Five days in Sydney and I feel like I could conquer the world.
Virgin Blue have a fantastic attitude. The instructions on the overhead announcements were hilarious!
On my trip from Brisbane to Sydney I heard the following:
"Be sure to remove all baggage, and small children from the overhead lockers,"
"Mark will now be coming up the isle to collect your rubbish, jewellery and phone numbers."
"Please remember that there is no smoking permitted on the tar-mac, or anywhere at all in Australia."
Funny, yes, though I must say, it was a little daunting when the instructions were given to me in preparation for the unlikely event of an emergency landing (I was sitting in on wing exit row,) the woman had a smile as wide as her whole face, asking me to keep the door shut and locked if a fire broke out. I took notice, and have noted for future flights, to head for the rear exit in the event of a wing-fire.
When I touched down I was whisked straight off to my brother's football game. He's in the Men's A-Grade team for the Cronulla Sharks, one level below the professional teams we see on TV. They lost to Manly ... it was so disappointing. It was an excellent game all the same - dead even until the second half of extended overtime.
Luke and I after the game.
And a team shot, the Sharks watching the other team receive their medals. There are no medals for runners-up at this level. And apparently, no three-cheers either.
On Sunday we occasioned the Cronulla Spring Fair, walking around the street markets near the beach, watching the concert space in the outdoor mall. There was an African fusion band that I really liked. I really miss listening to World music.
The rest of the day I spent time with my dad learning the guitar. Then he went to work and I snuck back into the room to practise. He has a whole studio room with the most fantastical guitars and amps and things, I really wanted to take that opportunity to measure if I'd like to climb further into practicing a musical instrument.
I also went searching through his computer for old photos of myself (as you do) and stumbled upon this gem from a few years ago.
For a change of pace on Monday, we three, (Dad, my step-mother and I,) indulged in a trip down the coast to Wollongong for a seafood lunch. Then further south to Berry for an absolutely lovely afternoon tea, and a little strolling around an antiques-and-things type of town until the sun went down. I bought myself three hand towels, which were only $2 each. Visitation recommendations.
Tuesday then, September 11th, marked my dad's 51st birthday. He opened his prezzies in the morning (mine, being an engraved bookmark and the most sentimental card imaginable,) then Trish was off to work while we went for another walk down the beach with their (intelligent, yet rather too excitable) dog, Tia. We spent the morning dodging blue-bottles, and throwing a tennis ball into the shallows. We then visited my step-mother at her Bridal Shop in Kirrawee where I had the most incredible salad roll. It was $2.50 and Asian - very different, and delicious. After that, we watched yet another movie in the all-too-enticing 'cinema room' as they call it, where a projector exists as a permanent fixture hanging overhead.
Finally, we visited another seafood restaurant on Tuesday night, where an incredible platter was presented, making a very happy fifty-one year old birthday-boy, as well as his three esteemed guests.
Wednesday: time to go home. Lexiphanic, the darling, drove north for an hour to fumble about in the Sunshine City while waiting for his beloved to disembark another aircraft, for a 10:50pm landing.
Final reflection: My step-mother, as usual, is impossible. My father, as usual, is an inspiration. He has risen above the misery in the world through his life, moving from strength to strength, while still retaining his ridiculous sense of humour. From a caravan buried out the back of my grandpa's house, when I was 5, to, 15 years on, owning a $1.8 million dollar house on the coastline of Sydney. He remains a man whom I continually attempt to take example from.
Now, who's got a spare guitar I can buy for fifty bucks? I think I'm going to start learning. 
But I'm sure we'll bump into you lot today
Definitely see you later this arvo/evening