Coffee, 'Diner en Blanc', Coffee, Sculptures, Coffee etc

OK, I'm hoping that whomever is reading this has picked up my date error from the last post and realised that I was suffering from "cafe coffee withdrawal" symptoms.  Alex's big scan is on 15th November - not October - and yes, we are told the results before the next 'Tiger in the Tank' chemo session on 16th November.

A nervous wait indeed.

But (isn't there always one?) we haven't been twiddling our thumbs while we wait.  Far from it.

We were thrilled that Marion and Denise flew up from Geelong to visit us for the weekend - they arrived EARLY on TITTD.  (I just wanted to prove that I am still a whiz at acronyms - something learnt far too well in my other life working at ADHC, where I felt I became a TLA Specialist.  I digress, unusual I know, but TITTD is Tiger in the Tank Day ...  :-}   ). 

On Saturday, Alex was still recovering from his huge and tasty dinner with Joe & Leona.  Saturday was a very exciting day because after waiting for (literally) years, our bookcase was being installed.  Alex was initially going to build this himself, however the size of it and events both overtook us, and so the guys who built our kitchen cupboards came to install it.  Alex had designed it (after consultation with dear moi) and given the boys a CAD drawing, so we knew what to expect.  When I left in the morning, the hallway looked like

and when we all arrived home in the afternoon, it looked like

I was impressed.  OK, yeah I was excited.  Or over-excited as Alex would say.  Our books that were packed back into boxes on 1st January 2007 were finally released into the fresh air and proudly displayed nearly 6 years later.  Oh, the excitement and the literal whiff of freedom!

Alex prudently decided that it was best he stay to supervise the installation, chat to the boys and relax a bit.  Denise, Marion and I spent time wandering through the Kirribilli markets and enjoyed breakfast there.  We then walked over the Bridge and down to Circular Quay.  It was a glorious day - and even though I live here, it's always good to walk around as if I was a tourist and see the everyday in a different light.

 

I know I shouldn't put photos of me in this blog, but this entry will have to be the exception.  If anyone reading this knows the name of this glorious red tree, please tell.

Other sights on the way to the Quay show Sydney on a glorious Spring day

 

 We caught the all stops ferry to Watsons Bay

and since it was late, we decided that lunch would be our first priority before a walk.  At Watsons Bay, I think the best lunch is take-away Doyle's Fish, sitting at the waterfront watching the world go by.

We then went for a walk up to the heads and back

OK, we did also daydream of turning up to some of the property auctions to see if and how much they sold for and also to have a look at the people bidding, but decided it would be too dangerous if we sneezed at an inopportune moment.  Also at this time of year, hardly a week goes by without a report of a fisherman being swept off the rocks and drowning, and with the surf conditions on a calm day as we saw them, we could certainly understand the news and still wonder at the fishermen who obviously love it yet still don't wear any vests.  This fisherman had quite a hike back to his bag, never mind getting back to the path!

On the ferry ride back, we saw what we thought was a Mormon Group Wedding - lots of people waiting at Rose Bay, all dressed in white.  Well, there was a banana in the middle of them, or more to the point, a guy (presumably) dressed as a huge banana.  Unpeeled.

When we arrived back at Circular Quay, there were more Whites.  It transpired that Antoine Bessis, a former restaurant owner, had organised Sydney's inaugural 'Diner en Blanc' as part of Crave Sydney International Food Festival, sponsored by the Sydney Morning Herald.  This global phenomenon originated in Paris - of course - more than 20 years ago.  "AS FAR as picnics go, a Diner en Blanc is as elaborate, mysterious and unconventional as it gets. The impromptu ''white dinner'' has thousands of people clad in all-white formal wear meet at a well-known public space for an epicurean feast" the paper reported.


"Organisers describe it as a fancy flash mob picnic, as the location remains secret until moments before the event. About 1200 picnickers will assemble with a two-person table (of specific dimensions), chairs, decorations, crockery, glassware and, of course, a basket of food. Most importantly, all accessories, including clothing, must be white."

