So long, farewell, adieu

Our cruise around the Coral Sea has begun. We boarded the Brilliance of the Seas shortly before noon today. Our premium Key pass let us skip the check-in crowd. As a result, it took us less than 15 minutes to get on board. Although, in all honesty, there was hardly anyone there at noon. I must admit it was an odd sensation going through immigration at the terminal. I’ve never left Australia “by land” so to speak.

Once on board we kicked off our cruise with a light lunch in the main dining room. Our window table offered a stunning view of the Sydney Opera House. We then explored the ship until our cabin became available shortly after 1:00pm. 

We’ve booked ourselves into a spacious Junior Suite with a balcony. The room included a walk-in robe, a tiled bathroom, and a separate lounge space we can screen off with a curtain if someone wants to read late on the sofa (i.e Garry).

We also chose a cabin on the starboard side of the boat. As a result, we enjoyed a breathtaking view of Circular Quay and the Opera House while sailing out of Sydney Harbour shortly after 5:00pm. The weather was perfect as we boarded but by the time we sailed through the Sydney Heads, it had become a little overcast.

As the Australian coastline recedes into the distance, it’s hard to believe that we’re finally off to Vanuatu. Our ship is equipped with a Starlink internet service so we’re still connected to the 21st Century. Stay tuned for more adventures in the days ahead. 

Finally, here's a nifty data sheet about the ship that was left for us in our cabin.

Note:

This post is the blog’s 1300th post. It’s been an extraordinary experience documenting life’s ups and downs since 2005. In the months ahead you’ll find Garry and I spending time in London and Germany on business, plus another side trip to New Zealand for me.

Caley cocktail hour

We had six friends over for cocktails and a light dinner yesterday. Our hospitality was motivated by two things. First, we wanted to clean out the last of our Christmas leftovers before going on a cruise this weekend. Second, we'd offered to host a birthday gathering for Jacqui, a friend living in Moore Park Gardens.

Everyone came over at about 4pm for cocktails and one of my famous charcuterie cheese boards. The weather was perfect for a rooftop afternoon, sunny and warm. We then progressed to BBQ sausages and onions on brioche buns, before finishing the evening with birthday cake, homemade Christmas panettone pudding, and brandy snap ice cream.  The last of our guests finally departed at about 1am.

The moon also put on an impressive show.  A brilliant amber orb rose above the northeast horizon at about 9pm and sent all of our Facebook and Instagram-friendly guests scrambling to capture the best photo of the night. I'd watched a similar moonrise the night before and had been stunned by its size, colour, and brightness.  The shadows it cast had made me think momentarily that we'd left an outside light on.

All in all, it was a fun evening and a wonderful way to make full use of our rooftop balcony. I’ve also learned that making cocktails is a lot of hard work (even if you pre-mix the margaritas)!

Merry Christmas

The turkey is roasting in the oven. The pavlova has been baked. The gingerbread men have been decorated. The table is set. I think we're ready for Christmas. Merry Christmas everyone.

Deck the halls

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Crescent Street.  Last weekend we put up the Christmas tree and decorated the house. Garry's family are joining us for lunch on Christmas Day this year so we thought we'd make an effort. We've been away for the last two years so it's a bit of a novelty to be hosting at home again. 

The silly season is well underway.  Garry and I have been wining and dining our way through a host of exotic venues over the last few weeks. Our calendar has included a private dining room experience at a'Mare in the Crown Casino, a white-party-themed long lunch at Three Blue Ducks in the new Cannery complex in Rosebery, a leisurely business lunch at Chin Chin, and lunch with our staff at Luke's Kitchen in the Kimpton Margot Hotel.

I've also met business colleagues for breakfast at Grounds of the City, sampled boutique gin at Archie Rose, and sipped on cocktails in a private booth at The Rover. There's also been a BBQ event for residents in our building, plus two separate BBQ events with friends in neighbouring buildings at Moore Park Gardens.

I think I’ve just about had my fill of festivities. It'll be nice to kick back and relax on a boat when we go cruising for 11 days after Christmas. Although to be honest, as the sun rose this morning, a quiet coffee on our balcony was just as appealing.