Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge: Done!

If you're wondering why someone would climb about 150 metres from the harbour, for the sheer hell of it , then you're not alone. I've often wondered myself, whenever I happen to be in Circular Quay admiring the harbour, Opera house and all the tourists. I look up to see these little people, like lemmings, walking on top of the bridge and i think- they're crazy! It's become a wildly popular 'Sydney' experience, more so for tourists, but today my work took us all on it to celbrate something or other..
SO, I climbed the mighty bridge , I put aside my newly developed fear of heights, a brave face and in hindsight I should have had some food because standing up there on an empty stomach made me feel a bit woozy. I was really hesistant at first, not only because of my fear of heights but only because I had like a week to think about it! they sprung it on us as a surprise. I can't say it's much of a team building excercise but its a hell of a lot of fun, especially when you're not paying for it.
It was raining on my way there, and having only been to the harbour bridge a few times (shame shame I know but hey!) I had no idea how to get there. Funnily enough I bumped into one of the German guys from my work who, being here for only six months, of course, knew the way and could guide me! Never have I felt more like a tourist in my own city!
The preparation is great, and I felt very safe the whole time. It was windy as all hell, but it didn't rain thank god! the sun came out a bit which was nice, and most of the time up there - you spend like two and a half hours on top! THAT"s right!! - it was really peaceful. I sort of got a bit scared but i just sat down and looked at the water..it was gorgeous. I am so lucky to live in a beautiful city like Sydney even though, like most Sydney-siders I spend most of my time in the inner city and suburbs- but still, cant' complain.
One thing that was deceiving was the amount of steps- it felt like five thousand, but it's actually less than two. I was the second last in the group and my legs were killing me, I guess going to the gym yesterday and doing lots of leg-weights in prep wasn't a good idea. thankfully one of the girls I work with did the same thing so we were the last two idiots going down at snails' pace while everyone else admired the view.
I'd say the scariest bit was coming down..the vertical stairs on the beams..wow!! the fact that two trains went past on the harbour at full speed next to the stairs.. I was like ' BREATHE, one, two one two' it was great to talk myself through it. At the end of the day there's no one else there but you to get you through it, and that's an amazing experience.
I got a bit dizzy on the way back but I think it was due to my lack of food and it was already after 2pm. I was so nervous in the morning that I didn't eat. Pretty stupid on hindsight.
So if you get to Sydney, (and have $200 to spare!) I highly recommend it!!! Now I need to sleep for a day or so to recover- I thought I was fit but this climb took it out of me!!
ps.that's not me in the pic, I'll try to scan my pics and post them later, but you can see great photos on the bridge website http://www.bridgeclimb.com.au/

Are you crazy? I mean, congratulations...

Everyone who knows me will know that I am an overly straightforward gal, and that I value genuine opinions and honesty. Also being an Aussie, I always love good banter. It's just what we do here.
However, I wonder sometimes where you draw the line? do you become honest with your family very close friends even when they appear happy, and you know that deep inside, what they are doing is just plain stupid?.
So, this brings me to an announcement- my boyfriends brother got engaged over the weekend. I was really happy for him because he's happy and he's a wonderful guy- but I have so many reservations on marriages nowadays. But then I think, it's not really marriage that bothers me , or the fact that people take it too lightly or the fact that divorce rate is up to 45% in Australia..it's just the fact that sometimes it is just too blatanly obvious that one of the people in there is in a relationship for the wrong reasons. I expressed my views to my friends, family, they all patiently put up with me. But i didn't say anything to the happy couple, i mean we're not really close, he's not my brother and she is not my sister.what can I say? "have you seen the latest marrige statistics?" Don't think that would go down well.
But still, it bothers me because I will have to see these people a lot and pretend to be all happy and supportive and really I think its the craziest thing they've ever done. What's the rush? especially when you've been dating for such a short time. Then I think, don't be selfish, these are just your opinions but it doesn't make them right. Well most people agree with me, but also most people will sit back and put on a happy face.
Is this apathy? do we just sit back and let our friends/family make mistakes for the sake of their happiness? do we just follow them along with whatever they do, because you know, it should all be unconditional support?. Or do you get up and say 'have you thought this through?' I don't think it's a good idea?' and hope they don't punch you out in the process.
I just dont' know. I hope that when I do something stupid, people around me tell me if they dont' agree with it, I'd hate for everyone else to be seeing something i just can't see.
It's a hard one.
One thing is for sure, that I am sick of being surrounded by people getting married at the drop of a hat, and i made a promise that if anyone else gets engaged in the next few months I am leaving the country!

