For some totally unknown reason Colin G, Leigh and myself thought it would be a great idea to go diving with sharks.
We got up early and got the Manly ferry over to the oceanarium. Oli and the kids were going to drive over a little later as there was a training session for us and we could not get every one into the car.
We arrived a little early and decided to go for a little walk around and see the sharks.... BAD BAD IDEA!!!. we were even more scared. Our diver arrived about 15mins later and took us for a quick tour and introduced us to all the sharks. He knew them all by name. You should have seen the look on Leigh's face when he told us they were 25% bigger than they look, as the glass makes everything smaller. After some more scary facts about how the sharks are 3.5m long and about 1m wide!!! Everything is huge.. the 2 turtles are about 5 feet long.
We were then shown back into the aquarium and we had to sign all the documents to say what we are doing is dangerous and stupid and do it at our own risk. We also had to sign a form to basically say if we panic and grab a shark and die then its all our fault.
The next part of the scary build up was watching the introduction film.. which started with the Jaws music and had lots of close ups of the teeth! Honestly, I think if we could have backed out then and not lost face we probably would have. Then came the slightly calmer part about sign language under water and the basic tasks that we are going to need to do like clearing the mask, taking the respirator out and in, etc etc.
We were then taken down into the bowels of the building and given wet suits and weight belts to change into. After suiting up we were given our breathing equipment and we got into the training pool which was connected to the main aquarium. The first shock was as we looked through the connecting passage we could see the large dorsel fin swimming past. We then all performed our basic tasks including a press up on the floor of the pool to make sure we had enough weight attached.
One by one we dropped into the main pool and saw the main attractions.
Suddenly all our worries about the diving were gone and were much more concerned about the muckle great sharks with very very pointy teeth.
We then walked along the bottom of the pool past rays, smaller sharks and turtles, one of which bumped into Leigh. The turtles are a bit dim. The same turtle bumped into a poll three times!
Oli and the kids were watching us from the observation walkway and they had lots of fun shouting and laughing at us.
We were underwater for 30 minutes, but it passed so quickly. It was an incredible experience and it was very tempting to touch them as they brushed passed you at less than a couple of feet. We were then led back the way we came and taken back into the training pool and then out for a nice hot shower. It was starting to get a little chilly towards the end.
The diver also took a short video clip that I have uploaded too
We were all a bit stunned and the adrenalin was still pumping as we left to go and meet up with Oli and kids.
Yesterday we went to Luna Park for the day and we all surprised ourselves by how much fun we had. We did the proper Sydney thing and took the ferry - all we needed to do was jump on a bus up to Balmain and then the 9-minute ferry to Milson's Point.
We all had unlimited rides passes (including the kids) so we did our best to get our monies worth - Tango train, Ferris wheel, Wild Mouse, Spider, Tumblebug, Jolly Roger, Carousel, Dodgems, U Drive, Space shuttle, Magic castle, Whirly wheel and the Mega Drop.
Not all of us did all the rides but Adam amazed us by going o n the Wild Mouse (like the Mouse trap in Alton Towers for those that have been there) and not freaking out and then going on it again (he needed to be accompanied by an adult so the first time he went with Oli and then with Colin/Daddy). We all did go on the dodgems and the Ferris wheel with some amazing views - including some man who had just caught some huge fish (Marlin I think)
The one ride that only the Colins and I did was the Mega Drop - you get lifted up and dropped ....................................
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46 metres to the deck. I think it is fair to say that a few naughty words were heard on the shores of Sydney at the time.
Oli and I went on a few rides and I hate to admit it, screamed like girls!!
We got up fairly early, taking our picnic, and got the bus to town and then a ferry to the island. The island is a nature reserve and is limited to only 500 people. It was incredible, we set off at 10:30 and were back in the city by 3pm.
We sat eating our sandwiches while watching the chaos that is the start of the race.
After all the boats had sailed out past the heads we had nearly 90 minutes until the boat picked us up again, so Colin and I decided to go swimming. The water was very pleasant once you got over the initial shock! It was quite amasing to go swimming with the Opera House and Bridge looking down on you.
Christmas Day was a very calm affair this year. We got up, opened presents and then ate until we burst. The kids were up at 7am which was pretty good. They quickly scampered down stairs and proclaimed that Santa had been. He also ate the mince pie and Rudolph ate the carrot.
Emily got a Pram/Cot/Car Seat for her doll, and Adam a Transformer. There was an excess of presents this year as Colin and Oli also had their presents too.
After all the present opening and the obligatory second breakfast of chocolate pancakes we set about preparing the BBQ. We had 3 types of salad, bacon, fillet steak, chicken and burgers. YUM!!!!.
The kids passed out about 7pm and we then played scrabble in the garden for the next couple of hours and drank wine.
Yesterday, Colin G and I jumped out a perfectly good aircraft from 14,000 feet. Don't ask why as I and the other Colin have absolutely no idea. But thanks to David and Ryann for their voucher, I took the plunge.
The day before we hired an 8 seater Toyota and at 8oc in the morning we headed off for Wollongong, 80kms south of Sydney. We got to the office just in time to be told we were taking off in 20mins. Colin and I signed our lives away and declared that if we died we wouldnt sue anyone. We were then told to put on lovely blue trousers and that our instructors would be along shortly.
Dougg (my instructor) and Redeye (Colin's), arrived and helped us put on our harnesses. We then got our 5mins of instruction on what to do and after a bit of faffing about and a few final trips to the toilet we headed off in the mini-bus to the local regional airport. About 30mins later we were shuffled into the small plane.
