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We were pretty tuckered out after almost 6 weeks in the Blue Mountains - lunches, movies and scenic drives do in fact take it out of us. Our final day was a long one one of housework and travel. When we finally made it back to the apartamento, we hit the ground running out ventured to Llankelly Thai with Joan. The torrential rain was incredible - positively monsoonal in its display of force. We were well and truly hit with extreme humidity the following day when the sun blazed down and turned Sydney into a steamer full of human dumplings. It was so hot we left the apartment and immediatley gave up on the idea of walking to the Paddington Markets. We also gave up on the idea of walking to the bus stop and getting a bus to the Paddington Markets. We tried Ola for the first time. Utter air conditioned bliss and pulled up at the markets in good condition. We know they were closed for most of 2020 and whilst not the same, they were at least open and there was a pleasant, though subdued buzz. We checked out a few of Oxford Street's thrift stores and meandered home downhill in the shade of shop awnings most of the way. Nevertheless we were all a bit overheated, overtired and over it by the time we slogged into our neighbourhood. It seemed as good a time as any to try a new cafe that was spruiking coffee and scones with jam and cream for only $6. Given a coffee rarely leaves change from $5 - this was an excellent deal and much enjoyed by all - especially the jug of chilled water and the not standing up. It rejuvenated us just enough to make it home for collapsing purposes. Dinner was 'buffet at home' night as we had a selection of at least six different types of left overs from our time in the mountains - seriously yum.
Sunday saw another wet day - but at least not monsoonal. Altogether a bit of a rest and recovery day. Monday was a trip into the city and a look in the most fabulous shops - not least of which was Tiffany - I neededd to pick up a small repair job and took the opportunity to try on a pair of earrings retailing for over $100K. Yup. Just one decent windfall and we'll be back for them. We enjoyed a stroll around the QVB and a meander down to Circular Quay and the Opera HOuse. The weather was stunning - classic Sydney blazing sunshine. We knew rain was coming and had Joan safely in an Ola and en route to the airport before it started drizzling on Tuesday morning. Wednesday wasn't too bad... bit of rain, bit of drizzle - but by Thursday the heavens opened and it was time to try on my two pairs of wellies. One pair fitted and that was pretty much my outdoor footwear for the next 7 days
We were lucky. Our apartment is far enough off the ground not to be affected by the Niagara-esque torrents of water outside and watertight enough not to suffer from the leaking occuring in other parts of our 1930s block. It did have a feel of a local laundry about it after a couple of days of non stop rain - simply with damp clothes, umbrellas and shoes sitting about in varying degrees of dryness. On a postive note - really enjoying the chance to wear wellies... incredibly practical with fording rivers of water flowing about the neighbourhood.
Thankfully, when it stopped, it really did stop. It's been relatively dry ever since so 'here goes' - the new drought. We like nipping off for housesits periodically as it motivates us to essentially spring clean the apartment, clean the fridge, do all the laundry, put out fresh towels, clean sheets onto the bed etc - just so nice to lock and leave and then come home to perfection.
So having nigh on killed ourselves with a very big day of laundry and cleaning we finally jumped in an Ola and took off to Newtown on the afternoon of 1 April. We've had mostly good experiences with Ola - but this driver was an interesting specimen to say the least. Was disappointed when he arrived and we weren't going to the airport (apprently on the Thursday before Easter, everyone except us was going to the airport). Then, the peace and quiet got to him, so he turned the radio on. No worries - ABC news report. A bit loud in the back as that was where the speakers were blasting - but news is good... Then the station went a bit staticky - then lost altogether... and the static just kept roaring... had to actually ask him to turn it off. Then, as we watched Google Maps, he took every 'longer option' possible on the way to Newtown - eventually turning the radio on again to 'blaring'. We eventually got there - though trip took twice as long - fair enough - Easter traffic. When we got the receipt we had a bit of a laugh though - estimate wasn't far off - but included $6 in tolls for the Cross City Tunnel - which we most definitely had not taken. Good 'bot based' customer service though - had a refund through within 10 minutes. So a much longer adventure getting there - but worth it with the big bags.
We met one of the cats immediately - they'd run out of their biscuits which was an emergency and the litter tray had taken quite the hiding in the 24 hours since their owners had left - but aside from that - all good - So long since we've visitied Newtown, so had an earlyish dinner and headed out for a walk once the night cooled down. Great stuff - so much street art/murals and being the first of 4 saturday nights in a row (Easter Thursday, Friday, Saturday Sunday) - the entire populatinon seemed to be out and spending - so good for the small business.
