Me, Dave, Caz and Adam all arrived in Oz within an hour of each other, having all taken different flights from London. It was some horrible hour like 7 in the morning when I landed. Having circled for an hour in North Sydney waiting for the bad weather to pass. What can I say, welcome to Sydney. We brought the weather with us. ;-)
We weren't able to book into the apartment we had until 2pm. So with a few hours to kill, and feeling and possibly smelling like the undead, we descended on the soon-to-be-weds. I can safely say there is nothing better after a 24+ flight than having a full english breakfast, a glass of bucks fizz, and seeing your friend dressed up as a hula girl.
A present from Dave, he picked it up on his way back from his visit to Sydney at New Year, on a stopover in Haiwaii. We don't think this should have made it into Sydney, what with it being made of real grass, and Australia having the whole no "food, plant material and animal products " thing.
We got to the apartment to check in at 2.
Our apartment was at the Meriton Rialto serviced apartments on Pitt Street. So we were within walking distances of most places, Darling Harbour, the Opera House, Circular Quay, Royal Botanical Gardens, and of course the bridge, which we could actually see from the balcony. We got an apartment right up on the 49th Floor, (they only went up to 51 and they were for permanent residents.) We did have some great views, with floor to ceiling windows all the way round the apartment, as well as the balcony. It was spacious, with one bedroom and en suite, and 2 more bedrooms and a bathroom, kitchen and living room with a large dining table.
After a little catnap, which I think we all deserved, we headed out to meet up with Rach and Kev. Our first call The Australian. A pub listed in the guide book as being usually full of English people. There's no real surprise there. It's a good pub, serving great gourmet pizzas. I had my first taste of Kangaroo, Emu, Salt Water Crocodile, proper aussie seafood, and duck (ok not so aussie but nice all the same) all on pizzas. They were fantastic.
After we had our fill we headed for the Lord Nelson, the pub and brewery supplying the beer for the wedding, so that we could try out the chosen beers for ourselves.
As you can see, for people who've spent a large majority of the past 36 hours in some sort of zombie like state crossing time zones, we're looking surprisingly perky.
You maybe able to just pick out on the table there the Terry Jumper. Yes it's still alive and being worn by Kev, though it is starting to fray. I think we should all club together and get him a new one made, and maybe a matching on for his bride-to-be.
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Terry - A live but ill
