Hello faithful readers - just a quick note, as Tom is chomping at the bit to get to the pub. Actually we're meeting our friends, the Hiltner's, for drinks and dinner tonight. Walt is an ex-pat Seattlite, married to Ellen, a genuine Aussie, and it's always great to spend time with them when we're in Sydney.

Yesterday it rained. We went for our normal bikes rides in the AM - Tom, with the Sydney Cycling Club, and me, alone. Although, I leave about 45 minutes after Tom, and he joins me in the park as I'm going around in circles. It started to sprinkle just after we met up, and we were heading for home, when Tom had the excellent idea to go for coffee and wait out the rain. We sat outside at a cafe, under their awning, sipping our cappuccinos for about 1/2 hour, and by the time we finished - it was POURING!! We headed for home - about 4 miles away at that point, with Tom muttering all the way about dirty bikes and how un-fun it is to ride in the rain. We did get filthy, but I actually thoroughly enjoyed it. After all, when you're 53 years old, how often do you get to play outside in the rain and the mud?

Today, we woke up to a gorgeous sunrise and after cycling headed to the beach at Coogee - about 2 miles south of famous Bondi Beach. Last year, 3 days before departing for home, we found this funky little bathing club that has beautiful decks overlooking the beach and ocean and a fabulous rock pool. One can swim in the ocean without fear of sharks and the waves break over the side of the pool, so you don't lose the sensation of body surfing. It's a very comfortable place to hang out, take in some sun and do a little reading. One never tires of the view over the ocean; the colors are so magnificent and the breakers lull you into a very peaceful state.

Incidently, there was a shark siting at Bondi yesterday; a shark nudged a teenage surfer, but he hit it with his surfboard and it swam away. At least, that was the story he told to the news media.