Once up in the air, it was a 20minute flight to reach the jump altittude. 14 very very high thousand feet. The view was amasing, although slightly disconcerting that the only thing between me and the ground was a thin plastic shutter. I wasnt even attached to the instructor and more importantly the parachute at this point. About 5mins out we had a quick chat with our instructors to remind us what to do and were then attached. The point of no return was approaching at a rapid speed. I was told I would be third out the plane. The buzzer then went and the roller was lifted. The first couple of guys then fell out. If you have seen a Bond film where the guys get sucked out a small window when the cabin pressure goes. It looks just like that!!!
We quickly shuffled along and then JUMPED!!...
The free fall takes about 60 seconds and I pretty much screamed the whole way down. Its just a surreal experience watching the ground get closer to you very quickly. We even fell straight through a cloud. I managed to eat some!!
The parachute was then pulled. Thankfully it opened alrighty and we drifted back to land.. PHEW!!!
I even got a shot at controlling the chute by pulling on the guide cords. Left to go left.. etc.. But if you pull them both, you slow so quickly that you feel that you are almost stationary.
After spinning round a few times, which my stomach really didnt agree with. We landed smoothly and I was very happy to feel the ground under my feet.
Colin G landed fine too and we were both rather relieved to have made it in one piece.
If you want to experience the whole thing.. I have uploaded the full video of me screaming like a girl. BTW.. I asked the kids what silly faces I was to make to the camera.. so they were their idea!!!.
The day after Kinda Dance Show was the Christmas Party.
It was great, cos the weather was really nice, so everyone was outside. They had a bouncy castle and lots of food and face painting.
As you can see, although may not be obvious, Adam and Emily were painted as Penguins, Emily was a penguin fairy!!!!
They jumped about with their friends for about 15mins and then SANTA arrived. Looking mightily hot in 25 degree sun. One by one the kids names were read out and they went up to collect their gift. Adam was great and went up shook Santa's hand and said thank you. Emily on the other had was slightly less than happy and hid behind my leg. Aunt Olivia has been encouraging her adverse feelings towards the man from the Arctic.
Adam received a "mountain racing car", which he liked although he thought that this was his main present and was slightly miffed that it wasn't a Transformer. I had to convince him that this was just a starter present to stop the excitement causing him to explode. This seemed to appease him and he is since been asking everyday when Christmas is.... Adam "so its not tomorrow or the next day or the next day or the next day..... but the day after???" and then proceeds to show me by counting fingers.
Emily's present was a tiara.. this did not go down so well and proceeded to be dropped to the floor straight away and she went on a search for something more to her liking. When I returned to collect them a few hours later Emily had managed to commandeer a ball.
I left them to go back to work only to return to find the face paint now smeared over their cloths, hands, ears and a little left on their faces. Anyway, nothing that a bit of Jiff and wire wool didn't fix.
Last week was Adam's Kinda Dance Christmas Show. He does a singing and dance class at nursery once a week, where they basically jump around like lunes for a couple of hours..you can always tell when Adam has done Kinda as he comes home and goes to sleep very quickly.
I went down to Nursery and watched as Adam and his friends performed such hits and "The Dentist", while copying the dance teacher who has that very nice, but slightly deranged character.
It was a good laugh and Adam obviously stole the show .
Last week, Oli, a whole bunch of ex-pats and I went to see Billy Elliot the Musical - which was FANTASTIC. Bizarrely, although we have already seen it, the premiere was this week as Elton John was in town - he did the music.
As Tor who organised the night for us had bought the tickets months ago, we were about five rows from the front - thankfully there was not repeat of what happened at Swan Lake - sweat being thrown off the lead dancer!
In case, you don't know the story, it is set during the miners' strike, hence the Maggie Thatcher songs. As it is set around Newcastle, there were translations in the program for those that didn't understand the accents and slang.
I know it is only showing in London and Sydney, and then eventually New York, but if you get the chance, you should definitely go - I am thinking of going again.
Well, not quite nippers yet, but both Adam and Emily have been promoted to the next class in swimming. Adam is now a frog and Emily an early tadpole. Most annoyingly, Adam's classes have to be in the afternoon next term (after school!!!) but they don't run Emily's class at the same time so I will be going to the pool twice a week/day!
(picture courtesy of Uncle Colin's underwater camera)
I am feeling like a proper Aussie now - I went to the doctor to get a (only slightly) suspicious mole checked . . . and the doctor decided to remove it there and then - THUD (that was my Mum fainting) - a lot of local anaesthetic and five stitches later, my mole is gone - it was quite big - about the size of a one pence/five cent. I was feeling fine until the anaesthetic wore off and now I am a little sore.
Oli & Colin arrived on Sunday (their luggage arrived on Monday) and we nearly killed them by trying to keep them active and showing them some of the main tourist bits in the city.
They have left us already - gone to Brisbane but they are back on Saturday - they were meant to return on Sunday but we are such good hosts they changed their flight.
On Sunday (25th Nov) we, and about 50,000 other Sydneysiders, went into the city to watch the inaugural Sydney Christmas Parade.
About 60 floats, marching bands, groups and Miss Teen Australia all walked past as we waved and sang along (although Christmas carols about snow in 30 degree heat is not right!)
Although we don't live in Glebe, we still visited the Glebe Street Fair again this year - although with our weekly visit to our local market, the Glebe Fair wasn't quite as impressive as it was last year.
A couple of highlights were the man cutting silhouettes in two minutes with practically one cut
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