Well! The Sydney trip turned out to be different than the expectation but isn’t that just the way of life? I arrived after a smooth flight from Hobart on Monday last week and checked into my hotel. I think that is when I may have last checked in. I went to the Kinokuniya book store and picked up Aphrodite’s Breath after reading Lisa’s review. It had been on my radar.
I read Limberlost by Robbie Arnott on the plane and was really enjoying it. It is such a Tassie book. Robbie writes about Tasmania like Tim Winton scatters Western Australia dust through his pages. They both have a deep understanding of their home states and are wonderful of getting it into their books.
Then Tues morning arrives and I was preparing to meet my friend for a day of photography but she got covid so that scuppered those plans. I had been looking forward to seeing her but we will catch up again. I hopped on a ferry and visited Taronga Zoo. I had fun with the camera and although I haven’t downloaded the photos yet I hope the young gorillas playing come out good. Will share that later.
Wednesday was the Tina Turner musical and I think of the hundreds of plays I have seen in my life this would be one of the best. I loved the energy, the inclusion of so many of the events of her life and the actor, Ruva Ngwenya was incredible. It was also so very sad hearing about her death on the same day I was enjoying the play. I saw her in concert twice in Melbourne in the 1990s as well as growing up with her and Ike’s music and stories for a lifetime. I don’t think there were many people at the play who were younger than 65.
Thursday I hopped on a crowded bus and went toBondi Beach to do some photography. Ended up sitting on a bench chatting to an 81 yr old man from Albury-Wodonga about the play we had both seen the previous day. He told me he went to see it. His wife and he loved dancing and did so several evenings a week during their married life until she went into care for dementia. I listened to his memories as though reading a book. I then got up and took some photos as I headed back to the city on an even more crowded bus. I really love sitting next to older people while travelling alone and hearing their stories. There are so many stories in the world and so many lonely people wanting to share them with someone.
Friday morning I woke up with a sore throat. I was quite tired Thursday so the sore throat didn’t surprise me. That’s what my body does when I’m tired. It had been a very busy week.
So back onto another delayed Qantas flight with the rest of Limberlost to occupy my time arrived home feeling worse. It felt so good to be back in my own bed. Saturday morning I tested positive for Covid and I haven;t done much since except take the anti virals and sleep. Monday arrived and now Mr P came down with it.
This week is dragging on a bit but I am thankful for vaccinations as I would have been much sicker without them though even with them this illness is not a walk in the park. I’m starting to feel human again. I now have the energy to do some laundry, pick up Hemingway;s book The Sun Also Rises for June book club. Maybe begin to download the photos I took. In the meantime I will share the phone pics I took of the opera house as the Vivid Event, running in Sydney now was being set up.
It’s good to be home and on the mend.
The photos scattered throughout this post are from the Sydney Harbour area.
With my friend out of commission or whatever happens on my trips, I can always count on the Penguin for company. Out last evening celebrating our week of surprises.
Travellin' Penguin 
Must have been a great musical. I hope to be able to see it somewhere, someday. Great photography as usual. Wonderful to make these small trips over a couple of days. Sorry to hear about your covid, but happy it was not so bad. I am grateful for my vaccinations.
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Lucky you, going to Kinokunia. 18 years after my visit to Kinokunia I’m still longing for another visit to that book heaven. Sigh. I enjoyed your pix. What bad luck, you didn’t see your friend AND you picked up Covid. Hope you & Mr P are recovering.
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Thank you. I find at times Kinokuniya is so big it is a bit overwhelming. So many distractions. Mr P and I have pretty much recovered. Thank you. 🌻
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Your experience further demonstrates that although Covid has all but disappeared from the news agenda over here, that it is still around. Lucky that you didn’t succumb fully until you got home – it seems doubly worse to be sick while away from home
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It is really on the increase in Australia especially for those who have never had it.
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There is another wave of vaccinations underway here in UK – my husband has just had his fiifth
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We had our 5th awhile ago too.
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At the pace our programme is progressing I might get mine in about October!
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Well, I’m glad you had a wonderful trip, but so sorry that you (and your friend) got Covid – take care and hope you and Mr P make a full and quick recovery. All 3 of my Offspring (plus Middle Child’s partner) have had it and been poorly in varying degrees (they’ve all had every vaccine they could have). I am trying to keep it away from our house as Mr. K is a bit vulnerable…
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Thank you Karen🦘❤️
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Great pics. Sydney makes me mad, how photogenic it is, the Harbour anyway. The words Sydney and Covid don’t fill me with joy either as it was Sydney’s undermining of the efforts of Vic and WA in particular that led to Covid getting out of control. Glad you’re getting well!
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I just take the same photos over and over in Sydney because I love the harbour so much.
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Ohmygosh! You and your friend both got COVID even though you didn’t meet up! How crazy is that??? I sure hope you’re both feeling better soon! Your pics are great and I love that parrot that came down to grab sugar!!!
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That little parrot was hilarious. They are such intelligent little creatures, and bossy!!
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Forgot to say I love your elderly kickass photographer outfit!!!
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That made me laugh.
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Beautiful pictures and I’m glad you got to see the light shows in Sydney along with everything else.
Also happy to hear you’re recovering from the Covid and that you’re able to do things a little bit more.
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Ohhhh, my goodness, I am glad you are on the mend, what a shame this had to happen.
Do take it easy while you recover, it’s a bit of beast in the way that it hangs around unwanted ‘afterwards’.
Best wishes to Mr P as well.
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Thank you Lisa. 🦘❤️
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