Antoine Bessis said that the dress code was "fashion, elegance, chic, French, white. They have to be dressed absolutely all in white. No coloured accessories or anything.'' If guests refuse to comply with the colour code, they will be turned away and never invited again.  He decided to stage one in Sydney after participating in one held in front of the Notre Dame two years ago.

Only he and about nine others knew details of the ''picturesque'' setting.  We gathered people were told to meet at Circular Quay and then the location was revealed - in front of the newly renovated Museum of Contemporary Art building.  It would have been spectacular to attend.  When eating ceased, dancing ensued until 11pm when it was time to pack up, clean up and leave without a trace.
''People set up in a moment's notice and then, four hours later, they're gone as if they were never there,'' Mr Bessis said.

 

Now I didn't find out all this information from the participants we spoke to.  Most of them seemed to have no idea why they were there (OK, the guys we spoke to) or who had organised the event.  "We're just doing as we're told" they said to me, and I pretended to believe that they believed this too.

 

I know that Sydney seems to be having a love affair with everything French, and we have personal reasons for our own love of France, but I'm sure this chic lady would even turn heads in Paris.

 

As a footnote, we didn't see the Banana again, and we could hardly have missed him in this group!

 

On Sunday, Alex was well enough to join us as we headed out to Bondi to check out Sculptures by the Sea, 2012.  Travelling in a car as opposed to our beloved bikes, finding parking spaces has become a newly acquired skill, as has paying for the privilege!   Alex spotted a gap and we were parked and paid for in no time, well, it did take a while for us all to donate what seemed to be our entire coin collection into the hungry parking meter.

 

Breakfast was our first stop and this was delicious.  Yes, one image is blurry but this must have been because my camera was on the "I'm hungry and I've got to eat RIGHT NOW because I'm drooling over this" setting.

 

And you know when it's time to settle the bill when you see this on your table ...

 

 

... especially if this is the second one you've seen!

We had a look at the Sculptures at the Bondi beach end only as far as the park on the hill at Bondi.

From a distance this sculpture didn't look much, but when we got closer we realised it was made of staples.  It must have taken ages to do.  I'd love to know what inspired it.

Judging by the number of onlookers fiddling on their phones, I'd say that at least some of them would have to be logging on to the site to check this out.

We didn't buy a catalogue however we did try to guess at the inspiration/meaning/purpose of this one.  The guesses we had could not be repeated here.

Skeletons seem to be a perennial favourite, and they always look good.

The sculptures are always interesting - the views, fellow viewers and the sculptures themselves.

Back at Bondi beach the Icebergs pool looked chilly, such a contrast to the weather from the day before.

 

Walking back to our van, we passed this ad on a bus station

I know we'd already had a great breakfast, but I still couldn't help looking at the ad and thinking that the coffee could have been a 'good call'  but I couldn't say the same for the supposedly bacon and cheese - or maybe it was meant to be egg - wrap.

Looking down the hill, I noticed the bus crawling up the hill slowly in the never ending traffic.  Initially all appeared quite normal, but then I noticed that it was strange to see Top Shop 'Sydney'.  Obviously for me, another coffee would have been a 'good call' because it wasn't until Alex asked if I'd noticed the bus, that I realised why I thought it was normal and it wasn't until a local bus passed that it all clicked.  Yes, we're overdue for a visit!

Last week was mostly good - Alex's taste buds came home but they're still not staying home all day.  Together with his mouth problems after chemo, it makes eating difficult at times.  Being able to taste the food is a very welcome plus, and when he is able to chew and swallow as well life is pretty good. 

This last weekend wasn't quite as exciting as the previous one.  The floor in our unusable front room had to be pulled up.  Between us we managed it over the two days and it's now decorating the driveway, as floors do. 

We had new under floor ventilation system installed this morning, and on Thursday and Friday Alex will be teaching me how to lay a blackbutt floor.  This will be the 3rd floor we've had to lay in this room, and it had better be the last!

We spent a busy morning at the office after the guy had installed his bits and pieces (yes, that's me being very technical) and we headed down to The Grounds for a lovely lunch as a reward ...