We'd been given a couple of Lindt bunnies for Easter and bought some hot cross buns. We enjoyed the neighbourhood and did multiple long explorations up and back King Street. We investigated the local theatre - Dendy - and saw three excellent movies - most excellent was Another Round which we'd been looking forward to since the Blue Mountains (it started up there just as we were leaving). Nomadland - obviously brilliant, but sad and The Courier with Benedict Cumberbatch - certainly enjoying our NSW Dine & Discover vouchers.
Easter Sunday this year was particularly memorable as we went to get something out of the freezer for dinner - and it ws entirely defrosted. The fridge was also warm... must have happened about 24 hours prior. We've been snowed in, lost power for 10 days, had a flood and assorted other minor inconveniences when housesitting, including a broken washing machine on a very washing intensive housesit - but this is our first fridge failure. Having just reflected on that, when I arrived in Spain in July 2014, I lost power that night due to a faulty fuse - that fridge/freezer defrosted completely within 24 hours and it took 72 hours to get power back. On a positive note, they had gas for cooking and water heating. Fortunately our Newtown owners jumped on the problem and we had a brand new one delivered on the Tuesday. Never been quite so excited about a new appliance - especially when it's not even ours.
On our first Saturday in the new 'hood we perambulated up and down King Street and nosied into the Hub Theatre market at the Newtown Bridge. Veewwwwy interesting as Bugs Bunny might say. We saw a pretty black lacquer panel with a Chinese mermaid/Geisha riding a fish - picked out in Mother of Pearl. We didn't enquire about the price... but thought on it. For a week. Would have to say that's the only downside to a once a week market. On our second Saturday we trundled back to see if it was still there. Oddly - yes. We thought it would have been snapped up. We were getting ready to buy it when the stallholder said, 'Have you seen the big one as well?' Wow - Another panel, featuring the Great Wall of China. Having bought very few treausres during our travels we feel now is the chance to acquire things and furnish our apartment while we have the chance. So paid up and laughing we walked a not insignificant distance back to the house with our panels under our arms. It's Newtown - no one looks twice.
We are ardent fans of Thai food. In fact if we were told one day that you can only have one national cuisine for the rest of your eating life - we could both handle Thai food. Newtown is right up there with Potts Point when it comes to having a plethora of Thai joints - and most had $10 lunch specials. When we found one place, barely a block from home with an $8.90 lunch special - well entrepreneurship should be rewarded and we ended up eating there several times. The lower price worked of course... that $2.20 saving between two of us ended up being invested in a mango and banana smoothie - reasonable at $7.50 - but superb value after the $2.20 subsidy. Ahhhh... pandemic expenditure management... can't believe the government hasn't been around for advice yet.
Thai food can't be one's only pleasure in life and we are neither racist or foodist. A couple of stations down the line is even more multi-cultural Marrickville. We walked there one day and investigated the length and breadth of the high street (excellent thrift shops - bought a Riedel shiraz decanter for $6). If Marrickville isn't already called Little Hanoi, it should be. We had no idea how many small and not so small Vietnamese eateries we would find - we found one that actually dragged us back to Hanoi with all five senses and instead of jumping on the train home for a sensible lunch out of the fridge, we found ourselves perched on crates, inhaling coriander, slurping down noodles and making num-num noises about Bun Cha - BBQ pork meat balls in a heavenly broth with vermicelli noodles. And a mint and lychee brain freeze slushie to share. Ahhhhh... just like Vietnam. Fond memories and a bit of homesickness all around as we spent almost 3 months in Vietnam at the end of 2018 and into 2019.
Before we knew it, our two weeks in Newtown were over. The cats were our new best friends by the time we were due to hit the road. Always sad when we get attached to truly lovely animals. We obviously had more to go home with than when we arrived - a decanter and 2 wall panels more at least. We considered getting a rideshare - but it's a tiny street and really didn't want some impatient git getting hot and bothered while we loaded the panels, 2 big bags, 1 small bag and the grocery/pantry bag into the boot. And us. So we took the stress out of it and wheeled the big bags to St Peters, trained to Kings Cross, dropped the bags off, opened the windows, turned the fans on and whipped back to the station within an hour - so a free trip back to Newtown as it was a 'transfer' not a separate trip. Then relaxed, had lunch on the way home, popped some final things into our last bag, watched Netflix, played with the cats, had dinner and finally hit the road after 7 pm. All that cleaning before we left paid off... jeez it was nice to be home.
- comments
Joan Enjoyed the read guys ,well done. You still amaze me how much you do and see on your ventures out