You'd think it was snowing..

You'd think it was snowing, check out the hail we got this afternoon. It was a gorgeous day, sunny clear and pretty warm, i'd say about 20C. then in the late afternoon it got very dark and cloudy, i heard lots of rain..i look out of my window at work and i saw what I thought was snow on top of a car? what the..? well my sis rang and told me it was hailing where she was (closer to the city where this photo was taken) i quickly left work worried it would get me on my way home! but as i drove , the rain started clearing and i figured it had cleared up. then i get an mms from my bf where he works (east of sydney city, the super posh part with all my favourite shops, meanwhile i work in suburbia full of exchange rude uni students and annoying parents with prams) and this is what i see:

is that snow? no it can't be! it doesn't snow here, but its big ass hail! ouch.



well this is what i send back:






No hail for us!!and by us i mean i'm about 20km away.. i'm really lucky though because i have to drive home on some pretty fast roads, doing 80km's an hour and living near an industrial area there's always heaps of bigg ass trucks trying to bully you out of the road.. i hate it i hate it. When i was at uni i used to work in the city,
I hated the crowds and the craziness of the city. i remember thinking 'i wish i could get a job in the outer suburbs so i can drive everyday' this was mostly due to the fact that the public transport system in Sydney is like a third world country. so the trains are always late and cancelled, etc. it's pretty crap. it has been fixed recently. whereas driving was fun for the first 6 months, the road rage and craziness of it really gets to me now and i'd do anything to go back to the city amidst all the craziness. at least i can put my iPod on, read a book and tune out. Be careful what you wish for!
On other news, here is my knitting:
Ah but where is the knitting you say.. sorry Gracey I haven't done much because I stuffed it up on Sunday nite so tonite i'm taking it to my mum's place to get fixed, en route to dinner at a friends house. I can't wait to see my friends as it's been a while, I just hope it doesn't hail.
I wanted to continue last nite but my mum begged me not to because if i had stuffed it and i kept going without fixing it then it would be harder to fix.
In any case, aren't the needles cute?? i can't wait to buy a pretty bag to put it in.
Well this is a bit of a picture post and i hope blogger can handle it..also its very on the hour as the hail just stopped..there you go, Sydney news as it happens..not sure if the weather counts as news but at least its nice to see pictures!

Knitty gritty

The last few weeks have been a bit tricky, but I'm back on board. I've decided to take up knitting- it looks like it would be a lot of fun and I actually used to know how to knit when I was younger but I've forgotten how! too much info overload from all the stuff I've learnt at uni..
In any case, I love yarn and colours... so I can't wait to do something relaxing yet productive. I'm going to hopefully learn this weekend, since last weekend we were held up with some family stuff. But I"m a firm believer that family comes first, adopted family, boyfriends' family- anyone that's out there that you are close to , to me they're family. Anyway, back to my point.. I bought some knitting needles and I'm super excited, and it's not just because they're pink. It was even more excited when I went over to Gracey's blog and she had posted how she's getting into crafts and needles! great minds think alike !!! hehe !! this is great because now I can have someone to share this with and get advice from..as none of my friends here knit (although I'm going to try to conver them! but everyone is just too busy nowadays..hmm)
Anyway, do you knit? do you want to knit? want to join our knitting blog? we are in the process of hosting one and we'll be happy to have people on board. So email me or Gracey or leave a comment.
For all of you who think that you are too busy to knit..yes you probably are! but imagine that instead of just sitting down and watching TV you could watch Tv and knit, sit on the bus, train or subway and knit... and it is very relaxing and rewarding to accomplish something.. even if its a cute little scarf or socks, that you can also give to someone you love. I know I can't wait to make stuff for my family and my kitty! heh. It's also really cheap, needles and yarn are very affordable. We'll also be looking as doing a yarn swap, needle and pattern swap in the future so you can get goodies from o'seas!
So, think about it, life is too short not to be productive! All welcome, the more the merrier.