Sorry to cast a small gloom over the proceedings but we are all impacted in some way by the banks' shortage of money and should be understanding about the need for economy measures. In the present climate who can blame the Bank of Scotland for suspending my well stocked bank account. After all I am in Australia and you can never be too careful perhaps I was lying when I told them (before I left the UK) exactly where I would be at any given time.
If you ever need to test your karma try this. Get up in the middle of the night in say Australia phone a UK bank on a mobile phone and go through a large menu of inappropriate tape recorded options. Eventually, when you think you are through to someone with a body to go with their voice, explain you are on a mobile from Australia and tell them about your predicament. Then test how much you are at-one-with-yourself when she says hold on and plays jaunty music as your credit rapidly drains away.
On the theme of economy measures Sian has found a new way of testing out hats without having to buy them first.
You can also save a wad of money by not walking up Sydney Bridge. For one tenth of the price you can go up one of the towers, sip a nice glass of chilled chardonnay and watch as rich people (like Bank of Scotland managers) struggle to the top.
We have enjoyed the most wonderful warm balmy weather here in Sydney so travelling economy class around Sydney Harbour on ferries (seven-day saver rate) has been no great hardship. Yesterday we went to Manly which is buzzing with street entertainment and the usual show of flesh and surf boards being cool on the white beaches. Being Scottish we decided to go for a long walk. The view of the harbour from North Head is quite stunning.
Sian has been going on about whales ever since we arrived. But its the end of the season so we thought our chances of seeing any were slim. So imagine her delight when the path led us to Helen who was busy doing whale research for the local university. She gave us a pair of strong binoculars each and pointed us in the direction of some humpback mother and calves blowing and breaching (right out of the water and flopping on their backs).
By the time we sailed into Circular Quay the light was fading.
The next day we bay hopped our way to Watson Bay which is at the other side of the headlands which enclose Sydney Harbour. So as to save the Bank of Scotland some money we got the bus back to the city and had a modestly priced banquet in China Town.
When I find out what road we take to hitch-hike to Cairns Ill let you know how we get on.
