Monday @ Manly
A guy gets on our bus dressed in singlet, shorts, thongs, dreadlocks, shades, Beats headphones and carrying a full-sized surfboard. Where am I?
California. Or maybe Bali. But the rest of the bus is full of Australians so probably Sydney then. We got on the bus at Circular Quay, so quite why this guy was taking his board for a ride from there is anyone’s guess. We didn’t ask him on account of his Beats. We were returning from a few hours in Manly, a lovely beach suburb of Sydney where we’d sat under the palms in the shade and watched the people cook themselves on the beach, the lifesavers shout at errant bathers and the surfers ride the waves so maybe that’s where he’d been too. No screaming children, they’re in school, just screaming gulls wanting some of our picnics. Whilst we sat there we kept nudging each other that this was a ‘normal’ Sydney Monday. If you live in the city and have a few hours free then this surf beach is a half hour ferry ride away. Leah’s office works ’summer hours’ which means they finish at 3pm on Fridays so people can take off for the beach. What a lifestyle. The weather has been breezy and a very pleasant 28 degrees today, sunny with hardly a cloud in the deep blue sky. I know. But someone’s got to do it.
Anyhow, apart from a lovely pizza and a glass or two with Natalie & Col in Double Bay later in the evening, that was our Monday. Life’s not so tough here, as I hope we are painting in these postcards. And on this visit we’ve not (yet) come across any Aussie Nasties! No Huntsmen or red-backed spiders, Great Whites, jellyfish, king browns or death adders, saltie crocs, et al, et al. Although it may seem the whole country is teeming with deadly wildlife out to get you we’ve come to accept that we are visiting them so a little bit of respect on our part is normal. Last year when we visited stunningly beautiful Hamilton Island we were advised to wear very fetching whole body lycra suits to protect from Irukandji. I had never heard of Irukandji and had to look it up. I was surprised to learn these jellyfish are transparent and only as big as your thumbnail so are invisible in the water. They are one of the most venomous box jellyfish in the world and are able to fire their stingers into you. So I said thank you for the suit, fair enough, fair warning. Similarly, if you go poking around the bush looking for snakes or spiders or fire ants don’t be surprised if something surprises you. Many of the beaches here have nets to swim within, probably for good reason. And if the beach signs or lifesavers warn about dangerous currents then fool you if you ignore them, but we were not surprised to see many people doing so and even one or two taking their children in which we really couldn’t understand. We also watched some people on the beach treat the very strong sun with proper respect, slapping-on cream, wearing a baseball hat, etc. whilst others totally ignore it and, presumably, burn themselves and their innocent children to a crisp. Odd.
California. Or maybe Bali. But the rest of the bus is full of Australians so probably Sydney then. We got on the bus at Circular Quay, so quite why this guy was taking his board for a ride from there is anyone’s guess. We didn’t ask him on account of his Beats. We were returning from a few hours in Manly, a lovely beach suburb of Sydney where we’d sat under the palms in the shade and watched the people cook themselves on the beach, the lifesavers shout at errant bathers and the surfers ride the waves so maybe that’s where he’d been too. No screaming children, they’re in school, just screaming gulls wanting some of our picnics. Whilst we sat there we kept nudging each other that this was a ‘normal’ Sydney Monday. If you live in the city and have a few hours free then this surf beach is a half hour ferry ride away. Leah’s office works ’summer hours’ which means they finish at 3pm on Fridays so people can take off for the beach. What a lifestyle. The weather has been breezy and a very pleasant 28 degrees today, sunny with hardly a cloud in the deep blue sky. I know. But someone’s got to do it.
Anyhow, apart from a lovely pizza and a glass or two with Natalie & Col in Double Bay later in the evening, that was our Monday. Life’s not so tough here, as I hope we are painting in these postcards. And on this visit we’ve not (yet) come across any Aussie Nasties! No Huntsmen or red-backed spiders, Great Whites, jellyfish, king browns or death adders, saltie crocs, et al, et al. Although it may seem the whole country is teeming with deadly wildlife out to get you we’ve come to accept that we are visiting them so a little bit of respect on our part is normal. Last year when we visited stunningly beautiful Hamilton Island we were advised to wear very fetching whole body lycra suits to protect from Irukandji. I had never heard of Irukandji and had to look it up. I was surprised to learn these jellyfish are transparent and only as big as your thumbnail so are invisible in the water. They are one of the most venomous box jellyfish in the world and are able to fire their stingers into you. So I said thank you for the suit, fair enough, fair warning. Similarly, if you go poking around the bush looking for snakes or spiders or fire ants don’t be surprised if something surprises you. Many of the beaches here have nets to swim within, probably for good reason. And if the beach signs or lifesavers warn about dangerous currents then fool you if you ignore them, but we were not surprised to see many people doing so and even one or two taking their children in which we really couldn’t understand. We also watched some people on the beach treat the very strong sun with proper respect, slapping-on cream, wearing a baseball hat, etc. whilst others totally ignore it and, presumably, burn themselves and their innocent children to a crisp. Odd.
Here are some Manly photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/OmWAppqCbziAS4Dp1
We’re moving on to Bondi tomorrow to stay with Leah & Rob for a few days. Don’t worry, I’ve got my cool dude gear packed.
We’re moving on to Bondi tomorrow to stay with Leah & Rob for a few days. Don’t worry, I’ve got my cool dude gear packed.
