Mini Monday/Tuesday Missive Massive......

G'Day Possums !

It has come to my attention that a number of folks are concerned we have been fried somewhere in Australia. So, I can assure everyone that we are perfectly safe and now staying currently with friends in Sydney; the time with Jan & Sam was supposed to be at Jervis Bay in the Shoalhaven but with so many fire warnings we gave that a swerve. Dennis has therefore been reunited with his new mate TED, and is having a great time. He explored the doggie beach in the Harbour at Rose Bay yesterday and even managed a bit of paddle-boarding ! Suffice to say he was shattered by the evening and the two dogs performed synchronised sleeping.....

 

Yesterday morning we walked from Clovelly to Tamarama in the Eastern Suburbs and revisited old haunts which were great to show Dennis (he was slightly nonplussed)
Great people watching and very busy and I think most people have stayed at home rather than their usual holiday destinations. 

Centennial Park always used to be a favourite walk for me with Barbara & Kota so was keen to walk Dennis there. Another result of the lack of rain was the unbelievable dryness of the Park and the low water levels in the lakes throughout the park. Very sad to see particularly when we walked Dennis and Ted later at the University of Sydney Sports Ground and the luscious green, very well watered, ovals were plain to see despite Level 2 Water restrictions - certainly see where the money is! That said, Dennis was in ecstasy as he rolled in the green rich grass.

Our travel plans at this stage are being very much affected by all the fires, and our route planning has taken a number of twists and turns to say the least; and is still an ongoing dilemma. Our plan to head down to Victoria is very likely to be shifted too. Right now, a Container ship back to New Zealand is looking quite attractive...
Worthy of mention is that Von actually got onto National ABC Radio yesterday afternoon and put our dilemma to the Nation as to where we should go. Consensus is to head North along the Coast so watch out Doyles and Tylers; a white Van heading your way!!

To recap to the beginning of the week, we had a great Christmas in Kangaroo Valley and managed to forget the fires briefly and for the Face-bookers amongst our readers they were treated to my Annual Drama Queens Speech ! ....this has become a 'thing' and is now in its 6th year. I have created a Monster hahaha, and is a reason why my blog is a smidge late so apologies. Prawns obviously on the menu and a massive glazed ham which will be feeding everyone for a few weeks yet.
Kangaroo Valley also has a new Indian restaurant which we managed two visits to inbetween some re-sorting of contents in the van. Von used more power tools to create a better seating arrangement for Dennis which, so far, has been a success.

 Xmas Day

 PRAWNS !

So it's NEW YEAR in Sydney for us. Jan & Sam have very good connections and we have a Harbourside apartment party to go to, which although doesn't have a Harbour Bridge view, will still have some portion of the fireworks. The fireworks is a very controversial, and emotive, issue with regards whether it should go ahead given the rest of NSW and Australia is on fire.  We are vexed by this too - it all seems a little too celebratory, given the extent of the fires and the loss of lives, livelihoods, and properties, which has been unprecedented. It calls for solutions, however, sadly, NYE is worth too many millions of dollars in tourism and so, as the great Freddie Mercury once said, the show must go on.  Some suggestion was that the money spent on the fireworks would be better served donating to the Volunteers fighting the fires. Probably too late to call it all off now so we'll welcome the New Year with the hope of rain, and the love of friends and family, and reflect on the difficulties hundreds of Aussies are having to deal with at this current time. Some of these towns, once the fires have burnt through, will need tourists to return so we will try to support by buying local produce and stay in their campsites etc.

A slightly surreal if not reflective Blog this week, which undoubtedly has had some lovely highlights but is certainly tinged with uncertainty as to our next step. 
Our BIG LAP  'Pawsing & Reflecting' officially commencing 1.1.20, as to where, watch this space!
HAPPY NEW YEAR Everybody xxxx