Sydney

It was Australia Day. There would be tens of thousands of Aussies celebrating at the harbour. We were going to join them.

By the time we walked down to the Central Quay it was around 2pm. The sun was merciless, and canny locals to stay cool, were using any shade there was. We were full of curiosity, this being our first visit to anything like this. It made the twelfth look so very very stupid. Several different stages around the area were producing live bands playing all sorts of music. Street theatre was here, happy throngs and not a single drunk out of all these folk.

I went in search of water and found a lad cooking on a barby as part of a restaurants trade. The restaurant had put a barby and bar at the edge of their premises, obviously cashing in on the day. He had no water, but we got talking as we both recognised Belfast accents. Turns out, his dad used to teach in Belvoir Primary, a man called Mc Murtry or something like that.

The sun had been harsh on our tired bodies, so we went back to the Menzies for a siesta and shower, and then somewhere for dinner.

I’ve been at this for about 5 hours. We’ll post this and come back to Sydney tomorrow, with a possible link to photos and video.