Saturday in The Cross

I only have five weekends left here in Sydney, so time to get cracking on my Sydney to see and do list!  I found a website with printable walking tours so thought I'd try some out.  Today's tour- Passion, Sydney's Wild Side.  This tour took me through King's Cross, Potts Point and Woolloomooloo (for real).  Kings Cross is a combination of beautiful old terrace houses, backpacker hostels, seedy strip clubs and adult stores.  Is pretty well Sydney's red light district.  I saw some special people as I first got out of the train station.  This area also does not smell too nice...

All things shady are open 24 hours.

Darlinghurst Road, the Cross' main strip

First stop- Fitzroy Gardens and El Alamein Fountain.  (Remind anyone of a certain fountain in Kelowna?)  It's a war memorial for soldiers who died in Egypt in WW2.  I took a photo for an Asian tourist here- who still had a film using camera! (Auntie Barb, you're not alone!).  She steerotyped herself by posing with fingers up, peace style.

 I walked around and checked out a few neat old buildings, art deco style, then followed the map up to the Kingsclere Apartments.  These were built in 1912 and were one of the first high rises in Sydney.

More walking around, then to Elizabeth Bay House.  It was built in 1839 and was known as the finest house in the colony.  It's one of the few old mansions still standing.  Boasts some fantastic views of the harbor.  Quite a few other neat old buildings through this area.

Then onto Potts Point.  This is a cool little area that reminds me of some of NYC's older hoods.  More terraced houses and a neat old college.

The Yellow House.  Some sort of art gallery now.

I walked through a park, up and down a set of old stairs, then back to the Cross via Victoria Street.  More cool old houses.  Kings Cross is named because it's main intersection is a cross of three main streets- Darlinghurst Road, Victoria Street and William Street.  It was originally to be named Queen's Cross for Victoria's diamond jubilee, but was changed to Kings Cross as she died and her son took over as king.  This is now the sight of the giant light up Coca Cola sign.

Note- I realize by my pictures that it always looks grey here in Sydney.  For some reason I don't have much luck when I do my sightseeing!  The sun does come out, and the weather is still pretty good, in the mid to high twenties.

When I got home I skyped with the fam and was able to join them singing Happy Birthday to my Mom as she blew out the candle on her cake.  Then I went to town cleaning and making a pile of stuff to sell.

This evening we headed out to the Christmas party at Joel's golf club, Eastlakes.  The food was good, but overall it was pretty lame.  Two older ladies were playing song nazis at the jukebox that was rented and were skipping over all the good stuff to their favored 80s beats.  To get even at them I requested a bunch of songs I knew they would hate when they weren't looking- such as Achy Breaky Heart, Hootie and the Blowfish, and Korn.  Also made up a few stories for some of the drunken Aussies, such as telling one guy (who looked like Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys) that I was a pro skier.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful Mom!

Wish I could be there to join you for a Cosmo at Continental Treat.

Change of Plans...

Two weeks ago Joel's boss asked us to get all our visa paperwork together and have it to him by Monday so we could get started on the process.  We got it all together and Joel handed it in, only to be told that Audi can no longer sponsor him.  They have too many other sponsored workers and the finance department decided that they couldn't afford to sponsor anyone else.  Without a sponsor we can't get a work visa.  Without a work visa we can't stay in the country past February 8.  My work can't sponsor me as they've been frozen as sponsors.  This means one of us would need to find a new job who'd be willing to sponsor us, otherwise we have to leave.

Joel came home raging with this news.  He loves Australia and doesn't want to leave.  I was pretty happy, as I've been secretly praying something would happen that would make us have to go home.

Even though we had cancelled Joel's return flight home we were able to reinstate it as long as it was used before February 6 (a year from our initial travel date).  I took that as a sign that we're meant to come home- everything is easily lining up that home is the right place to be.  We could find a new sponsor, but who knows how long that will take or if we'll get approved in time.  If we couldn't get approved we'd be stuck here and not be able to work or pay for new flights home.  So I made the executive decision that we should come home.

I had a flight home already booked for January 19 so I will go home then as planned.  Joel wants to stay here till the last possible date (and golf as much as possible) so he will return February 5.  He is not happy about going home at all.  He will only go back if we move somewhere where he can golf through the year, so as long as we can get jobs, it looks like we'll be trying out Vancouver.  Hopefully we can, because this is the best compromise we can come to and I'm ready to get my feet back on the ground and settled somewhere.  So if anyone has any job leads for either of us that be greatly appreciated...

