Update on the week in Sydney! - JF

Once again V & I find ourselves at LAX on return from SYD following a quick trip (only 5 full days on the ground). But it felt like much longer. Nothing feels undone and we spent some QT (quality time) with Helen, Kevin, Bec and Jeremy, so the final assessment is all good. While there, we had Christmas dinner at B&J’s apt. [see http://popsies.blogspot.com] and exchanged gifts (as B&J were in the US during the holidays).

One VERY exciting gift V & I got were Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb vouchers which we redeemed on Wednesday at 645AM. While it was a very early start for Tor, (second day in a row - as she was up at ~4AM and off to Auckland, NZ for the day Tuesday for some contract work she is continuing) we were off to the city on the train by daybreak and watching the sunrise over the skyline/harbour was quite an awesome site. Especially nice b/c on the previous trip (March 04 - “Meet The Parent’s” odyssey) we were met with rather bogus rainy weather for the majority of the trip. Wednesday, however, was a beautiful day with sunshine and warmth and now I know what Helen means when she says “On a sunny day the harbour just GLOWS!!” It was such an awesome thing to do.

On the climb, you are actually tethered to the bridge from the bottom with no real means of disengaging oneself. So it is rather safe. The only part that bothered me was a small section where you are approximately 50 meters or so above the pavement/water and instead of a steel floor there is only a steel grating which is totally see through which allowed me to see passing cars and choppy water directly beneath me and this of course leads to next logical thought of “what if one were to fall through/over……?” Not such a nice thing, really. But because V. was tethered only a few feet in front of me I persevered on (and of course not wanting to look like a wus!).

The climb is not as taxing physically as I was expecting. There were really only approximately 4 sections of nearly straight up and down stairs and the rest is gently sloping bridgey girders. Frequent stops are made along the way, with time to gaze about and absorb all the fantastic sites, as well as time to catch ones breath. Pictures are taken at several places on the bridge and one of the group is included in the price.
We purchased the one posted because it was cool (to be added above in the blog). Our guide “Prue” took the photos w/ a Canon G5 digital camera. Climbers are not deemed safe with potential projectiles (like a digital camera). It is reported that a AUS$2 coin dropped from the tippy top of the bridge would completely shatter the windscreen of any passing car or train and I would think do some serious damage and disfigurement to any biker or pedestrian.

While we were sitting here at gate 40, waiting impatiently for our flight to arrive and go, V. went and bought some VERY nice mocha Frappucinos from Starbuck-y’s (care of our friend Pauly aka Zamboni I - whose wedding gift was a his and hers gift set of starbuck-y’s cards) and while drinking the initial mouthfuls I was being rude and making V. laugh and a little sputter of mocha-frap hit the straw - I was thinking it came through V’s nasal passages, but I really think it was sputtered out her mouth and we had a good laugh. She then shared with me that Jac had a similar experience many moons ago and had penned a song memorializing the time “things came out her nose” and it went a little something like this:
“Milo, o, Milo; Milo came out by the end of my nose” I suppose it bears repeating that we should all be careful, because, Mama Cass died from aspirating a ham sandwich.
[ed. note 1: for those who are unaware (as I was before coming to live here), a Zamboni is the machine that comes out on the ice-hockey rink and clears away all the snow from the ice. Apparently there are similarities with people who are efficient at clearing their plates/the table after eating…. Shall leave it at that…. - VF]
[ed. note 2: I have had a request from the original composer of this song to let it be known to our readers that she was aged approx 3 years old at the time (lest you think that it was written in more recent times....) ]
[ed. note 3: if you do not know who Mama Cass was (I did not), click here ]
We made a quick call to Trish & Joe to see if we have a niece waiting for us in Michigan. But alas, no such luck although apparently there were 8 hours of pre-term labor several days ago. Its looking like a Monster Truck Jam is occurring at the Palace of Auburn Hills (a stadium near our house) this weekend. It’s a thing where HUGELY modified monster trucks jump over cars and roll and tumble. Quite a testosterone charged event for sure. Victoria is extremely excited to join me, Joe, Jac and Ty for this new and exciting pastime (I think….) 8 > ).