the tour bus to head out to Bondi Beach. Mum and him watch Bondi Rescue, Bondi Vets and Bondi Men in Drag (I made that last one up....) and I had explained that it wasn't as it seemed on the TV.
The first thing that struck him was that it doesn't seem like a force 10 gale is blowing a hooley when they watch it at home. Having said that, I am sure that is what is required to make the waves? He Pops also commented on how small it appeared in real life, another trick of the camera we are all too familiar with in one shape or form.....
So we decided to shelter from the wind in a fab funky little place called The Bucket List. As we walked in there appeared to be a man enticing people to eat, in what seemed like drag, maybe I wasn't so far off the mark. We picked a table and we decided on the bucket of prawns with fries. Man alive they were good. Pops had a coffee and I had a red wine. Friday was going to be red wine day. If only I knew then what I know now I may have had a diet coke.... As we were just finishing a huge hip crowd of young and beautiful people arrived, and Pops commented that he didn't think they got many 73 years old in. He may have been right.
Anyhoo, after lunch, the obligatory seaside pictures and a walk up the prom, we grabbed an ice cream and boarded the bus back to the hotel, after using the 'my Dad has a stick' card to push through the ever growing queue. The bus wound it's way back to the City past some of the other glorious bays and multi million pound views of Sydney Harbour. When we got back to the hotel, Pops fancied a snooze so I headed out for a walk and do a little shopping, lining up my next surprise for him.
Now there is a huge tower in Sydney, the tallest structure there (I did have all the facts an figures, but have got drunk and slept since then so you will have to take my word for it) and they have an observation deck. They also have an 'experience' where you can walk around the outside, and at 2 points you walk over a glass panel, staring at the world below (you may remember I did something similar in Perth, or was it Melbourne? You know the one I mean.....) and when I asked Pops if he would like to do it, he was as keen as mustard. Second best to climbing the Bridge for him.
So off we went, having to get a cab the 10 minute walk as I had got the time wrong, and it would have taken Pops at least an hour to get up the hill, and I'm not that cruel! We finally arrived and were ushered through and taken up to the observation deck. Wow, it di not disappoint. Stunning panoramic views showing just how big the Harbour truly is. Then it was time to get ready for the walk.
This did not go quite as I was expecting. Firstly, as we were going in they stop you for the obligatory green screen photoshop shoot, which we both gleefully posed for, and it was all going so well until the photographer said 'Ah, is this a grand-daughter and grand-father trip?' I nearly choked laughing and Pops nearly choked the girl! I wasn't really sure if it meant that he looked really old or I looked young, and she was so embarrassed she really didn't clarify. I'm taking the latter.
Then the actual walk. It was in fact, necessary to don an all in one boiler suit, remove all loose objects and then be clipped to the of the building whilst walking around with the wind in our hair. Pops took it well, despite looking like a mutant teletubby in the suit, but off we went and had an amazing experience. And of course there are pics to prove it. I will post the link on fb. We had a great time slot too as the sun was just beginning to set, so after our walk was done, including touching the huge neon letters that make up the Westfield sign, we went back inside and decided to head for home. Once again he had done me proud.
Pops needed another little lie down before deciding what to do for dinner, and when the time came we plumped to stay local and eat in the hotel, followed by a final last night drink in the local. This is were it all came unravelled.....
Now I can't really remember to much but I do remember this - ordering red wine, and more red wine, and more, and Pops saying we were only having one, then the dishy barman offering me a pie, Pops saying that meant he fancied me, the barman did indeed have lovely pies, a group of Koreans dancing and one of the grandmothers getting the hump as her grand-daughter seemed to be considering running off with a local, more red wine, actually getting a pie, more red wine, Pops saying we really should be going home, more red wine, no more pies, goodbyes and sitting on the toilet vomiting into the waste bin with a lovely view of Sydney Opera House and Bridge.....
That was 2am. At 11am we needed to be out of the room, when Pops long lost best buddy was coming to pick us up. I got to bed at 4. I was woken up by Pops at 8. I was a rough as sandpaper and felt like a wild animal had done it's business in my mouth and shoved Ghandi's flip flop in it. Told you we should have gone home sooner said my Pops.......
So that was that!! Pics to follow and the next instalment which includes the re-union! So fill up the coffee mugs (or vodka shots, whatever takes your fancy) and stay blogged on....