In the meantime I have only five weeks left in Sydney.  I have to take advantage of my weekends and get out and see and do as much as I can, because I will likely not be back.  I've been bad about my sightseeing lately.  Now that I have an end date in sight its time to check off the rest of my list.  Hoping Joel will take me out to the Blue Mountains one day.  Debating a weekend trip to Canberra or Hobart too, but not sure what I'll all fit in or can budget for. 

Kirribilli Walk

On Saturday evening I went over to Christina and Josh's for appetizer night.  Joel was supposed to come but went with his Kiwi golf bros to a cricket match last minute instead.  We had a much out fest on crackers with cranberry orange cheese, stuffed mushrooms (which I made all on my own!) and bruschetta.  Christina colored my hair for me (as we're not allowed to do it at work in Nov or Dec because it's so busy) and we had a food coma'd night.

Sunday morning I was up and out of the house before twelve o'clock, a weekend record for me here!  I had to head into the city to pick up my work Secret Santa gift and I ended up running into Christina and Josh!  Small world.  Josh was on his lunch break and she was bringing him his lunch.  The two of us snooped around the city, then took the train across the bridge into Kirribilli.  The Sunday Market happened to be today so we snooped around the stalls and I picked up a few gifts.

Chris wasn't feeling so good and headed up but I decided to go for a walk around the neighborhood.  It's been on my list of things to do and I thought I'd finally do it, especially now that time here is limited.  Kirribilli is one of Sydney's oldest and most affluent neighborhoods.  It sits right across the harbor from the Opera House.  There are tons of beautiful old terrace homes and mansions.  I love old homes, so this was the perfect way to spend my afternoon.  (So does my Mom so here are a few pictures for you!  you'd love this area.)  I would love to live in this area, but I'm sure real estate here goes for a pretty penny.

Terrace style house

Kirribilli House, where the PM stays whilst in Sydney

View of the city

I love the neighborhoods north of the bridge.  Everytime I cross over on the train I feel so calm and relaxed.  Christina lives across the bridge in Wollstonecraft, so I'm over here often.

Night Out With the Girls

Friday was one of those ho hum days at work.  Ten minutes before close Rowan said she could go for drinks, who was in?  Laura, Elaine and I decided to join.  I definitely needed a night out as I;ve been so stressed about recent visa issues and thought a girls night would be just what I needed.  We decided it was just one of those days you needed a drink, then realized we could find an excuse to drink ANY day, as our group is a bunch of wine-o's!  Anyway, headed down to Quay Bar at Circular Quay.  Part of the bar is inside, in the old Customs House building, but a nice patio is set up out front.  We grabbed a bottle of Sauv Blanc and finagled a table outside.

 

 As usual, we always say we'll just stay for "one drink".  Again, never happens.  We ordered bottle two and decided to get some appetizers.  Rowan's hubby and some workmates showed up so we joined them and got bottle three.  This is where things got crazy...

Me, Elaine, Laura and Rowan

None of us remember ordering any more wine, yet there always seemed to be a full bottle and a glass or two in each hand.  I tend to be a bit of a clepto when I drink, so on a trip to the bathroom with Rowan I picked up four sets of cutlery (as a housewarming gift for Rowan, who moves next weekend).  Later on we got to talking about Scotland (as Rowan and her hubby are both Scottish) and highland dancing and I ended up busting out some dance moves for the entertainment of the bar.  Then followed by all us girls rapping again (Without Me once again a favorite).  And it wouldn't be a good night out if we made some random friends!  We somehow befriended a group of guys and dared one of them to run around the bar in his budgie smugglers (speedo style undies), which he did!  Gotta love nights out with my awesome workmates.

On the way home I decided I needed some Lucky Charms (they sell them at a 24 hour convenience store at Circular Quay).  They were out, so I grabbed a Crunchie Bar instead.  I didn't have enough money to pay but the guy let me take it anyway.  (Must have sensed a drunken girl needs her chocolate?)  Then home on the train.  Man, I have some good drunken memories on Sydney trains...

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

Starting to get into the Christmas spirit!  As much as I've always wanted a beach Christmas, having it in the summer is not the same.  I never thought I'd say this but it doesn't seem as magical without the snow!

Last night I put up my own little Christmas tree.  I turned on my Christmas playlist on itunes to rock around the tree (a must for decorating!) and got busy.   It's a little ghetto looking, but a tree nonetheless!  It cost me less then fifteen dollars to put together.  I got my ornaments, tinsel and beads from Ikea (they have some really good stuff this year), cheapie lights from the Reject Store (closest Oz gets to the Dollar Store), and a 90 cm tree from K-mart (for five dollars!).  I reused my Melbourne Cup fastenator for the topper.  Not sure if I like it, but I needed to get it out of the way so stuck it on the top.

