Second photo post to bring me up to date - a trip to Sydney

Last weekend (2 - 5 Nov) David and I flew to Sydney to see the lovely Kirsty.

On board after a couple of hours in the Koru Lounge. Time flew in there, assisted by a couple of G&Ts for David and 3 chardonnays for me. Plus nibbles...

We stayed about 700 yards from Kirsty's flat, in the Urban Hotel in Newtown, . It used to be the RSL. It has a large atrium complete with tropical plants that are watered from on high, so not a place to sit, but certainly very cooling to look at when in the midst of a Sydney heatwave (38 degrees the day we arrived).

A pre-theatre chardonnay. Kirsty had very wisely arranged for us to go to the musical The Book of Mormon  on Saturday afternoon - the wisdom was two-fold: 1) we escaped the heat of the day in an air-conditioned theatre, and 2) the show was very irreligious and VERY funny. At intermission, David heard two sets of people organising rides home immediately, as they were not enjoying it at all. Must not have read much about it before purchasing tickets ...

A pre-theatre G&T for a grinning Mr McD, with reflections.

After the show we walked and walked to catch a train back to Newtown. In this upmarket shopping centre we saw a lovely shirt that I would have bought for David (at Rodd and Gunn). But even with 30% off it still would have cost $160AU and that was too much, esp for a pensioner ...

A few different architectural styles in the downtown area.

On Sunday morning and selfie: Mother, father and daughter: xxiixxiixxii

We went into the city on Sunday morning. After walking around The Rocks area, and down by the waterfront and under the Harbour Bridge, we had tea, sandwiches and scones at a little cafe, then back to the Museum of Contemporary Art for me while David and Kirsty sat outside people-watching. I went to the David Goldblatt photgraphic exhibition. He's a South African photographer whose work tells stories. (He died in June this year.) If his exhibition comes to an art gallery or museum near you, do go and see it. Very moving stuff. Mostly it's photos of people, but not all ...

This is not well photographed by me, but it really struck me as a commentary on apartheid-era South Africa.

Coming in to Wellington, David was checking speed, height, direction, ...

Approaching landing in Wellington

That flat piece of land is the airport. It rose up in an earthquake in the 1840s I think.

And when we got home, this is what one of our rhododendrons looked like. It's not visible in the photo, but I think the wildflowers that have self seeded several times in the last 3 years, are starting to sprout again! They are lovely, but the cornflowers do rather overwhelm everything else and inhibit other growth. I am probably going to have to be ruthless and pull them out.