Hi All

A wet start to today: Heavy rain followed by a long break during which I caught the bus out to Birchgrove and walked out to Ballast Point Park. Last time I was here, the park was relatively new and the seedlings struggling with hot and dry weather. Now look at it! Wow! It's one of the sites for the Manns Point Bridge in The Fatal Span so I was reacquainting myself with the amended location for one of the pylons.

Of course, I couldn't come to Birchgrove/Balmain without walking past the White Bay Power Station and across the Anzac Bridge. Just as I reached the east side, the rain restarted, and it hasn't really stopped since. If only we could get this in Adelaide!

So with the rain, it was time to jump on the underground and go shopping out to Bondi Junction (had a lovely look, bought nothing), then back to Martin Place for some photos (for the second book in the Max Murdoch series: Hell's Bells) then down to Dymocks for some book snooping. I'll return there tomorrow.

The good news: I'm in on the substation tour tomorrow! Can't wait! More to come...

"Two Men in a Trench" tonight. A chance to curl up and watch some fun history with Neil and Tony (and a longer story about the TV in my hotel room being changed to Foxtel - and the free-to-air channels "disappearing." Managed to solve it!)

Happy writing
Bo
x

Hi All

At last a few days away in beautiful Sydney. I flew in yesterday to fine humid weather, and set straight out to The Rocks for the George Street markets (and bought a handbag for work!) then walked around Circular Quay and over to the Opera House to check out the Man O' War Steps (in "The Fatal Span"). Found out I'd been there but never taken a photo of it. Not feeling 100% so spent the rest of the day moseying around Darling Harbour. Wow! Was it packed with families! Enough to scare away the ibis - and that's saying something.

Today I headed out to St Peters to sus out some sites for "Hell's Bells" (second book in the Max Murdoch series). I'm looking for a "campout" for the environment group - and found one likely spot as I walked into the northwest corner of the park. Turns out it's the old Goodsell Brickworks site. Thank God they've kept some of the old kilns and chimneys. In the past, the whole area turned into a waste tip after the brickworks closed - now it's a beautiful park, the 3rd largest in Sydney.

Hiked near the canal down to Tempe (via Hungry Jacks - hey, I was thirsty!) to the weir area near Tempe playing fields. What a change over the years I've been going there. The reeds, sedges, and native bushes and trees have grown so well, the weirs are hard to see!

Took a break in the hotel room before walking over to Ultimo to check another site - and found the old railway tracks from the Powerhouse Museum (the old Ultimo Power Station). What a surprise! Even more of a surprise was the young man who explained a bit about the area and some of its remaining features. Of all the people I could meet in Sydney, I found someone who KNEW what they were talking about. I'm sorry I didn't get your name, young man, but THANK YOU. I think you may work at the ABC (Ultimo).

Next was Harris Street, then through Tumbalong Park (and some ibis) and the discovery of the old Pump House (now a restaurant) then back to the room. Tonight had better be some writing - I'm behind schedule again (dammit!)

Rain tomorrow, so it's a possible shopping opportunity.

And from yesterday: Titanic, we honour you.

Happy writing
Bo
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