Joel was not invited to help.  I always try to make decorating a fun thing for us todo together, but he usually ends up pouting about something so I decided I'd get more in the holiday spirit doing it on my own.  He really is a Grinch when it comes to Christmas. 

Since we're away from our family and the usual festivities I'm going to do all I can to make this Christmas as much like home as possible so I don't end up feeling sad.   I'm planning a "23rd" style dinner with Christina and Josh with authentic Shieron food and downloaded a few Christmas movies (I'll be watching the classics- Home Alone 1 and 2, The Christmas Story, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and Fubar 2.  The latter's not technically an xmas movie but it takes place over xmas so it counts).  And we got our first card in the mail! (Hope there's more coming...)

Thought I'd share my favorite Christmas tunes for you to rock around your Christmas tree to:

Jingle Bell Rock- Bobby Helms

Merry Christmas Baby- Hanson (ya, their xmas music rocks!)

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree- Brenda Lee

Santa Claus Is Back In Town- Elvis

Blue Christmas- Elvis

I'll Be Home for Christmas- Elvis

Ok, pretty much anything by Elvis...

It Snowed- Meaghan Smith

Christmas Reggae- Bob Marley and the Wailers

Christmas Time Is Here Again- Ringo Starr

White Christmas- Bing Crosby

Christmas Is All Around Us- Love Actually Soundtrack

Run, Run, Rudolph- Chuck Berry

Another Christmas Without Snow- Lola Dutronic

Calling to Say- Serena Ryder

Christmas All Over Again- Tom Petty

Hoser's 12 Days of Christmas

What's This?- Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack

Santa Baby- Eartha Kit

Lately...

Finally got some energy and motivation back today!  Here's a recap of what I've been up to in the last few weeks:

The weather's been up and down- one day cloudy and rainy, the next sunny and warm. It is SO humid and I hate it!  So much for good hair days...

A giant Christmas tree came up in Martin Place.  It's artificial and it took a few days for the crew to put it together.  There are trees all over the city now and this one is the"whopper" of them all. according to the Sydney Christmas Events website.  There are banners and lights up around the square as well which look pretty nice.  This will have to be my replacement for the Leg lights.  I walk past everyday on my way to and from the train station and work.

 

 

Went out for my co-worker, Shannon's, birthday.  Started out at the German Bierehaus next to work (and had pretzels!), then headed out to Palmer and Co, a 1920s themed lounge.  Plenty of wine, crazy made up stories, and retro dancing.  Highlight of the night- walking down George Street at the end of the evening with Rowan and Shannon rapping "Without Me" (Eminem) and "Fire Wire" (this is a Scottish trance song.  Was a big hit with my Highland dance group in 2001 when we traveled to Scotland.  Rowan is Scottish and was impressed I knew it.)  Apparently we made some random friends on the walk as well.

Spent an afternoon at Christina's house with Elaine (another co-worker) foiling Christina's hair, drinking wine and enjoying cheese and crackers.  My afternoon moved into evening and I stayed over till nine thirty chatting with Christina.  Once I was home I needed some comfort food and made up some birthday KD.  I ate the whole box to myself accompanied by chocolate milk while I wrote out my Christmas cards.

Did some early Christmas baking with Christina.  We turned on the AC and played some holiday tunes to make it seem like we were back home.  We made banana chocolate chip muffins and espresso brownies.  My half was gone the next day.

December first was the first day of summer.  Had a massage, then headed to Bronte Beach with Joel and his golf buddy Phil.  It was forty degrees and ridiculously hot, so the cool ocean water felt good.  It was so hot and humid at night we could barely sleep.  There is only AC downstairs.  We went to pick up an extra fan but due to the heat they were sold out!

Had a family skype!  We figured out how to (sort of) do a three way skype.   Mom and Dewey were in Kelowna visiting Omi and Opi, so I had the four of them plus Dad in Edmonton.

Went shopping for Xmas decorations with Christina and Josh.  Found the best statue ever downtown of a thug life child.  Not sure why it's there but it's awesome.

Finally got Joel to get his act together with our visa applications.  Waiting to hear back if we're approved for Australian Medicare (a requirement) and to pay the Canadian Consulate a visit to get Criminal Record Checks (another requirement).