Greetings from Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour

Greeting from Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour where I'm at the end of my second week, read 12 days straight so far, Site Managing the Red Bull X-Fighters which is going to be staged next Saturday 6th October.
The site started looking like this:

And today it looks like this.

Click on the photos for an enlarged view.
I get my first day off next Tuesday and my feet are looking forward to it.
I'll post some more photo's as we go along.
Cheers!

Tasmania, nice but no need to hurry back

Hello all!

We we recently got back from 12 days in the Apple Isle, as Mandy has some delusional ideas about retiring there some day; FAIL! WE had spectacular weather, 22-26 daily and only really 2 nights of really cold weather.We landed in Hobart and both of us were confused as to where we were staying, but as Mandy pointed out it was amazing planning on her behalf, read total tin ass, as our motel was 1 headland away from MONA (Museum of Old & New Art) where I wanted to go to. The motel was classic 50's, pull the car up outside you room, besser block walls and a fantastic view out the font door overlooking MONA and the Derwent River.

We did a couple of drives, Richmond to check out the jail, bridge and church, Port Arthur to see Port Arthur, up Mount Wellington which was arctic, bloody freezing, thank God for PJ's & Bernie's parkas!

Had a great lunch at the Waterside Hotel at Bellereve overlooking the harbour, and I went to MONA while Mandy had a nap. 

 

MONA was pretty outstanding, the building was carved into a hillside overlooking the river. Some of the art left a bit to be desired but for most of it, it was pretty cool. The Brett Whitely room only has 1 painting, though big, but the reflective glass over it leaves one to ponder in the reflections of the light coming in.

After 3 days we left Hobart and headed up the east coast destined for Swansea, arrived there 2 hours early to check in and left 2 hours later when we worked out we both would have necked each other if we'd staying as there was nothing to do; it was either Closed or For Sale. So we ranh ahead to St.Helens and we could get our room in advance (2 days early). Got there, nice lakeside village, stayed above the pub, went for some drives then decided to move on without the third night there. So we headed to Launceston averaging 45km per hour, the road was up and down mountains and full of hairpin bends; actually a really tiring drive as you had to watch the road the whole time.

Check into the Country Club Villa's and found they were ordinary, especially the one we were given. So Mandy decided on the Holiday Upgrade (no surprises for those of you who have been on holidays with us). So it was over to the Casino and into a fantastic suite, huge room, balcony for smoking great bathrooms, and great views over the golf course where there were ducks, rock wallabies, bush turkeys everywhere.

We had 3 lovely nights there over Easter, took a drive up to Georgetown and the head of the Tamar River to check out Bass Strait, pretty wild and wooly. Had some nice afternoons at the bar watching the AFL while Mandy had a flutter. Easter Monday we headed back to Hobart and after a lazy 2 & 1/2 hour drive we check into the Wrestpoint Casino and again a lovely upgrade to a river view room.

Our last 3 days were spent here just going for drives down to Kingston Beach, across to Bellereve harbour, into Salamanca for lunch and general hanging out on the balconies of the Casino reading. And then it was back to Sydney and up to the Cabana Bar to catch up with friends.
Cheers!