Sydney Plus

Starting as we mean to go on, the year began with a run around the Pinnacles Nature Reserve.

And in the afternoon, a highly welcome cooling off and splashing about in a friend's pool.

Not a water baby

It is the time of year for agapanthus and, as I know my mother loves them, here are some pictures for her.

It's very hot (well, I call over 35 degrees hot) and because I am a foolish English person (of the Mad Dogs variety), I am often running about the parks. When I am not, I am rehearsing in sweltering theatres. Clearly, this is not me, but it is some of the lads rehearsing a scene from the latest play in which I'm performing, Oh, What a Lovely War!

'Pour la gloire!'

Having worked throughout Christmas and New Year, we had decided to take a break the following weekend to coincide with the final Ashes Test, so we caught the coach to Sydney, where it was a mere 47 degrees; thankfully our hotel had (extremely noisy) air conditioning.

Room with a view: Paddington, Sydney style

What better way to cope with the meltingly hot weather than catching trains and buses all over the inner western suburbs to visit craft breweries? 

Pallet bar for future reference

Beer by Akasha

Burgers by Brisket and Brawn BBQ Co

One of the pleasures of walking about town is stumbling across the street art, which I love for its colour and vibrancy, even when I have no idea what it is.

Yes, it's cider; yes, it was refreshing; no, I'm not apologising

Willie the Boatman

Displaying quite the range of flavour, style and colour at Batch Brewing Co.

Chapeau and 2Peach Shakur

Marrickville Roots GInger Ale and Trippy Hippy Citra XPA

Elsie the Milk Stout and Double Rainbow XXPA

The next day we headed to the cricket, passing the Korean War Memorial in Moore Park, which commemorates the Australian and Korean veterans of the Korean War (1950-1953) in which 339 Australians and 230,000 South Koreans died. 

The memorial design is the result of a design competition held in 2007. It features a circular stone wall enclosing the site symbolising strength, a central pathway based on the taeguk or yin and yang symbol found on the South Korean flag, a field of metal sculptures based on the Korean national flower, the Rose of Sharon, symbolising regeneration, and polished concrete blades representing the rugged mountains of Korea for remembrance.

The Korean War Memorial

 

We arrived at the cricket under a cloudless blue sky, where it was (and I can't stress this enough) baking hot. Temperatures on the field were recorded at 57 degrees. The English fieldsmen were struggling in the heat, and the bowlers could barely hold the ball, let alone spin it. They spent hours out there in practically gladiatorial conditions. 

The sun beats down on the SCG

Refreshments at The Local Taphouse

At lunch we retired to a nearby (1km up hill) pub with much-appreciated air conditioning, and afterwards the Aussies declared on a ridiculously high score (649) and put our exhausted blokes in to bat. 

In the way that when things aren't going your way, everything seems to conspire against you, there was slightly more cloud cover - conditions which would have suited the English spinners if it had occurred earlier. 

There wasn't much for the barmy army to cheer about but they were in fine voice as the afternoon wore on, and we saw Alastair Cook become the sixth batsman and first Englishman to score 12,000 runs in Test Cricket. And then he was out.

Notifications on the big screens exhorted us to stay hydrated and to consume lots of fluids (the cider was the best of the bland beverages on offer). Joe Root was unable to comply, however, and was taken to hospital overnight with vomiting, diarrhoea and severe dehydration. 

I seriously wonder why we expect sports men and women to compete in such hostile conditions. The same thing occurs frequently at the AUS Open in Melbourne and people say, 'they're paid enough that they should be able to put up with it', but no matter how fit or well paid one is, the human body has its limits, and hyperthermia can be fatal. Is it really reasonable to expect people to die for our entertainment because we've paid for it?

 

We made our way back to the hotel via a series of pubs - one every kilometre or so, stopping off for refreshments at Bitter Phew (where Him Outdoors chatted to a bunch of lads over for the cricket and I watched the bats flitter through the twilight) and Keg and Brew, where there is no filter on earth that can lessen the redness of my cricket face.

 

 

Graffiti on Fouveaux Street, Surry Hills

 

 

Keg and Brew tap list

It's been a long hot day

Save the best till last?

Naturally, this time of year (as opposed to any other time of year, obviously) is all about eating and drinking. Good friends gave us a cheeseboard for Christmas - they know us so well - so we had to try it out. I am pleased to report that it is perfectly fit for purpose.

With a couple of free days to spend, my thoughts turned immediately to reading. I walked to the library to search out some non-fiction books I've been trying to trace. It was a very hot day - too hot for running (hence the walk) - and the library was closed, but I had a pleasant walk anyway and played with a photographic app which highlights shapes and shadows.

New Blood (Gateway Artwork) by Paloma Ramos

I went for a day of culture with a friend, which included watching a French film, having lunch in New Acton, and viewing an exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia.

Graffito in New Acton

New Acton greenery

We actually visited the gallery to see the David Hockney exhibition - more of which later - but I always make time to sit for a few moments in front of Monet's waterlilies, which fill my mind and soul with peace.

Waterlilies by Claude Monet

Detail from Waterlilies

The building itself is very stylish with lots of hidden passages and staircases. We ascended to the members' lounge to talk nonsense about art and other things, and to admire the view.  

The view from the Members' Lounge of the NGA

Chester also had a very busy day, as you can see. 

We didn't manage to get to Christmas Dinner with this particular group of friends this year, so we had a not-quite-Christmas meal with them instead.

Dinner at the home of The Luminosity

I finished off the year with a run around Umbagong District Park, which is a favourite spot and is nice and close.

 

Him Outdoors spent quite a lot of the week at the brewery making more beer, which makes him happy - almost as happy as drinking it.

And that's it for another year - have a great 2018 everybody!