Meeting Mel

Lunch with Mel (aka "Emh"), Criniti's Italian restaurant, Darling Harbour.
Witness the remnants of a metre of pizza!

Yes, it was a gathering of TrekBBS members - on a drizzly Sunday - at Criniti's Italian restaurant, Darling Harbour. Aussie Star Trek fans, otherwise known by such online monikers as Dr Rose Mod, Botany Bay, ElimParra, Melbournite EvilRobert, yours truly (Therin of Andor), plus UK immigrant, now Aussie resident, TheRealAdamJ, had gathered to meet Emh, also known as Mel, who travelled on a US Navy ship, via Japan, just to get a taste of Sydney Star Trek fandom. ;)

With a whole day of eating and drinking in front of us, we also entertained Orac Zen on someone's mobile phone (stuck at home with rain-related work chores). Stuffed with pizza, we sauntered/staggered off to Hobbyco, the ABC Shop, coffee in the QVB, and Galaxy Bookshop (Mel's second visit - this time with dire fiscal consequences). Along the way we sent EvilRobert and ElimParra off to the footy grand final - wearing opposing team colours! - and rendezvoused with the TrekBBSer-formerly-known-as CapricaSix.

By afternoon's close, we'd made it to the famous al fresco Opera Bar, at the Sydney Opera House, thinking it would be less crowded in a bar with no big screen television sets! (Not too bad. Good thinking!) From there, it was off to Wolfie's, at The Rocks, for a spectacular view of the Opera House at night while we guzzled more Merlot and chewed on kangaroo steaks and crocodile medallions! Here we were joined by the often-elusive Jean Prouvaire, yet another TrekBBSer who moved to "lurker mode" long, long ago. A great time was had by all! One final drink at the international shipping terminal's bar was cut short by a bouncer, wanting a $5 cover charge from each of us, so that was my cue to depart for the long train journey home, hoping not to fall asleep and awake in chilly Lithgow.

Mel, it was wonderful meeting you in person! It was like Facebook and TrekBBS had turned into reality! Lots of fun anecdotes, great wine, delicious kangaroo and crocodile - and that amazing metre of Italian pizza! (And I'm sure Galaxy Bookshop enjoyed your generous spending!)


Night view from Wolfie's!

Spring is sprung

What spectacular weather today! Spring is really here Down Under.

I spent some time this afternoon cleaning up the glass cups of the six-candle candelabra which hangs above the outdoor table on my back deck, with the idea of having a few friends over to share some takeaway pizza. The candelabra sounds a bit extravagant, but it looks really great and it really sets a relaxed mood, far from the clutter of my museum-like house at the moment.

Funnily enough, we made plans for Saturday night a few days ago, and most evenings have been quite chilly, so the pizza gods were most kind.

The back deck is a regular breakfast venue throughout summer. A great way to start a day!

Jack was conspicuous by his absence tonight - he disappeared under the bed the moment I turned on the ultraviolet mozzie zapper! At least I avoided being eaten alive by the first mosquitoes of the season.

Junk Food Day, er Weekend

I'm going to have to do something. Saturday night was a very enjoyable pizza and wine night with friends - Jack was invited too, as there were three, small, excitable dogs looking forward to a reunion. After food, the DVD of "Sweeney Todd" played on, the four canines - all suffering Small Dog Syndrome - jockeyed for prime position on various human laps. It was quite hilarious. Luckily, the only blood spilled was on the screen.

Then this morning it was off to Mash cafe, in Glenbrook in the lower Blue Mountains, for breakfast. My friend Leonie accompanied us, although we left Jack behind. On a warm Sunday morning, it's very pleasant to eat al fresco at Mash, with Jack beside us, but winter in Glenbrook is... usually brisk. Fresh. Bloody cold.

We frittered away the rest of today, exploring the gift shops, garden centres and second hand bookstores of Glenbrook and Springwood, finishing off with a relaxing steak sandwich pub meal at "the Ori" (aka Orient Hotel). Delicious!

Let's not mention the vanilla slice for afternoon tea, eh?

Sunday's magic number: 95.8 - the diet starts anew tomorrow...

The foggiest notion

It seemed like a great idea at the time. Leave the dog at home and take a quick trip to Katoomba (via breakfast at Glenbrook again - yummo! Mash coffee shop can be habit-forming) for a bush walk.

We arrived in Katoomba only to hear that the fog had "rolled in" twice already and suddenly, "Here it comes again!"

Undaunted, we headed off to Echo Point to see what remained visible of the Three Sisters tourist attraction. The Japanese tourists were quite perplexed...


If I used Photoshop, I could drop in a postcard of the Three Sisters behind me.

To make me feel even guiltier for leaving Jack at home, we met a Jack Russell terrier in the fog. Well, I think it might have been a Jack Russell. It certainly felt a bit like a Jack Russell.


This tourist dog (above left) was exactly the same colour
as the fog. He looked like a little disembodied head strolling
around the lookout. Ian (above right) desperately seeks the
Three Sisters at Queen Elizabeth's Lookout.
(Click on the photos to see larger versions.)



I didn't have the heart to tell the Japanese tourists
that they were heading in the wrong direction...



One reluctant Sister finally makes an appearance. Her siblings remain shy.



A few nice photos: Ian (above left) at the one visible Sister;
and Leura Cascades Track in the rain (above right).
Click on the photos to see larger versions.

Sunday's magic number: 92.6 - Oh well... Too many distractions last week, including my housemate's midweek homemade bolognaise pizza, and a work colleague's 60th birthday party on Friday night. But I don't feel like I really put on two kgs! Damn that Home Ice Cream truck which drove by last Monday, the public holiday.

Time to get serious again. (Sigh. Didn't I say that last week?)


Bush tucker fit for an Andorian. I assume these are a variety
of quandongs, growing wild at Leura.