A Few Disadvantages

I have found at least three disadvantages to living in a sunny country near the sea:
1) Everything not rust-proof will rust, and very quickly.
2) The strong UV light bleaches very quickly.
3) When the weather is bad (fortunately not very often) the noise from the waves is very loud.

Chain Thriller

I am reading a chain thriller on-line, sponsored by Borders Australia. Borders is one of my favourite bookstores and I have all James Patterson books he has ever written, so a good combination. James wrote the first chapter about a week ago, after selecting 30 people to write a new chapter each day, and he will then write the last chapter. It is surprisingly good and quite scary. It helps that it is set in Sydney. If anyone is interested click here: http://www.borders.com.au/chain-thriller/home.asp It would be nice to know what my reading friends think about it. The chapters are short enough to fit in while the pasta is boiling or similar. We are now up to chapter 11.

No Wind

This morning I drove Little Car to Pittwater. I had a sailing voucher from the boat show to redeem and was hoping to get some sailing done. Parking was a problem as usual. Where are you supposed to put the ticket when you do not have a roof? I found some tape, but it doesn't stop anyone from taking the ticket off.
I got on a boat, but unfortunately there was not much wind, so we basically sat on the boat for 2.5h and all we managed to do, was motor out to the main water, sail around Scotland Island at near standing still speed and then get back. However, decided to join the club anyway, so now I can sail anytime I like from Friday to Monday.
I did bring the camera, but it was on the wrong setting and all pictures came out fuzzy, so will take new ones next time.

Fixer-upper

We went to look at an apartment for sale: see Details here There were so many people there during the 15 min or so of open viewing, we have a feeling it will be gone long before we have even investigated the process for getting approval by the Foreign National Investment Board to buy it. But it was exciting. It need all floors and walls re-done, a new kitchen (if allowed) a wall knocked down and a few more things, but it does have a view and is on the next street from our current place. It is obviously not as big as where we are now, but it does have 3 bedrooms and I might be able to squeeze in most of my books.

Sunset over Sydney

I was working late, so managed to take the attached picture of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge at Sunset, on my way back home on the ferry.
It is a bit irritating they let so many tourists on the ferries during commuting hours, but at least you know when a picture is worth taking.
There is a bit of wind today so the salt-water spray from the sea is making the keys on my keyboard a bit sticky.
Work is back to being what it should be (hard), but at least I get a relaxing trip home on the ferry.
I am doing a sailing course on Sunday, 3 hours of introduction to sailing. The weather is still supposed to be good. Hope to drive Little Car up to Pittwater. Whilst eating lunch today I read in the Midget & Sprite club magazine that someone had driven a frog-eye AH Sprite along route 66. Perhaps I can drive Little Car across Australia at some point...

Fishy

Somehow I managed to persuade colleague Richard that came down from Melbourne, to go back via Manly the other day - so we took him out for beer and dinner (actually he paid hmm ;-0 - thanks Richard, let me know if Trevor has any concerns). Not sure where to go - we eventually settled for Garfish after "decent sized beers (0.5 litre)" at the Bavarian Beer Cafe. Garfish had changed their menu so I did not have anything exciting, but a reliable Ocean Trout. Richard on the other hand had a whole Barramundi! with bones and eyes and everything!

Better to check first

I walked all the way into central Manly (around 20 minutes) to buy some "smoked pancetta" that I really like. I have the normal problem of trying to buy Swedish/Danish style, thin sliced streaky bacon. All they have here is the British style "back bacon" or if you are lucky all of it in one go, back+streaky, but those are 45 cm long and still too thick to be nice and crispy. However I did find some of the smoked pancetta in the fridge on Tuesday and was trying to remember where I bought it. I thought Coles in Manly as I could not think of any other place so I hiked out there this morning to buy some more for lunch. Unfortunately I could not find any.
I bought some other stuff I cannot get locally on the north side of the beach, but was a bit disappointed.
When I got home I checked out the packet with what was left from Tuesday and it clearly states "Made for Aldi" at the back. So, it pays to do your research before you go and using the famous Swedish saying "vad man inte har i huvudet får man ha i benen" i.e. if you do not think things through - your legs will suffer" - I now have a choice. I can go back again in 32+ degrees with tired legs - or I can have something else for lunch!