Goodbye to the Sydney Monorail

After 25 years of service, the Sydney Monorail made it's final loop of the city tonight. It will be dismantled later on in the year to make way for the Sydney Light Rail which will see a welcome return of trams to the city's streets.

We managed to go for a ride on the Monorail before it's closure, here is a picture:

The monorail train approaching Harbourside Station

Rain Rain Rain!

You'll all be pleased to know that it's been raining almost non-stop for the last week! Today we visited the Australian Museum to view the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

Bruce in Hyde Park with St Mary's Cathedral in the background

The Australian Museum

Australian King Parrot

We were joined at my Auntie Lynn's by a couple of Australian King Parrots.

More info on the Australian King Parrot here.

Male King Parrot

Male King Parrot

 Female King Parrot on the left

Auntie Lynn's Birthday

Today we visited my Auntie Lynn and family up in the Blue Mountains to celebrate her 61st Birthday.

Here is a location map:


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Happy Birthday!!!

Rusty

Today we adopted this little guy from a dog shelter in North Sydney.

He is a Miniature Australian Fox Terrier (Mini Foxy) and had been at the shelter for 4 years. We couldn't understand why as he is adorable and the shelter staff seemed to genuinely love him; a few even cried for joy when they heard we were adopting him!

We’ve named him Rusty and so far he’s settling in really well. His favourite past-times include lazing in the sunshine and chasing his Kong toy around the apartment.

Rusty and his Kong (stuffed with treats!)

Still trying to get the treats out.

Bored now!

Snuggling up with Daddy

Fast asleep!

Vivid Festival of Light

The Vivid Festival of light brightens up the dark winter evenings here in Sydney, when each year around sixty light installations and projections are put on display at the Opera House and around Circular Quay.

Here is a location map:


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The Museum Of Contemporary Art lit up by projected light display

Another projected light display at the Museum of Contemporary Art

Bruce enjoying the show

The Harbour Bridge with Walsh Bay wharf in the foreground

The Sydney Opera House lit up by projected light display

The Sydney Opera House lit up by projected light display

The Sydney Opera House lit up by projected light display

The Sydney Opera House lit up by projected light display

The Hunter Valley

This long weekend, Chris and I went on a trip to the Hunter Valley. It was my treat to make up for all the weekends I’ve had to spend at work recently.

One of Australia’s oldest and most famous wine producing regions, the Hunter Valley is well known for its picturesque (almost English) rolling hills and vineyards. We stayed at Spicers Vineyard Estate, a picturesque lodge just on the fringe of the winery region.

We arrived on Sunday and spent the day wine tasting before having an outrageously expensive (but delicious) meal at the estate’s own restaurant.

Monday wasn't quite as sunny (as you’ll see from the pictures) but we did have fun visiting a historic valley town (Wollombi) and then driving home through one of Australia’s largest National Parks – The Wollemi National Park.

Here is a location map:


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The entrance to Scarborough Wine Co.

Chris outside Scarborough Wine Co.

Blueberry Hill Vineyard who make the nicest Merlot we've ever tasted!

The view from Blueberry Hill Vineyard

Directions at Blueberry Hill Vineyard

Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard tasting rooms

On the veranda at Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard

The view from Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard

Bruce at Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard

A family of Wallabies, Wallaroos and Kangaroos!!

A lone Wallaroo

The Hunter Valley at sunset from Mount View Lookout

Log fire blazing away in our room

Our hotel, the Spicers Vineyard Estate

Bruce admiring the view from our room

Our room

His (Chris) and her's (Bruce) sinks

Chris outside the hotel

Another one of the hotel

Bottlebrush

The hotel pool - too cold to swim in unfortunately!

Weird chairs...

...which Bruce rather liked sitting in.

Hotel lounge and lobby

Hotel lounge

Hotel pigs!

Historic village of Wollombi

Autumn in Wollombi

Bruce at the Penang Mountain Gardens

Amazing rainbow following a brief torrential downpour!