Sydney - October 2023

It's birthday month and we got our Berkeley Vale house back after it having being rented for the past six months. I went up to the house to prepare for the party and got up each morning for my regular cycle. One morning I rode to Long Jetty and had a nice breakfast...

Got up early one morning to watch the sunrise...

I was so happy that four of my Hong Kong mates made the trip for my birthday...

With Jason and Eliza...

With Richard and Julie...

We all had zero birthdays. The cake says 150!

Turned out to be a nice day. Richard and Stu...

With Ian and Angela...

With Glenys and Wendy...

Julie, Ant and Vanessa...

Vanessa!

Glenys and Chris...

The day after, we headed to the Hunter Valley for some wine tasting...

On my actual birthday the family took me to a Japanese restaurant in Gordon.

Another weekend I re-stained the deck...

Halloween. This is our feeble attemtp at decoration :-)

Spending time back at Berkeley vale. Love the stars...

Perth - October 2023

Had to go to Perth for work. I got off the plane from Hong Kong and immigration was as packed as I've ever seen it. Used the APEC channel for the first time in Sydney and caught the Qantas transfer bus to the domestic terminal. Just made it. Another 5 hours on a plane :-(

Caught Uber to my hotel which was Doubletree by Hilton. I wanted to try a new hotel and this one is right on the river and has a rooftop bar. I did meetings in my room that afternoon then went for a walk to find dinner. Here is the view from my room...

The next morning I went to a cafe next to the hotel called Rubra on the Swan for breakfast. This is a Hush Puppy. Was too heavy for me.

Headed to the office. We have moved to Central Park, the highest and most prestigious building in Perth. Fantastic views...

That night I went to the rooftop bar in the hotel and watched the sunset...

Had some skewers for dinner...

Went to the office again the next day. That night, we had our new office opening party which was great. Some of us kicked on after and then I walked home. The nights are still pretty cool. This is near my hotel on Elizabeth Quay...

Up early the next morning for my flight back to Sydney.

Hong Kong - October 2023

My ex-colleague and friend Julie invited me to her 50th junk trip in Hong Kong. Of course I jumped at the chance.

Flew on the day flight on Friday. This is what a Bloody Mary looks like in economy!

Arrived later afternoon and headed to Hyatt Centric in Northpoint. Wanted to try somewhere new and it has a nice looking rooftop pool...

I caught the MTR to Causeway bay, and went for a walk around. Not sure what this shop is...

Bumped into a mate...

Woke up Saturday. Had a nice view from my room...

It was a nice day so I hit the pool...

Looking straight across to the Kerry Hotel, where I spent such a lot of time in quarantine!

Went for a wander around Northpoint. It is very local...

Had some breakfast. This was the most western style I could find!

In the afternoon, I caught the MTR to Hang Hau and my mate picked me up and drove me to his place in Clearwater Bay. We had a nice lunch.

Got back to the hotel late. The hotel has a rooftop bar which I didn't get to, other than to take a pic that night...

Sunday is the day of the junk trip and the reason I came to Hong Kong. I woke up vomiting with diarrhoea.I spent the whole day in the room.

Monday I was feeling better so went for a walk to Quarry Bay and back. Enjoyed the local sights :-)

I used points and upgraded to Business Class on the way home. Hit the Qantas Club for the first time in many years. This is the skyrobridge completed a few years ago. It is the longest airside bridge in the world  and allows a A380 to pass under it.

The Qantas Club in Hong Kong is FAR superior to the one in Sydney. Had my usual even though I still wasn't feeling 100%...

Reading this book. Tragically he died a couple of weeks later.

Flight home was good in business and I slept pretty well. Landed and have never seen so many people at immigration. Used the APEC channel to get through as I had a 0930 flight to Perth. Got the Qantas shuttle to the domestic terminal and just made it.