The Heatwave Continues

Argh!!! It has been so hot. Am I getting old? I cannot remember suffering so badly with the effects of the heat. I choose not to sit in the airconditioned room most days. I know I will feel the contrast when I step out of the room. A girl at work said her electricity bill exceeded $1000- for the quarter. Ours is usually between $320-$360 range for this time of the year. Generally I sleep well in the nighttime, though. Just sweat a lot. Everybody does. Roll on Sydney Autumn. know I like you a lot.

Heatwave hits Sydney (while cyclone Yasi hits Queensland)

For nearly 2 weeks now it has been so hot in Sydney. The last week have seen temperatures hit over 40 degrees ( up to about 43 degrees yesterday). So hard to sleep. So hard to work. So hard to keep cool. We have lived in Sydney for 23 years and I cannot remember a hotter beginning to the year. But you do keep working. And you sleep the best you can. And you drink so much water. And the sweat just keeps dripping off you. Fortunately, there is the promise of a cool change this coming week.

And a big warm welcome to 2011

Not long before Christmas, Grace greeted us with the news that she would really like to live in Melbourne one day. She said that the climate really suited her. She likes the cold. So too does Laura ( who is currently experiencing the best cold weather that Japan can offer her). Gem, meanwhile loves the easy pace and distinct 4 seasons offered to her @ Orange. Bryce and I love Sydney. A few times we have toyed with the idea of living elsewhere. But Sydney really offers us a climate that suits. So I think we're here to stay. I still feel a sense of excitement when in the city. I love so much of the architecture and the mystery of streets not yet discovered. Yesterday, Bryce and I headed into the city, by Bus, of course. The bus costs us each only $4.30 each way. So it's so much better and far more stress free, than is driving by car. We were going to the movies @ Dendy, Circular Quay (to see "Sarah's key") but we had some time to kill beforehand. We took out lunch and sat in the garden space opposite Wynyard Station. The day was gorgeous. A very gentle and refreshing breeze kept us comfortable. We wandered around and took photos here and there. Circular Quay was the busiest I have EVER seen it. There were so many International tourists there and a big Ocean Cruiser had docked, adding to the people numbers. There was "entertainment" happening everywhere and a real sense of tourist excitement. The Sydney Festival must have started by now and that in itself is a few weeks of entertainment in all areas of culture/ music/ theatre/ dance and film. Following the movie, we wandered some more, and had a wine and a coffee at the Museum of Sydney. Another great day in Sydney, we both thought. And we happily headed for home.

It's going to be a gorgeous weekend in Sydney

Two weeks before Christmas and the decorations in the streets are making it all look very pretty at night. Sydney streets are looking pretty festive in a lot of areas. People are always drawn to the city through their work, through end of year get togethers, and by the lure of QVB decorations, Laser light shows around the CBD, dressed up statues in the city, Martin Place and the Christmas tree there, buskers and carolers. So it is all happening! And after Christmas there is the massive build up to New Year in Sydney, and the secrecy around the key feature at the NYE Fireworks. The weather around Dec/Jan can be very dramatic with sun/rain and wind combining forces to put on a great show. And sun and heat, to add mention. There are a few events that I am looking forward to. Tonight is the AGNSW Christmas party. I am a volunteer. My job is usually to sell raffle tickets (hard work in itself) but I also can eat and drink there. Next Saturday I will be joining the Sydney Sketch Club members to sketch around the city with a focus on Christmas. Two days later we are going to the Australian Ballet's production of "The Nut Cracker" and that will serve to make us feel Christmassy in Sydney.

Sculpture by the Sea

We recently went to Bondi to Sculpture By The Sea. This was a "meetup"" with the Sydney Sketch Club. I invited Bryce and Gem to come (Grace declined). So we headed there early so as to get a good parking spot. I wore heels (not sure why) and after 13000 steps or so, I know I'll never do it again. Definitely thongs or runners. We were all inspired by what we saw. When I say "we", I mean the 5000+ people who trudged along the walkway between the beaches, looking at the artworks. The Sydney Sketch Club dd meet at Tamarama Beach (the next beach past Bondi) and I eventually met up with everyone for a few momens. Gem parked in a 2 hour zone so by the time I "met up" it was time to go. I did my sketching in the cool of our place at home. I took heaps of photos. I did only one sketch.
This sculpture was made of Huon Pine and was wonderful. It is life size. It's asking price was $15,000 and it had a sold sticker on it.
I'd love to have a go at sculpture. Well..... so many things really. Pottery. Definitely watercolours.
So watch this space!

Some of the joys of living here in Sydney are the parks and gardens around the city. Hyde Park is beautiful, but I have a sneaking suspicion that there are less trees there than previously. A bit of a cull, not sure though. Maybe I'm getting taller and can see more sky! I love my litle day trips. It used to be by train... not so much these days as the Hills bus gets you right in the heart of the city at a very low cost. They seem to run every 20-30 minutes. When the girls were young and at school, I used to go to the city and meet Bryce for lunch. We often would go to Dimocks to the cafe on the mezzanine level. Then rush back in time to pick them up from school. Nowdays my trips are maybe more leisurely. Bus in. Coffee somewhere. Wander through QVB and maybe some of the other arcades. Some photos. Some sketches. Perhaps a trip to the AGNSW. Usually I walk throuth Sydney Hospital (love that building) and then through the Domain. Most times I'm in the city, I make a mental note... next time I'm here I'll..... (... so I'll be back!)

Quintessential Sydney

... always features the Harbour Bridge and/or The Opera House. But those sights never cease to excite the senses. The sheer majesty of these two structures which draw you in, like a magnet. Imagine Sydney without them. Well, Sydney is huge and there are many parts that I do not know really well. How can you, when you live 35kms out from the city. But because Bryce used to work in the city for around 20+ years, and Laura too used to work in the city, and went to uni in the city - I guess there's something warmly familiar about this place. Going back to each of the two afore mentioned structures... I spent a day in the city and drew both of these.
You really appreciate architecture (respect is the word), when you have to try to draw every join, every angle. Ken Done was clearly quick and lazy. He could probably knock up one of his colourful paintings in 1/2 an hour. Mine took twice that long! (I actually like Ken Done's art).