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Published: August 24th 2007
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Us at the top of the bridge
I can see the pub from here! G'day all!
I just wanted to say a quick thanks to everyone for all the texts, emails, faxes and carrier pigeons that have arrived over the last couple of days wishing me birthday greetings. Just for the record as a couple of you asked the question, we are currently 9 hours ahead of the UK.
You'll understand that we had to do something a bit special seeing as Imogen got to fly over the Grand Canyon for her big day. As we are in Sydney, what could be more appropriate than crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge? And if you're thinking I mean we had a pleasant stroll across to the other side, had a pint and walked home again, you're wrong. I mean
we climbed over the archy bit! But first things first, a fry up for breakfast. I would have had some champagne too but we knew we would be breathalysed before being allowed to climb and, as I am well experienced in such matters, thought it best not to have anything. You see I am learning in my old age...
We got to the bridge and, after passing the breath test with flying colours (that's
The Sydney Harbour Bridge
Can you see us waving on the top? a first), were given matching jumpsuits. All watches, jewellery, money, cameras etc had to be left behind in case they were dropped onto the passing traffic below. Imogen had given me a new pair of sunglasses as a present, and I was allowed to keep these on as long as I attached them to my jumpsuit with a special strap - I'd only had them an hour and I was already dangling them 80m above 6 lanes of moving traffic and a railway line!
We were attached to a safety line and then led on a 1.8km round trip over the bridge, walking under the main platform, up through the road deck on the South side and up the maintenance steps to the summit 137m above the water. Certain sections involved walking along a mesh walkway which you could see through and down to the ground below. I asked Imogen if she was at all concerned by the height and she said,
No, this is great as I know I don't have to jump off!
Our guide Elena was a good sport and got everyone in the group to sing 'happy birthday' at the top. She told everyone I was 22 but I think she was just making that up.
Birthday gang
Clockwise from left, Si, Sarah, Mark (the leprechaun), Me, Liam, Imogen taking photo It has been cloudy/raining for the last few days here but we were so lucky with the weather. The bright sunshine allowed us to take in the spectacular views from the top, particularly of the Opera House. We could see as far as the Blue Mountains in the distance as well as some menacing clouds gathering. A couple of hours later just as we stepped out of the building having finished, the Heavens opened!
After the climb, we got changed and met up with a couple of friends we know from Melbourne who are now in Sydney, as well as Lilly's sis Sarah and her fella Si who live over here. I chose to meet up in a bar called The Glenmore Hotel which has a roof terrace as I thought it would be nice to sit and watch the sunset over the harbour in the evening. But my usual party-planning prowess failed on a couple of key details as I had my UK head on and was expecting:
(a) It to be sunny all day
(b) Sunset at about 10pm
By the time we stepped out of our hostel at 5.30pm it was already dark because it's
winter The sofa/bed things
In The Argyll on Argyll Street in The Rocks area of Sydney here isn't it?! And the roof terrace was closed because it looked like rain. Nevertheless beers, food and good conversation ensued. Eventually we headed home but stopped off at an incredible bar called The Argyll in the Rocks area of town. Not only was the place beautifully decorated with seats that were actually beds with tables, but the toilets were unbelievable.
Firstly they're unisex, which is pretty cool in a pervy sort of way. Secondly they were completely unconventional, meaning you could tell those people who had never been there before because they were the ones wandering around with wee on their hands looking lost and pressing random fixtures and fittings to try and make something useful happen. As I walked into the room and had a look around for something vaguely resembling a sink or a toilet, I spotted some strange vases in the corner. I wandered over to have a look only to find a man having a wee behind one of them. It turns out they were urinals! There was a long shelf running right down the middle of the room which I later discovered to be a sink and the chrome strips hanging from the ceiling
Unbelievabog!
The things at the back are urinals... were actually taps.
Surprisingly I was in bed by 2am - maybe I'm starting to grow up a bit? You may remember I swore in our Melbourne journal that I would never drink Jager Bombs again. Well sadly I was led astray again (Imogen sensibly avoided them this time). Nevertheless I'm again making the same pledge.
I want to wish all those of you who are attending Paulstonbury this weekend my fondest regards and apologise for not being there myself. I'll be enduring a 12 hour coach journey up the East Coast towards Brisbane on Saturday night while you all celebrate on my behalf!
Much love to you all and I'll speak soon! Paul x
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Michelle
non-member comment
Happy Birthday!
Hi paul, happy birthday, sounds like you had a good one. 22 indeed ...! Happy travels down under. Chelle