A Jaunt to Sydney

That's me just back from a great holiday with the parents in Sydney. I say just back, it's been over a week, I've had some serious relaxing to do now that my summer holidays have finally started, but there's been a lot going on that I should probably write about.

First off, the car. I have one now. It's a '93 Toyota Corolla SECA for those who want to google a picture, a silver one. For those who don't want to google a picture, imagine the Delorian from Back To The Future, except with normal doors and back seats... and just generally less cool... well it's more like the Delorian than a bus.
It has a lot of miles on it, but so does everything in Australia, and it has air-con, which was a prerequisite of the parents' for their visit, I'm sure I'll get the most out of that.

I met the parents in Sydney on the second of December, the day after handing in my final report of the semester. The weather was good on the whole, though a bit wet for the first few days, during which we saw the Blue Mountains (or the bits that weren't covered in low cloud anyway) and the Jenolan Caves, both of which are best described with photos, which will appear on my picasa account when my monthly internet quota is renewed (should be tomorrow).
Update: pics are now online (http://picasaweb.google.com/thetopping)
After that we headed back into Sydney to see the Opera House and the Bridge, which were impressive. I didn't realise the Opera House was tiled, from up close (like several feet away) it looks like a bathroom wall or the floor of a swimming pool. They say the rain cleans it so they don't have to, which is lucky, I'd hate to tackle that with a toothbrush.
Spent a day on 'Manly' beach where I humiliated myself by almost getting swept out to sea. The tide was a lot stronger than I'd ever experienced, I only went out past the breakers but coming back was a relentless struggle akin to sprinting up that treadmill at the end of Gladiators: stop or slow for an instant and you go backwards. If I'd gone out any further I would have needed a lifeguard's assistance (and though I would never question their proficiency as lifeguards, these weren't exactly Baywatch quality figures). After that little debacle I spent a good while just lying on the sand, and got quite sunburnt.

Back in Adelaide, I took the parents to the vineyards, where I, being the designated driver, had to spit out all the lovely wine I tasted. Being generous sorts though, the parents bought a couple of bottles so we could drink them together later. After that we had a bit of a failed attempt to see the animals at Cleland Wildlife Park (not really failed, but the rain in the hills that day dampened spirits of both us and the animals), a trip to the beach and a dinner at Hahndorf before they headed home.
We basically covered everything I've done since arriving in four days.

Now that the sightseeing holiday is over I'm left waiting for my exam results. If they're good I get to start that minor thesis I've been planning, If they're not I try to blag my way into said minor thesis. If they're awful I get to beg. I really don't want to do more taught modules.

As for the weather, It's currently hot and sunny. I'm preparing for christmas (and possibly hogmanay) on the beach. There will be barbecued turkey, and I think I'll be getting a beach umbrella this time, so I don't get so burnt.