Queen Mary 2

Today was a big day for Sydney and its harbour. The biggest liner in the world, Queen Mary 2, came for a visit. She was due to come through the Heads into the harbour at 6.30, as the sun came up. Her sister ship, QE2 is due in later this evening. Its the first time that two vessels bearing these names have been in Sydney Harbour since 1941 when they were troopships.

We left home at 4.30am and managed to find a parking spot at Mrs MacQuarie Point near the Botanical Gardens. By the time we walked down to the water it was just starting to get lighter in the Eastern sky.


Just could'nt resist an early morning shot of the Opera House.


Here comes sunrise, with the tip of Garden Island naval base in the foreground.


And the waiting crowds.


Our first sighting of the biggest liner in the World as she passes Bradleys Point.


The tip of Garden Island naval base in the foreground.


She is 23 storeys above the water line.


Passing Fort Denison and starting to swing to Port.......


Every where she went she was preceeded by the fire tug and followed by a huge flotila of other craft.


.......before going astern towards the Harbour Bridge.




She is too tall to go under the Harbour Bridge and the Overseas Terminal at Circular Quay isnt deep enough so she has to moor at the RAN base at Garden Island.


Catching the early morning sun.


Free helicopter washing service as its a very special day.


Heading for Garden Island.


Just rounding Mrs MacQuaries Point and entering Garden Island naval base.


Vessels of all sorts on the Harbour for this special occasion. This is a harbour working boat towing a pontoon fitted out with a BBQ, Sunshade, deck chairs and even two artificial palms at the stern. BBQ breakfast smelt good.



Finally moored at Garden Island, Woolloomooloo, with Kings Cross in the background.



What a contrast between QM2 and the steam vessel Lady Hopetoun.


She is still bigger than the top of MacQuarie Park. Even the Ibis was impressed.

Avacados revisited

We recently had some very good rain and everything in the garden has doubled in size. It just proves that rain is far better than the tap water we have to drink.




Its not often that we see the rain gauge over flowing. Thats a bit of grass floating on the top. In 48 hours we had 129mm of very welcome wet stuff.




The Avacados that appeared on this page back in September 2006 have shot up and after the rain are full of these little white balls.




Eventually the balls burst open and we are left with these beautiful little red fruit or flowers. We arnt sure what they really are and still trying to find out.

Australia Day

We had a visit from Alexander James over the Australia Day long weekend. He stayed for two nights and we all had a great time. It was hot so we were outside doing a bit of garden watering and of course AJ wanted to help.



As our watering can is obviously too big for him, the next best thing we could come up with was a replica of a decorated jug used on the narrowboats in England. He was facinated by the lid which had spring clip fastener.




I think he would have spent all day opening and closing the lid if we hadnt introduced the water.




When you fill a can with water you can either drink it all up....




or tip it all over the place.




Once your clothes are all wet you may as well take them off and drop into the deep end.
Look Grampa, bet you didnt know that the nozzle off the hose will fit in this old milk carton, dont know if it will come out though.




We had a great time!!