Australia Day '09

26th January is Australia' s biggest holiday. It was on this day in 1788 when Capt. Cook first landed on the Island of Australia.


The new comers walked around town taking in all the sites and sounds of their 1st Australia Day
Deepa, Jatin (both UK), Robyn, Leigh and Shaun (SA)
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The ferry boat race in the harbour, the Duck won the race.



Some people preferred to relax and listen to music



A family setting up for the day.

Good to have a familiar face in town. Rob and Emma are out for a wedding.

The BIG Swim - 2.9km

On Sunday Kimble and Juice took part in yet another ocean swim.
It's called "The BIG Swim" from Palm Beach to Whale Beach.

Due to a rip tide at whale beach the finish line was moved further along the beach. So the race went from a 2.7km to 2.9km swim.

OK this was going to be a tough race as the conditions where rough.

Temp: 21 deg

Swell: 5 - 6 foot

At least it was over cast (the day before was 42 degrees)

Juice's group head out into the wild ocean.

Swimmers did there best to catch a wave into the finish

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Kimble completed the swim in 59:06

Juice finished in 58:54 at that was after being stung by a blue bottle on the neck!

Well Done Juice!!!

The Kimble-Juice household competition continues.

Kayaking in the Harbour

On Sunday we went for a kayak in the harbour.
We headed out to Shark Island (there were no sharks there, Mom !)




We had a small break at Rose Bay before heading out to the island.






Juice upfront paddling hard.

Martin balancing the bridge on his head.

Had a well earned rest on Shark island. It has great views of Sydney and the bridge.

PS. You can rent the island for a private parties - $3300 per day.

Sydney Tower

Sydney Tower is the 2nd tallest building in OZ and the tallest in Sydney.

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You can see our home from here. (The white arrow)

View out to Manly and the entrance to Port Jackson harbour.

View of the Sydney Football ground and the SCG

View of Darling Harbour and the parramatta river in the background

St Mary's Church at Hyde Park

The Domain - Everyone getting ready for this evenings music performance - Part of the Sydney festival.

After dinner we decided to go to the Domain.

Brendon, Hunnah and Juice.

Bondi Roughwater Ocean Swim

Juice and I took part in our 2nd ocean swim race.
The Bondi Roughwater - 2km ocean swim.


North Bondi SLSC - the 2nd oldest life saving club.


The course was an out and across the current and back


The weather was great a cool 26 deg


Juice relaxing before the swim. Completed swim in 41:19

Water conditions: Temp 21degs

High Tide with 3-4 foot swells, was tough coming back in.


Kimble completed the swim in 41:01. Loving the board shorts way of life.

Next Race: The 2.8km Whale beach to Palm Beach on 25th Jan.

The Sydney Festival

From 10th - 31st Jan '09

From the website: http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/

"For three weeks each January the Festival offers a rich program of around 80 events involving upwards of 500 artists from Australia and abroad covering dance, theatre, music, visual arts, cross media and forums. In any given year, it makes use of most of the main theatres across the city including Sydney Theatre, CarriageWorks, City Recital Hall and venues at the Sydney
Opera House,

Sydney Festival also presents a number of quality, free outdoor events such as the long-running Festival in the Domain with Jazz and Symphony concerts, each attracting up to 100 000 people. In 2008 the Festival introduced a new opening event, Festival First Night, for which people are invited to take to the streets to enjoy a large-scale celebration of music and performance. In its inaugural year, Festival First Night attracted 200 000 people into the heart of the city."

Everyday they put up a list of the days performers

People start gathering at around 2pm for the evening events in the Domain.

There's some family fun too, with free movies at the various stadiums around Sydney.

In the afternoons events are situated in Hyde Park

The city is covered in flags giving that festival feeling.

Went into the city for the start of the festival.

Cricket @ SCG - SA v AUS

Kimble went to his first SCG New Years cricket test match... SA v AUS

It was great to go to the New Years Test knowing that SA had already won the series and all the aussies were somewhat quiet. NB: Never write the aussies off, they'll be back!




Almost everyone in the stands wore something pink to raise money for the Glen McGrath Foundation. Glen's wife Jane, passed away earlier this year from breast cancer.


From now on the 3rd day of the New Years Test will be known as Jane McGrath day.

A view of the ladies stand (green roof on the left) and the members stand (green roof on the right) these have 10 -15 year waiting lists to become a member.

Clarke down after being "hit" by Kallis. I could swear every guy in the stand went aawwwww at the same time when that ball was bowled.