All Things NSW

This must be the year of NSW for me. I've just returned from my third trip there in about 5 months, but this time it was all pleasure, no work. Andrew and I were invited to a wedding in Katoomba so we decided to take a week off work, leave the kids behind and have our first holiday on our own after 23 yrs of marriage! We decided to drive and take the van, as it would work out a lot cheaper - and allow us to put the money saved to much better use -which we certainly did - I hate to think how much money we spent!

The wedding in Katoomba was lovely although very cold, as it was outdoors in about 5 deg! but with a beautiful backdrop of the misty Blue Mountains. The next day we went to Scenic World and did the whole tourist thing seeing the 3 sisters etc. Wednesday we had planned on a couple of big hikes, however it was pouring with rain, about 0 degrees (well at least thats how it felt) and blowing a gale. Not really good or safe hiking whether, so we decided to give it a miss and head to Sydney a day earlier. We had a lovely time in Sydney, doing lots of shopping, going to the movies (saw The Bank Job, The Square, and Mamma Mia), eating anything I felt like (had a holiday from clean eating too) We enjoyed Darling Harbour, walked around the Opera House and surrounding areas at night - and did the big Bridge climb - twice. well almost.

We booked in to do it on Thursday - and after an hour of "gearing up", and brief walk and climb, and then 30 mins of sheltering at the mezzanine level of the bridge whilst 3 electrical storms made their way overhead, our climb was eventually aborted and we returned to base to "de-gear" and rebook. Well that wasted 3 hrs- and we still had to return the next day to do it all again. This time we went up no probs. Whilst I am thrilled to have done it - to be honest it was a bit frustrating. There is all the hype about it being challenging - but it really wasn't - I would describe it more as a walk in the park. Apart from one section of ladder climbs which takes you up past the road level to the arch - and wouldn't take more than 5 mins to climb - the rest is gentle stairs. and the really frustrating part was that the group stopped about every 5 mins for tourist info about the bridge and Sydney. As Andrew reminded me - most people were probably very interested - but for me it was all about the climb - and I think I could have done it in half an hour, rather than the one and a half hours that they dragged it into. In fact - I reckon I could have run most of it - now that would have been fun! Of interest to us fitness fanatics - the first guide said you burn approx 900 cals on the climb - and the second said 600-800. My take on it - I would have been lucky to burn 300! Not once did I breathe hard, and I spent more time standing resting, than climbing. If I compare it to a combat class - I would be lucky to burn 500 cals in an hour of this high impact aerobics - can't see how the effort required for the "climb" came anywhere close to this! Anyway - it was great to do it, and I have a Tshirt to prove it!

Here we are - looking particularly glamorous! It was so cold that all I cared about was dressing warmly!

Two other lovely things whilst we were away - Friday night we went on a Salsa - dinner cruise which was a lovely night with lots of dancing - and Andrew decided it was time to buy me an eternity ring - since we were practically on a second honeymoon. He bought me a lovely white gold ring with a pink saphire and diamonds. Luckily we found a shop that was closing down and was selling everything half price. Even at half price it was a little above our price range any way!

HEREs where the photo of my ring should be - but someone's taken the batteries from the camera - so I can't put one in GRRRH! Maybe next post.