TTFN xx
Right, I had walked Pops into the ground so this morning was all about a lay in and then back on the tour bus to head out to Bondi Beach. Mum and him watch Bondi Rescue, Bondi Vets and Bondi Men in Drag (I made that last one up....) and I had explained that it wasn't as it seemed on the TV.
The first thing that struck him was that it doesn't seem like a force 10 gale is blowing a hooley when they watch it at home. Having said that, I am sure that is what is required to make the waves? He Pops also commented on how small it appeared in real life, another trick of the camera we are all too familiar with in one shape or form.....
So we decided to shelter from the wind in a fab funky little place called The Bucket List. As we walked in there appeared to be a man enticing people to eat, in what seemed like drag, maybe I wasn't so far off the mark. We picked a table and we decided on the bucket of prawns with fries. Man alive they were good. Pops had a coffee and I had a red wine. Friday was going to be red wine day. If only I knew then what I know now I may have had a diet coke.... As we were just finishing a huge hip crowd of young and beautiful people arrived, and Pops commented that he didn't think they got many 73 years old in. He may have been right.
Anyhoo, after lunch, the obligatory seaside pictures and a walk up the prom, we grabbed an ice cream and boarded the bus back to the hotel, after using the 'my Dad has a stick' card to push through the ever growing queue. The bus wound it's way back to the City past some of the other glorious bays and multi million pound views of Sydney Harbour. When we got back to the hotel, Pops fancied a snooze so I headed out for a walk and do a little shopping, lining up my next surprise for him.
Now there is a huge tower in Sydney, the tallest structure there (I did have all the facts an figures, but have got drunk and slept since then so you will have to take my word for it) and they have an observation deck. They also have an 'experience' where you can walk around the outside, and at 2 points you walk over a glass panel, staring at the world below (you may remember I did something similar in Perth, or was it Melbourne? You know the one I mean.....) and when I asked Pops if he would like to do it, he was as keen as mustard. Second best to climbing the Bridge for him.
So off we went, having to get a cab the 10 minute walk as I had got the time wrong, and it would have taken Pops at least an hour to get up the hill, and I'm not that cruel! We finally arrived and were ushered through and taken up to the observation deck. Wow, it di not disappoint. Stunning panoramic views showing just how big the Harbour truly is. Then it was time to get ready for the walk.
This did not go quite as I was expecting. Firstly, as we were going in they stop you for the obligatory green screen photoshop shoot, which we both gleefully posed for, and it was all going so well until the photographer said 'Ah, is this a grand-daughter and grand-father trip?' I nearly choked laughing and Pops nearly choked the girl! I wasn't really sure if it meant that he looked really old or I looked young, and she was so embarrassed she really didn't clarify. I'm taking the latter.
Then the actual walk. It was in fact, necessary to don an all in one boiler suit, remove all loose objects and then be clipped to the of the building whilst walking around with the wind in our hair. Pops took it well, despite looking like a mutant teletubby in the suit, but off we went and had an amazing experience. And of course there are pics to prove it. I will post the link on fb. We had a great time slot too as the sun was just beginning to set, so after our walk was done, including touching the huge neon letters that make up the Westfield sign, we went back inside and decided to head for home. Once again he had done me proud.
Pops needed another little lie down before deciding what to do for dinner, and when the time came we plumped to stay local and eat in the hotel, followed by a final last night drink in the local. This is were it all came unravelled.....
Now I can't really remember to much but I do remember this - ordering red wine, and more red wine, and more, and Pops saying we were only having one, then the dishy barman offering me a pie, Pops saying that meant he fancied me, the barman did indeed have lovely pies, a group of Koreans dancing and one of the grandmothers getting the hump as her grand-daughter seemed to be considering running off with a local, more red wine, actually getting a pie, more red wine, Pops saying we really should be going home, more red wine, no more pies, goodbyes and sitting on the toilet vomiting into the waste bin with a lovely view of Sydney Opera House and Bridge.....
That was 2am. At 11am we needed to be out of the room, when Pops long lost best buddy was coming to pick us up. I got to bed at 4. I was woken up by Pops at 8. I was a rough as sandpaper and felt like a wild animal had done it's business in my mouth and shoved Ghandi's flip flop in it. Told you we should have gone home sooner said my Pops.......
So that was that!! Pics to follow and the next instalment which includes the re-union! So fill up the coffee mugs (or vodka shots, whatever takes your fancy) and stay blogged on....
TTFN xx
Brilliant xx
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