Kickin' back

Here we are almost half way through our Australian holiday.... how time flies when you're starting to worry about going home.

Aside from a vey early start, more of which later, today has been a very leisurely affair and very nice too.  It's been warm but with a few spots of rain here and there.  We are preparing for a barbecue before sitting back to watch qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix. Won't be happy if JB and McLaren haven't pulled their socks up after last week's poor showing.  Other than that today has been spent chatting cars all day with Philip and Jez, playing snooker on the iPad (only cos I'm way better at that than the real thing) taking Harry the dog for another walk and taking a look at Rebecca's new house just down the road.  Oh yes and buggering up the back electric window in Philip's 306 during strip down to the Vietnamese butcher in Marrickville.

Back to that early start.  Not much will get me up at 6:30 with any degree of willingness, but a ride in a classic car certainly will. And Philip and Jez have a rather nice 1972 MG BGT..... Philip very kindly takes me out with the proviso that we go out early as the old girl is prone to overheating in traffic.  I recall barbecuing my legs in my old spitfire and agree with the proviso, so we leave at about 7:02. And again at 7:12 after we quickly rectify a substantial fuel leak.  Old cars, you gotta love 'em but you gotta be prepared for the odd spot of spanner wielding.  We get on our way and the old girl runs as sweet as a nut.  40 years old and still a delight. We head towards Bondi and stop off just above Bondi to look out over the city. Breathtaking.........  We head down to Bondi and through Vaucluse (properly posh...) then up into the city and under the harbour bridge.  There is a cruise liner in dock at Circular Quay and its busy, but we howl through the streets of the City,  the barking exhaust note reverberating against the walls of the tall buildings..... heaven.. We head over the Anzac Bridge  and head in to Annandale for a cuppa and a bacon sarnie to round off our trip.  Brilliant. I love and miss my MX5 but compared to owning a proper classic, my path is the very easy option and just not the same. Or is it, given the work that Skymo needs doing to him when I get back!? Anyone know how to replace power steering pipes, and where I can get a cat exhaust box cheap?!

So there we are, half way through and lovin' it.  Yes Mick I did moan a bit down there in Ulladulla but that was a blip in an otherwise moan-free landscape and I did apologise for that,  albeit not on Facebook......

Don't bring on the second half though, it means I'm getting nearer to going home :-((((((