(no subject)
Nice road trip this weekend down to Sydney and back - visited another set of Mg's relations who were incredibly warm & welcoming. All military people & deeply @#$@# conservative ("Bring back the White Australia policy!" one said, to the general acclaim of all but Mg & me), so it's great that they make so much room in their lives for Mg & gf. At the same time, being around conservative, chain-smoking, heavy-drinking macho-minded types was a bit wearing. Reminded me of H @ times & once again felt happy to have moved on.
M & I also went to opera house in Sydney - I've wanted to go for ages, and it was as satisfying as hoped for. Big scale performance of St John's Passion, w/ choir of 120 - totally great. Dozing a bit by the end of it, as is not infrequently the case w/ 3 hour classical pieces. But it was wonderful. :) Also did much touristy breakfasting on Circular Quay, and wandering around botanical gardens & the art gallery of NSW; v relaxing & fun.
Then drove back w/ detour to Mg's home town of Gosford (used to be a vibrant small seaside village; now run down, poor city), random visit to Newcastle, up through lovely, lovely "Thunderbolt's way" back road to Armidale where stopped overnight, New England Highway home through Cunningham's gap. All fabulous views, curvy roads. Mg and I great on road trips, I have discovered! She is not as self-conscious as H was, so we can sing off key together - what could be more fun ? We played many hymns in honour of Easter - I like the rousing ones heaps eh. And fun podcasts - 2 Vinyl Cafe episodes, aot ....
11 year old's b-day today will be the occasion for visit to Sizzler - hilarious and hopefully fun. I grow more calloused re screaming kid chaos as I get on. (Do they have Sizzler in Cda? Huge chain w/ buffet of salads and desserts - sugar & fat on tap - children clambering on top of one another to access the hot fudge ....)
M & I also went to opera house in Sydney - I've wanted to go for ages, and it was as satisfying as hoped for. Big scale performance of St John's Passion, w/ choir of 120 - totally great. Dozing a bit by the end of it, as is not infrequently the case w/ 3 hour classical pieces. But it was wonderful. :) Also did much touristy breakfasting on Circular Quay, and wandering around botanical gardens & the art gallery of NSW; v relaxing & fun.
Then drove back w/ detour to Mg's home town of Gosford (used to be a vibrant small seaside village; now run down, poor city), random visit to Newcastle, up through lovely, lovely "Thunderbolt's way" back road to Armidale where stopped overnight, New England Highway home through Cunningham's gap. All fabulous views, curvy roads. Mg and I great on road trips, I have discovered! She is not as self-conscious as H was, so we can sing off key together - what could be more fun ? We played many hymns in honour of Easter - I like the rousing ones heaps eh. And fun podcasts - 2 Vinyl Cafe episodes, aot ....
11 year old's b-day today will be the occasion for visit to Sizzler - hilarious and hopefully fun. I grow more calloused re screaming kid chaos as I get on. (Do they have Sizzler in Cda? Huge chain w/ buffet of salads and desserts - sugar & fat on tap - children clambering on top of one another to access the hot fudge ....)