Sydney - by air!

today, I finally got to do a hell-flight over the CBD of Sydney, but it almost didn't eventuate!! A little thing called FOG had set in! It was early, it was think and it hung around!

BUT, I arrived out at Bankstown, and we had to wait a little bit, and constantly checking the webcams for the area. The aircraft, an R44, would be going out at max MTOW as there was four onboard; Pilot flying (training), Pilot Trainer, another learner (who'd later do his first solo) and little ole me!

The planned routing would be departing Bankstown, turning right at Rosehill, then following the Parramatta River, flying over the Southern Pylon of the Sydney harbour Bridge. then onwards to Goat Island near Rose Bay, U turn and back to Bankstown. Along the way, there was some pretty amazing sites, even with the remaining fog about the place!

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney

Sydney Opera House and CBD

'Carnival Spirit' in Circular Quay

Gladesville Bridge

ANZ Stadium - Home of the Sydney 2000 Olympics

I am SO grateful for being given the opportunity of doing this flight, it was a b'day present, and for the pilot flying, who was finishing his endorsement on the day… I had a BALL of a time!

Hoo roo for now...

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Vivid Sydney's back in town!!

Well folks, its THAT time again, when VIVID SYDNEY is back in town, which can only mean one thing.... A WET opening night!! Yes, on Friday night when Vivid opened and turned on the lights, the heavens also opened!

We drove into town and we parked (fairly easily) around near pier one. This is about a 2-3 minute walk around to Dawes Point, right opposite the Sydney Opera House! But, as we were getting out of the car (the camera bags didn't even make it out) it hammered down rain, and I mean HAMMERED! So, we jumped back in, and opted for a short drive up to Observatory Hill and the safety of a rotunda up there! Unfortunately though, we also shared it with a half dozen or so young girls (I won't use the word 'ladies' as not even on a tough building site, have I heard language these 'girls' were using)!

We set up our gear, and got a few shots... Some with clear skies...

Sydney Harbour Bridge - Observatory Hill

Sydney Harbour Bridge - Observatory Hill

And some with the rain falling...

Sydney Harbour Bridge - Observatory Hill

On the Saturday, after moving furniture all day with a mate, we ventured back in for some more photography; this time though, from the Cahill Expressway across Circular Quay. There was a P&O cruise ship there (Pacific Pearl) and this was used as a backdrop - VERY cool!!

We then we ventured further along the pathway and started crossing the Harbour Bridge for Milsons Point. We stopped just past the Southern Pylon, which gave us a pretty nice view of the Opera House. Here is a short video of the Opera House shots I took...

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

I will be going in again during the week, with a mate here in Sydney, a German friend coming back to Sydney (currently in Byron Bay) and who ever wants to go, drop me a comment, email or an SMS and we'll meet up!!

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday No. 82 Afternoon Moon

Afternoon Moon

Hoo roo for now...

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Looking looking looking...

SOME of you may know, that recently, I have been on 'tenterhooks' for the last 18 weeks, well yesterday, it all came to a head… Finally, after 5 weeks since interview, yes thats right FIVE WEEKS, I was told that I was unsuccessful in an application for a position that would have kept me employed. In that time, not a phone call to advise of a delay, not an email to tell us whats happening, no, nothing, which really only added to the stresses of the process!

Now, I DO understand that there is a process involved with recruitment, but the way in which I found out, was, simply atrocious!! I was at my desk, when a person came up into the office, and although this person most likely had NO IDEA I was there, proceeded to tell person 2, that XX had announced that XYZ has got the job! After a couple of seconds silence, I then heard a door close… I was, needless to say, ropable, and I simply wanted to get out of there, there and then! But, I am better than that, and when my Manager came out into the office later on an unrelated matter, I aired my disgust. To the credit of him, he was equally mortified, not only the way in which I discovered the news, but in the way in which it was all handled!

Later in the morning though, I was 'summoned' up into the big office, where I was officially informed of the decision… So, for now, I am still 'viably' employed until everything and everyone is recruited, sometime in July, and at that time, I will become 'excess'! So today, after a sleepless night due to Monday's news, I had a day off to catch up on sleep, not that I got that much.

Instead, I mowed the nature strip first, then my front lawn. next up, the back lawn, and hung out a load of washing, and stripped the bed, and washed the sheets. I then got out some flannelette sheets, as it is getting cooler now!! Late in the afternoon though, I finally managed to get some banking done, but I had to travel to Rooty Hill to deposit some cheques! Dinner is in, a simple pie and baked spuds with peas and gravy. Its an interesting night on the box tonight, so I will simply chill, relax and 'try' not to get stressed anymore!

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday No. 81 My Office

My Office - Upper Level



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In other news, it has been a very busy week... With last weekend being Mother's Day on Saturday, I removed the aged Murraya's from the back garden and replanted some Gardenia's. Sunday, I spent time at mum's in the morning (western edge of Sydney) then over to Christines (eastern edge of Sydney) for lunch! I was tired by the time I got home! Sunday night, whilst watching TV and chilling, I saw an image of mine being used on a show, and not to long after, I was getting messages about it!! Work has been more than a little 'stressful', and I am busy planning my trip to Beijing, and I will more than likely include Prague and Oslo as an extension. Today, I am hoping to have an early night, work stress is exhausting, and then Thursday, nothing major is planned, which is not to say it wont happen either! Friday - I am off on a rec day, so I will not be at work, and I am being taken somewhere for something!! I have no idea what! No doubt, photos will follow... Stay Tuned!

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday No. 80 - Cooks River Sunset

Cooks River Sunset - Sydney

Hoo roo for now...

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Clutch Problems...

Over the weekend, I started to develope a problem in the car; the clutch was begining to give out... The amount of 'resistance' or pressure in the pedal was getting less and less to the point where on Sunday morning when I went over to the shops, I was sitting at the traffic lights (First Gear - clutch IN) and the car was wanting to move forward on its own!! So it was becoming urgent!

So my days plans changed, and instead of going to a 4yo birthday party (and getting stuck either on the way there or home afterwards), I stayed at home.

Monday morning, I dropped the car at the mechanic's (2nd gear all the way and only about a 2-3 min drive), dropped the key in the mailbox, and headed into work. Around 7.30, I called Leo, and asked him if he was "surprised to see my car waiting for him"? We chatted about what it was doing, and I resigned myself to upwards of a $2,000 mechanics bill!

Late in the afternoon, around 2pm, I got "THE CALL", and to my relief, it wasn't the clutch at all, but the 'Slave Cylinder' that assist's the clutch's operation; the seals had gone and had been losing fluid into the cabin; between the firewall and the carpet!

So, even though it had a service at the same time, replacement of the slave cylinder and fluids etc, I got the car back about 5pm last night, and I am only $786 the poorer!!

Hoo roo for now...

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A 'Stitch-in-Time'

You use this proverb to say that it is better to spend a little time to deal with problems or act right now than wait. If you wait until late, things will get worse, and it will take much longer to deal with them. It is often shortened to "A stitch in time." This proverb expresses a similar idea to that of "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".

But, that is not what I am posting about, if anything, it is the opposite! I had seen an example of this photo the other day, and thought, "I'd like to try that one day..."! Well, that day came about, last night! I threw caution to the wind, and in a split second decision, I set it up, fired off four frames, and this was the result!

Needle & Thread

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday No. 79 - A Sydney Moon

Sydney Moon 27 April 2013

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday No. 78 - Egypt & Dubai

Horseman at Pyramid

Dubai

Dubai

Hoo roo for now...

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