Mum and Dads trip to Sydney!

Just said a teary farewell to my parents at Wellington Airport after their 5 week trip to New Zealand for Christmas in the sun!!!!! I met up with them on the 30th November 'across the ditch' in Sydney. Sydney had been sweltering in a heatwave with temperatures up to 40 degrees in the few days before they arrived but unfortunately it dropped to 19 degrees and windy while we were there!!!! At least it made it bearable to be able to walk around and explore what the City had to offfer!!!!
Aerial view of Sydney from the plane, you can just see the Harbour Bridge but the Opera House is hiding behind a cloud!












View from our hotel window!












We walked through the surprising beautiful and very tranquil Chinese Gardens which are right in the middle of the City in Darling Harbour.


































































































































































Fountain in Hyde Park




























First view of the Harbour Bridge!






































Christmas trees in a flower bed!!!!




















































Cool trees in the Botanical Gardens

We went to the Aquarium

Saw 1000s of bats hanging out in the trees in the Botanical Gardens and then at night they fly out over the City, Batman style!!!!

Kangaroo at Wildlife World

Parrots in the trees at the Botanical Gardens

These noisy Cockatoos are wild and just live in the Botanical Gardens!

A lizard soaking up the rays in the Chinese Garden!!!!!

We caught a bus to Coogee Beach and walked along the coast to Bondi!!!!!

We stopped for coffee and cake at Bronte Beach!

Every beach seems to have its own swimming pool!

Weird rock at Bondi

Bondi Beach!

Surfing Dudes

Cool paddling dudes!!!!

The Sydney Opera House!

Cruise ship leaving Sydney!

Merry Christmas from sunny Wellington!!!!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from us all in Sunny Wellington!!!!!
Christmas Morning in the spa!





























Our Pohutakawa tree (New Zealand Christmas tree) has come out in flower just in time!!!










































Mum peeling the spuds. We sweated our way through a traditional Christmas dinner this year, although I did forget the gravy!!!!!
















The turkey well and truly stuffed!










































Last of the carnivores!














Mum may have to wait until she gets back to the UK to play that one!!!! Had to explain to the man in the CD store that it was not for me!!!! He reckoned he had heard that one before!










We must have been good all year because we were all spoilt by Santa!

My starfish earrings!

Robs new drum throne......when I told the man in the music store that it was for playing the drums for 'Guitar Hero' his head almost spun round, once he recovered he suggested I buy the cheapest model!!!!! Redeemed only by the fact that I explained that Rob had had proper drum lessons in the past!

rob, of course, had to take the opportunity to demonstrate how his new drum throne would improve his playing!

Prancing around in my new PJ's, thank you Hels!

Rob and a very heavily pregnant Nicola at our Boxing Day BBQ

Si, Nicki and Rich

It has been the hottest day of the year so far!

Grace, Emma and Zach in the spa, they had been warned not to pee but nobody seemed to want to get in after them!

Salmon and mushrooms on the BBQ