Planets in conjunction

It doesn't seem like much on the photo, but it was a major effort on my part to wake up an hour before sunrise (hours before my usual wakeup time) on a cold, late autumn morning to view this rare event when four planets move visually close together. Highest up was Jupiter, lower and brightest was Venus. To the right was my first ever sight of Mercury (small and nearest to the sun, surprisingly bright) and low down in the horizon, a faint glimpse of Mars.  Click on the image for a larger view.

Visit from Dad and Beo Lan

Dad and Beo Lan spent a week with us. Apart from doing the usual tourist things in Sydney, we also had a couple of days at the Hunter Valley enjoying the wine-tasting and food.


Click here for more phots of Dad and Beo Lan's visit.

Jetcat ride and a brush with the new Premier

We ran into the newly elected Premier of NSW Barry O'Farrell, the day after his landslide victory over Labor, doing his first casual interview with the media, and answering questions from reporters including David Marr.

We were waiting to board the jetcat at Parramatta ferry terminal . . . .

. . . . a trip that showed us many expensive houses on the way . . . .


. . . . gave us a different view of the University of Western Sydney,

and of course, a good view of the Harbour Bridge at the Circular Quay destination.

A day at Fort Denison

Few weeks ago, we went by ferry from the Circular Quay with the McGills and Allens to Fort Denison in the middle of Sydney Harbour. There we joined a guided tour and had lunch with the surrounding beautiful harbour view. Coincidentally, a "Getaway" TV crew was there filming an item on the historic island.

Photos of our visit to Fort Denison.

Celebrities

Photo opportunity - political celebrities in Epping.

Maxine McKew who defeated John Howard in the seat of Bennelong in 2007.

PM Kevin Rudd talking to our friend Michael Stove and his son. at the opening of McKew's office in Epping.

To Crandon

To Crandon, after 15 years association !

Christmas Lights 2009

This time of the year many Sydneysiders go to great extent in putting on Christmas lights.

They range from the basic . . . .

. . . to something quite elaborate . . . .

. . . where even their boats are decorated . . .


. . . their windows become a display of nic nacs . . .


. . . and house owners entertain children !

Regular lunch meeting with friends

Our regular lunches among some ex-Esso colleagues now include spouses. Here is one held back in winter, at our favourite Laksa place (To's) followed by coffee at a cafe.

Sculpture by the Sea

This event is held annually at Tamarama Beach near Bondi. The following a selection of this year's exhibits.

Duststorm

A major duststorm, the worst in 70 odd years, descended upon Sydney this morning. Early risers saw this image posted on the Sydney Morning Herald. But I was still fast alseep.

By the time I got down to town, it was more like this at lunch time . . . .

But the sky line around the Opera House, as viewed from Kirribilli, was still shrouded in dust.

and inside at home, a layer of dust covered everything.

Winter is Magnolia flowering time in Sydney

A well kept secret is the abundance of magnolias in Sydney, especially in the Epping, Beecroft and Cheltenham areas.

Revisiting Northern Beaches

Sydney's Northern Beaches have quite a few things to offer. We took a drive last week and revisted the Bahai Temple, watched the surfies battling the big waves at Avalon Beach and finally had a good meal at a Spanish restaurant at Avalon (no photos at the last place!).

Mothers' Day lunch

Delayed Mothers' Day lunch, at Spice Temple, Sydney CBD.

Autumn

Photo taken at Fox Valley Road, Turramurra.

It's been a long, long wait but the new Epping-Chatswood rail link is finally up and running. It's the first day and I was very impressed. New trains similar in style to the millennium trains. And no noise! Currently a quarterly hour shuttle service is is scheduled to be intergrated with the existing city-rail system by the end of the year. Cheers!

http://www.smh.com.au/national/epping-to-chatswood-rail-link-opens-20090223-8fg5.html

Kay's SCC

Kay had her SCC taken out in a simple operation that lasted only a few minutes. Here are the before and after photos !

Take home message : COVER UP ! See the dermatologist early.