Day 50

Tuesday 21^st December 2010

Jet lag really has got the better of us so I was wide awake and raring to go at 5.00am this morning – grrrrr!

We waited until a more respectable time of 9am to grab breakfast and check out the weather…. glorious sunshine and no winds …… perfect for a day at the beach. So we set off into the city to catch the ferry to Manly on the northern shores of the harbour.

The ferry ride itself is recommended by all Sydney guidebooks as it takes you past the Opera House with the back drop of the Harbour Bridge and the views are amazing. We were very jealous of the Sydney residents who call this their commute every day – it beats the M60 in the rain hands down!

 

On arrival at Manly we joined the droves of people who had also decided today was a good day to spend at the beach and headed down the Corso. This is like their pedestrianised main street which Franky commented was ‘a bit like the Rock in Bury but with a beach at the end’!

We found a space and settled down on the sand with our books – now THIS was what we came to Australia for.

Franky was just debating taking his first dip in the sea when what can only be described as an air raid siren went off at one end of the beach…. I was half expecting a Luftwaffe to come swooping in so we were surprised when the life guards announced that everyone should get out of the water as there had been an unconfirmed SHARK SIGHTING! It was like a scene from a Hollywood blockbuster (you know the one – ner ner, ner ner) - everyone scrambling to get out of the water, shrieking and screaming to add effect. BRILLIANT!

And 20 minutes later the possible shark sighting was confirmed – so we decided to stay out of the water awhile!

Franky was hungry so headed off in search of food and retuned with some salads (fresh sea food and chicken cesaer and fruit) – beach picnic!

Franky had unwittingly burnt his head whilst out finding lunch so he had to take action.

Later on in the day we ventured into the water and discovered that the British girl on the beach was right. She came back after a dip to declare ‘It’s just like Southend!’ What she meant was bloody freezing as opposed to murky and full of sewage!

On the way back down the Corso we stopped off at Aldi for some essential supplies (shampoo etc) – see we told you it was just like Bury! And Dad you should be so proud – you’ve been trying to get me in Aldi for years! Then it was back to the Southern shore on the ferry and a train back to Darlo (we’re learning the lingo mate!).

We’d read that a local pub, the Sugarmill, had a comedy night on Tuesdays that started at 7pm if you wanted food included so we had NO FRANK NAP (audible gasp from Matt, Helen and Eric) and headed straight back out. Unfortunately we’d been misinformed and comedy nights weren’t on anymore but it was happy hour – only £2 a beer. Franky hadn’t realised the Aussie ponces can’t manage a full pint and drink their beers in Schooners until he commented – I think my hands have swollen – this beer feels a bit small!? No Darling – you’re hand are the same size – it’s the glass that’s smaller!!!!

I also introduced him to that other well know Aussie institution – the $10 steak. Yup just 10 bucks for a prime slab of rump steak served up with chips, veggies and your choice of sauce. The first of many I feel!

We moved on and sampled a couple more of the drinking establishments.

The local nutter advised us to head out toward Darlinghurst in search of merriment on a Tuesday night and for some unknown reason we listened to her…. and ended up in a gay bar. Now it was fairly quiet when we arrived but soon filled up… with a guy dressed as Freddie Mercury and a bloke in a dress who I was convinced was a lesbian in fancy dress but turned out to be a boy. Franky put his foot in it by turning to the guy at the bar…

Franky:            I didn’t know this was a gay place… did you? It wasn’t really what I was looking for!

Bloke:              Yes, I’m gay, are you not?

Franky:            No! I’m married (shows wedding ring)… I think it’s a bit late to change now!

Bloke:              It’s never too late (smile and wink)

Franky:            Er Suz, drink up!

…. and so we left. By this time the lack of Frank nap was catching up with us and we discovered this wasn’t the neighbourhood for heterosexual drinking so we headed home to bed.