Wednesday 18 January 2023

Road Trip To Sydney - And Back Again

Mr P. and I took a week's break to drive to Sydney - and back again (as Bilbo Baggins would say).  It was actually to attend a friend's wake, but it was not a sad thing.  We celebrated her life, and enjoyed meeting up with people we hadn't seen for a long time.  Everyone had similar stories about her - she was always smartly-dressed, a great cook and host, a fun person to be around.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her!

Here is a quick photo essay about our trip:


there was sculpture in Stanthorpe (might be by Maggie Brockie)

and deserted buildings in Deepwater

supply ships in Sydney

and wharves in Woolloomooloo

wonders in Warwick

art (by Yayoi Kusama) at Art Gallery NSW

delectable green goodies at Gosford

food at Forster

beachy fun at Forster

splendour at Sawtell

where the river meets the sea at Sawtell

We do love a road trip, and this was no exception.  Luckily, we had good weather, though it did rain (a lot!) in Sydney.  We Queenslanders were a wee bit cold down there :=)  We met up with a friend who lives there, and enjoyed the Art Gallery and Museum.  Gotta suggest you don't go to a museum in school hols. on a wet day in Sydney though - so many babies and children and prams and stressed parents and wet umbrellas and overcrowded lifts, and dangerously damp floors :=)!

Anyways, we loved our trip and loved being able to say goodbye to our dear friend whom we had known nearly our whole adult lives.  Bless you and goodbye, dearest Ailsa!


38 comments:

  1. May her memory always be for a blessing
    from Tandy I Lavender and Lime https://tandysinclair.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looks like that you and Mr. P had a great time in Sydney. Wonders in Warwick looks really cool.

    ReplyDelete
  3. So glad this was a painless exercise for you! And you were lucky with the weather - living 120 km S of Sydney I have almost forgotten what our normally cloudless days look like . . . such a lovely change and I would have been in the Gallery (that and others) the moment I got there. Am softly amused at the photos - since some time back I had almost 13 years in Ocean Shores near Brunswick Heads and then Mermaid Waters I have so enjoyed the same journey up-and-down dozens of times :) ! Just had a look in the mirror . . . my face seems all green . . . ah well !!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks Eha. Apart from Sydney rain, we had great weather. Love Brunswick Heads!

      Delete
  4. I'm sorry to hear about your friend, but it sounds like her memory will live on for a long time. This trip looks fantastic! I love the beauty of the way the ocean meets the sea. And I have to wonder what stories that Eclipse Theatre could tell if it could talk...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks David. yes we won't forget her in a hurry. Isn't that old theatre wonderful?

      Delete
  5. Condolences on the passing of your friend. It was good you could attend the wake. Your road trip was through such beautiful country!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Condolences for the loss of your good friend. How lovely that you were able to share a celebration of her life.

    as an ignorant American, I wish you had included a map! I enjoyed your photos very much.

    best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's ice people could celebrate your friend's life in such a positive way. Souns like the kind of fun person who would have prefered that celebration of life.
    Love the photos of Sydney and your trip!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds like your friend was farewelled in the loveliest way Sherry. Love your photos of your road trip too - there's nothing like travelling the road and exploring along the way. I have one coming very soon which is exciting xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes it was a heartwarming event rather than devastating.

      Delete
  9. That sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate someone's life! I'm sure she would have been so chuffed to see such a joyous gathering.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it was a lovely way to say goodbye. Funny how people seem to be doing funerals differently these days - with private services, then a wake some time later.

      Delete
  10. It sounds like your your friend had a lovely celebration of her life. I will be in Sydney at the beginning of February. I have 4 days and have never been before. What would you suggest I see?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Darling harbour; the aquarium, the Botanic gardens ...

      Delete
  11. It sounds like your your friend had a lovely celebration of her life. I will be in Sydney at the beginning of February. I have 4 days and have never been before. What would you suggest I see? Gerlinde

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi gerlinde - well, so many places! obvs the opera house and the art gallery. the zoo if you like zoos. The Rocks historical area. The museum of contemporary art...

      Delete
  12. What beautiful photos and a nice getaway, despite the reason for the trip. Love that colorful sculpture. It seems like we are all going to more of those celebrations of life these days...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks jeanie. the dichotomy of loving our road trip but the sadness for the reason ... that's life I guess.

      Delete
  13. If there is a memorial for me after I die, people will not say I was a smart dresser. Instead, they will say that I always looked like a bag lady, but hopefully will add that I was always happy and up for a good laugh. Glad it was a good trip, and not too sad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yep more of the bag lady type myself :=) I think people will say of me that I was ... complicated!

      Delete
  14. This photo essay is a delight for my eyes. Thank you for sharing all these glorious pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sorry to hear about your friend, Sherry. But glad you were able to celebrate her life and meet up with some old friends. Your trip looks fantastic and the photographs make me want to book a flight straight away to come and see my cousins there. Maybe once I've saved up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks Neil. Yes it was a joy to do a road trip. So many beautiful places here in Aus.

      Delete
  16. It's always so sad to say goodbye to a dear friend. Wonderful you could get there. I love all the places you visited, we enjoy a road trip as well. We spent some time in Stanthorpe last time and loved it, it's thriving now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes it was a great thing to be able to say goodbye! and stanthorpe has always been a fave place for us.

      Delete
  17. May her memory be a blessing. People live and people die, and that's really all there is to it. It's good to celebrate a life well-lived and not dwell forever more in sackcloth and ashes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you! yes we certainly celebrated her wonderful life!

      Delete
  18. So sorry for the reason you went to Sydney, but it is nice you were able to celebrate her life. Lovely photos - the beach and azure blue water look incredible.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks david. Yes we were so glad we went. So wonderful to say goodbye properly.

      Delete

I would love to hear from you. Please leave your comment and I will reply as soon as I can. If you have problems commenting, please try without your WordPress profile. You can try Anonymous (add your name in the text) or your Google account if you have one.