Sun. Sand. Sydney.

Its been some time since I blogged, and I feel bad, sorry, but I have had several people urging me to write again, and so like the good boy I am, here I am, back, big time!

At the beginning of the month, I finally broke my run of London trips. Despite having one singular New York flight at New Year, I have done nothing but London Heathrow's since November. Alas, the rostering Gods were shining bright on me for April, and sent me on an 8 day trip to Sydney. I say 8 day trip, I should really say 8 day holiday, as despite having a long 14+ hour flight on either end to get there and back, as well as a day of flying to Auckland in the middle, it was happy days, happy holidays all round!

Arriving early on a Saturday morning from Dubai, I decided this was going to be a perfect chance to also spend some time with my Mum. With some careful coordination of Staff Travel with my former airline (and coincidentely my brothers current employer) Pacific Blue, she flew in and arrived just 45mins after I did, to spend a brilliant weekend in Sydney together with me. Staying at the crew hotel, right in Central Sydney, we pounded those Pitt Street pavements like they've never been pounded before, finding bargains, goodies, trinkets, and treasures to fill the suitcases to take home with us.

It was just wonderful to have some time together with Mum, and while it was just 2 days, it was perfect. I hired us a car on the Sunday morning, as we had both spent plenty of time in the CBD in the past, but apart from the obligatory touristic adventure to Bondi Beach, we had never seen beyond the urban bustle. Thanks to Thrifty Car Rentals, I got on the roads and discovered our first lesson in Sydney City Planning; Bus Lanes. As if they owned the roads, the buses get to turn where no cars can, they get to glide past all the traffic and push in where no cars can, and basically just get in the way, when no cars can. But, I can drive in Dubai, which is not something to scoff at, so I can get by in Sydney and nothing was going to get in my way! Not even an articulated bus, longer than my rental car, 20 times over! Over the Harbour Bridge, Google Maps in hand, with trusty Mumma Kiwi as my navigational aid (though, I'm still trying to decide if I will use her directions again...) (no offence Mum, we did a great job!!) and northbound to Palm Beach, the home of TV's Home and Away.

Gorgeous late summer sunshine, a walk to a lighthouse which nearly killed us both (Mum was cursing me for days), and a surf lifesaving competition to perve upon. We filled ourselves on fine Australian food, lazed about in the fresh Australian air and had a time of mother-son bonding which was well overdue, provided lovingly by Emirates!

Bonza!