aussielozzie18

Another warm & overcast day in Sydney. State Election today, so all the schools had sausage sizzles, cake stalls and coffee carts for fundraising from all the voters going to school halls today. Bought some delicious homemade macarons, choc tarts and tried some elderflower cordial. In the late afternoon went for a long walk and the drizzle set in. This little guy was sheltering from the drizzle In amongst the flowering gum blossoms.

Lovely photos & pleased you enjoyed your visit so much especially given you are a Biologist.

Native birds at Featherdale. @jagsfan you might have visited here when you were in Sydney? Apologies for not keeping up with everyone’s posts. Hopefully will catch up this weekend

Greetings from a warm but overcast day in Sydney. Headed out to Featherdale Wildlife Park in the outer suburbs of Sydney today. Busier than expected for a Friday but still plenty of space to take photos easily.

Noumeas city beaches are currently closed to swimming and will not re-open until shark nets have been installed. also, got two visits to Noumea on an upcoming cruise.

DH was rather taken with this one. A dunnart by Janet Luxton, a small marsupial at risk due to the devastating bushfires on Kangaroo Island (cruise port off South Australia). It was a full scale painting selling for $7.8k. Gang Gang Cockatoo using images of burnt leaves for its crest by Josh Dykgraaf I loved these for their burst of colour. Painted by a New York born artist Stephanie Chambers now residing in Australia painted during sunset.

On the Edge: Species at Risk art exhibit at the Royal Botanical Gardens Sydney. Viewed this free exhibition today @jagsfan thought you might like these photos of some of the bird art exhibited & for sale. By Pamela Pauline (above) Goudian Finches by Janet Matthews (below) Mosaic of Palm Cockatoo by Kelly Mackey

Back to regular programming and Sydney spam… We’re in autumn downunder but the weather hasn’t got the memo. Been a hot summer weekend - reaching 37C both days. Carnival at Circular Quay this morning on a hot, humid & smoky Sunday. Wondered why The Rocks was closed off and police were everywhere. Got closer and realised it was the St Patrick’s Day Parade. A sea of green

Been a pleasure to follow the Bella Cruise. Loved @Sea Dog beautiful videos, @A&L_Ont stunning suite views, the many cocktail & food photos and the camaraderie exhibited between the whole group. Hope those with knee issues get sorted soon and that Bella’s dad and cruise organiser extraordinaire is well soon to organise Bella2.

That photo was worth the wait. Beautiful photo of both of you.

I just burst out laughing on a busy train. Thank goodness I wasn’t in the quiet carriage…

Looks like everyone is having a blast. Loving all the photos & @Sea Dog excellent videos. Thanks for having the patience to upload. Greg, what is the screen name of the lady who is featured prominently in one of your early photos from day 2 & 3 video. She has grey hair & glasses and has a big smile in the photo (not Laura) she is in the foreground with people behind her.

Reading elsewhere that there are two charter cruises on the ship in the middle of these dates.

No idea. From the post from John Herald and what came through from Carnival today - only those two dates from Sydney (that they are advertising at present). It’s coming back from Alaska. Ironically, I am supposed to be in Alaska for the Sydney departures dates….

First time I saw them, I thought I had misread, then remembered your post. half price deposits & small amount of OBC if booked direct through Carnival.

Was going to tag you but didn’t have time to go through the post to double check…

Carnival Luminosa departs Sydney on 12 OCt 2024 for 4 days to Moreton Island. Carnival Luminosa Sydney to Brisbane cruise 7-10 Nov 2024 (The speculation in the Royal thread here was correct 😀)

Hopefully someone leaving Sydney tonight can answer your question

Beautiful weather continues in Sydney. DH took this photo after work today at sunset.

Ooh love the idea of the Luminosa doing a couple of Sydney departures.

Thanks for posting this. Not on the main board so hadnt seen the Bella Live had started. Can’t do both so will take a break from Dani thread (not been able to keep up with it much lately anyways ) whilst I try to keep up with Bella Live….

It’s not just cruise ships. Sydney kayaker Richard Barnes paddled his self built Sea Kayak “Blue Moon” from Tasmania to New Zealand solo unassisted. Despite seeing a few sharks in the water a couple days prior, he was still required to hop in the ocean and clean the barnacles off the hull of his kayak on approach to New Zealand. Richard left Hobart mid December and successfully arrived in Riverton on the bottom of the South Island of NZ mid February 2023 after kayaking 1636km. Impressive effort but even more so cleaning those barnacles off in the depth of the ocean with not a soul nearby.

Great idea. Thanks for posting.

He puts on a great show. Glad she was able to see him in concert (twice).

Good morning. Forecast today is for 38C (100F) so all kind of warnings in place. DD has been following Harry Styles round the country. Due to flexible workplaces post Pandemic, she has been able to work in her company’s offices in Perth and Melbourne during the day and then go to the concert with friends at night, so no leave needed to be taken. Final hurrah was seeing him in Sydney this weekend with 30 of her friends. His concerts have been getting great reviews in the media and on social media and DD & friends certainly enjoyed them. Unsurprisingly, this morning DD tested positive to Covid. Have booked another cruise. Going to the South Pacific - Noumea x 2, Lifou and Mystery Island. Looking forward to lots of swimming and cocktails. Sorry not with RCL. Yesterday, my brother & I installed a new clothes line in my dad’s garden after my brother took out the 40yo clothes line of dads when a limb of tree he was cutting down fell in the wrong direction…oops. Dad very happy though to have a brand new one. Dad’s regular visiting lorikeets were chatting away nearby as we put together the clothes line. His tamarillo tree bearing fruit after he planted a seed. For those of you excitedly looking forward to the Bella, have a fabulous time.