"Z is for Zetland"

Another short trip today as I had to finish off the church accounts for the auditor before I go away to New Zealand.

Didn't have enough Zinc cream to wear all over so I got out my veritable Zoo of animal, bird and insect brooches to choose from.

Zoomed out the door to Zip over to Riverwood, Zig Zagging through the traffic to pick up a train to Zetland.

Found my way from Green Square Station to Nan's Place, a Zany little cafe with fabulous food.

I had the most amazing Vegemite and two cheese toast on sourdough, and a fabulous banana milkshake. Was going to have a coffee and donut but I was too full, so I grabbed a donut to take home for dessert.

So at last comes to an end my Alphabetical Adventure, and what an Absolutely Zany time it has been all the way from A to Z, thanks for coming along for the ride. Time to head to New Zealand for a rest.

Zany Zetland

"Y is for Yagoona"

A short outing today as I had to start the packing process for my trip to NZ.

A Yellow t-shirt with my Yellow-gold hibiscus necklace and earrings and the lovely Yellow leather flower of Mum's.

Off on the buses to Yagoona for a quick look around the Salvos Store and a wander up and down the Highway, spotting some lovely Yellow flowers outside the florist.

 Then it was time for getting the train and bus home again. I told You it was a short outing today.

Yagoona Yarn

"X marks the spot"

There is no suburb in Sydney starting with an “X”, so I was at a loss as to where to go until it dawned on me that “X marks the spot”.  

Therefore the only logical place to go was to a map shop. All the ones in the Sydney CBD have closed (or gone online) and so it was to the wonderful Map Centre at Parramatta that I turned to help me map out a plan of action to find myself a treasure map.

Decked myself out in my gold and gold coins, as well as the earrings I bought at the Hamlin Shop on Monday that were made from melted down artillery shells.

My niece's “Alphabetical Sydney” book confirmed that I had made the right choice, and armed with her hand drawn map Nellie and I safely navigated our way to the Map Centre (and to Harry’s Café de Wheels across the road).

Nellie checked their maps of the Caribbean but could find no “X” marked on any of them. Settled for a map of Sydney to mark where I have been, and a compact map of New Zealand where I am going.

On the way back through Parramatta Westfield we spotted some pirate loot in the discount store, perhaps we found a treasure map after all?

X?

"V is for Vaucluse" & "W is for Watsons Bay"

When deciding which two letters to combine VW seemed a natural choice, even more so after Nellie said did I want someone to drive me in a VW that day.

Not having anything Violet to Wear I chose a Variegated design on a White t-shirt and added a Variegated necklace. (Nellie Wore a lovely Violet shirt.)

As We set out after doing our Various chores I Was glad that Nellie Was driving us in her little red VW as it Was a Very Wet start to the day. We Veered in at out of the traffic on the Way, choosing to travel the old Way as there Was a delay on the motorway.

Finally We headed along Winding Vaucluse Road and Wentworth Road to the Wonderful Vaucluse House Tearooms. 

It Would have been Mum’s birthday today, so I decided it Would be lovely to have High Tea With Momma Nellie to celebrate Mummy Joan’s birthday.

What a Wonderful High Tea it Was. First Two Varieties of sandwiches, salmon rolls, and mini quiches With a glass of bubbles. Then scones With rhubarb jam and cream With a pot of Summer Rose White tea. Then mini jam donuts, mini macarons, chocolate cream tarts With spun sugar, mini éclairs and pineapple tarts With gold leaf decorations With a pot of Midnight Spice herbal tea. Then coffee.

All the time Nellies little VW Waited patiently for us, even as We kept spotting Weird shapes in the bark of the trees (can you spot the monkey and the masked face?).

We retraced our steps and Valiantly headed back along the Winding roads to Vaucluse to Wander around the shops, before Wending our Way to Watsons Bay. What spectacular Views of the Water and the city skyline.

We sat and Watched the World go by (Well the tourists from around the World) for a While, then headed up to Wonder at the power of Water as We gazed over the Gap.

We sat for a While back at the Wharf Watching the Various antics of the seagulls and one pelican. We Were then disappointed to discover that Doyles on the Wharf had closed at 5.00p.m. not 6.00p.m. as stated on their Website. We Were not amused.

We had to settle for fish and chips from the Watsons Bay Hotel Takeaway instead (kids size of course as We Were still a little full). Wow, it Was Wonderful, the chips Were the best We'd had in a Very long time. We didn’t leave any for the seagulls.

After a truly Wonderful day We Wended our Way home again through the Very busy streets of Sydney playing “spot the VW” on the Way (a Wildly inaccurate 99).

Very Wonderful Vaucluse & Watsons Bay

"U is for Ultimo"

Up a bit late last night (surprise, surprise) so Up a bit late this morning. Hey, I am on holidays after all.

Wore my blue t-shirt as it is the closest thing I own to Ultramarine, even though it will clash a little with my Unakite necklace and earings.

Up and at the day, Up the stairs of the bus, Up the stairs at the station, Up the stairs in the train, Up the escalator at the end of the Underpass to Railway Square. This day is looking Up already and I haven’t even got to Ultimo.

First stop the ABC and their café for a rather Unusual, Unexpected, Unique mint slice with my coffee. It wasn’t a mint slice, it was a green coconut slice.

My poor feet were taking Umbrage at my new shoes so it was a slow walk Up the Undulating footpath of Harris Street to Ultimo’s other landmark the Powerhouse Museum.

Saw two Utterly wonderful exhibits. Firstly "A Fine Possession" which is an exhibition that celebrates the central place of jewellery in our lives, from antiquity to the present-day. It includes some Unusual “gems” such as beetles legs and hummingbird wings.

Up to the Black Star Pastry Café for a late lunch – the Ubiquitous steak sandwich and a Lemmy lemonade.

Back to the the "Recollect" area which is currently displaying over 800 shoes from their wonderful shoe collection, which they started in 1942 by buying the Joseph Box Collection in England.

My Upset feet meant I will have to come back and have a second look at both exhibits, especially since the “Undressed: 350 Years of Underwear in Fashion” exhibition doesn’t open until the end of March.

Uniquely Ultimo