Blues Win!
Last night was the second game of this year's State of Origin series, which saw the NSW Blues claim their second victory to seal only their second series win in more than a decade. It was a great game, and it looks like I'll be heading up to Brisbane to make good on the bet of a beer that I had going against Jas (the Queenslander, not my Sutherland "sister").
The victory capped off a week with exceptional variety and the usual frenetic-ness of my weeks down here:
Monday was a uni day for me, with the typical reading, writing and general pontificating about transport that defines my study days. I took a break in the sunny afternoon to go on a 5km run, managing to hit a personal best (well, at least in the last few years) of just over 23 minutes, which was a nice way to start the week.
On Tuesday, I met with my PhD adviser who had just returned from conference travel in Europe. It was good to touch base and also hear a bit about his impressions from his time in Estonia and Finland. In the evening (in the unrelenting rain, accompanied by 60km/hr wind gusts), I headed back to the Capitol Theatre—where I had been disappointed by Mamma Mia in May—to see the Australian show Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
The show, based on movie from the 1990s which I first saw at Tulane, follows the story of a bus of Sydney drag Queens and their journey through the Outback. Based on my previous experience at the Capitol, I tempered my expectations before I went, but was very pleasantly surprised with how fantastic the production was.
Highlighting the show was the lead, played by the original actor who had acclaimed runs on Broadway and in London; overall, it was a really great way to spend the evening, and I am glad to have seen Tony Sheldon reprise his role (<definitely worth a watch) for what sounds like his final time.
After work on Wednesday evening, one of the teams I work with (the planning team) organised a group dinner. We headed out of the office about 5:30 and down George Street to Haymarket for a traditional Chinese hot pot dinner. It was a lot of fun, and a great way to get to know some of my colleagues a bit better.
On Thursday night, I went to a comedy show at my local (that is, the neighbourhood hotel*), the Chippo (short for my suburb, Chippendale). The show was pretty good, and afterwards my friend and I found a late dinner at a Thai restaurant not far from Central in Haymarket. Overall, not a bad way to spend the evening around my neighbourhood.
Finally, on Friday, I had work meetings in the morning and spent the rest of the day pounding through some PhD work. In the late afternoon, I made it out for a run before returning to the city for a work get-together with some external team members on the project I am working on. We met up at Barangaroo, and it was really fantastic to chat with the people I spend a lot of time with in meetings.
After work drinks wrapped up, I headed south toward home to meet Candice for dinner at a restaurant we had been wanting to try: Holy Duck. As the name suggests, the restaurant specialises in duck dishes. We enjoyed an amazing meal and had a good time catching up, before calling it an early night.
Saturday morning started off early (thanks to an early evening on Friday night), and I enjoyed a long walk to the suburb past Newtown, Enmore, to grab brunch with my post-doc Sydney Uni friend Soph. We met at an amazing Israeli restaurant, Shenkin, where we enjoyed shakshuka and pancakes topped with vanilla cream and fresh fruit. It had to be one of my favourite brunches ever.
After brunch, I walked over to Candice's to spend the day running errands and moving a few large items with her. When all the heavy lifting was done, I headed back home to get a run in, smashing through my Monday personal best with a sub-4:00 kilometre and an overall pace under 4:30 per kilometre over 5km.
In the evening, I headed over to Surry Hills to Goros, a Japanese restaurant meets video game place, to have a bite with Candice and one of her former work mates. When we were done there, Candice and I found a secret little whisky speakeasy (we both like whisky) called Tokyo Bird; it was the perfect way to wrap up a busy day.
Finally, on Sunday, I had another early morning (again, great to have early nights), spending some time reading in bed before heading up to St Leonards on the north shore to have brunch with a friend. In the afternoon, I took a train over to Bondi Junction and enjoyed a walk down the coastal cliffs to Tamarama Beach. While the sun was warm on the walk, I don't know how the surfers were able to stand the cold water and wind!
As the afternoon wore on, I met up with Amanda and Beck and spent some time hanging out on their rooftop overlooking the beach. When evening came around, we walked down the street to the local RSL (Retired Service League club—many neighbourhoods have an RSL, not unlike a hotel, which serves as a gathering spot, restaurant, bar, and events venue for local members who pay a nominal fee; because licensing rules are strict in Australia, by requiring membership, RSLs are able to provide lower cost dining and drinking, for some reason) to escape the chill of the evening.
And at the end of the night, I got to watch the Blues win!
All in, it was a fantastic week and, like all the weeks before, full of a range of fun experiences. Now to conquer a new week.
*As I believe I have explained previously, a "hotel" is actually just what a pub is called, going back to the days when drinking establishments were required to provide lodging. It is the quintessential neighbourhood watering hole and many still retain the charm and ambiance of the early 20th Century.
The victory capped off a week with exceptional variety and the usual frenetic-ness of my weeks down here:
Monday was a uni day for me, with the typical reading, writing and general pontificating about transport that defines my study days. I took a break in the sunny afternoon to go on a 5km run, managing to hit a personal best (well, at least in the last few years) of just over 23 minutes, which was a nice way to start the week.
On Tuesday, I met with my PhD adviser who had just returned from conference travel in Europe. It was good to touch base and also hear a bit about his impressions from his time in Estonia and Finland. In the evening (in the unrelenting rain, accompanied by 60km/hr wind gusts), I headed back to the Capitol Theatre—where I had been disappointed by Mamma Mia in May—to see the Australian show Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
 |
| At the Capitol for the show. |
The show, based on movie from the 1990s which I first saw at Tulane, follows the story of a bus of Sydney drag Queens and their journey through the Outback. Based on my previous experience at the Capitol, I tempered my expectations before I went, but was very pleasantly surprised with how fantastic the production was.
Highlighting the show was the lead, played by the original actor who had acclaimed runs on Broadway and in London; overall, it was a really great way to spend the evening, and I am glad to have seen Tony Sheldon reprise his role (<definitely worth a watch) for what sounds like his final time.
After work on Wednesday evening, one of the teams I work with (the planning team) organised a group dinner. We headed out of the office about 5:30 and down George Street to Haymarket for a traditional Chinese hot pot dinner. It was a lot of fun, and a great way to get to know some of my colleagues a bit better.
On Thursday night, I went to a comedy show at my local (that is, the neighbourhood hotel*), the Chippo (short for my suburb, Chippendale). The show was pretty good, and afterwards my friend and I found a late dinner at a Thai restaurant not far from Central in Haymarket. Overall, not a bad way to spend the evening around my neighbourhood.
Finally, on Friday, I had work meetings in the morning and spent the rest of the day pounding through some PhD work. In the late afternoon, I made it out for a run before returning to the city for a work get-together with some external team members on the project I am working on. We met up at Barangaroo, and it was really fantastic to chat with the people I spend a lot of time with in meetings.
After work drinks wrapped up, I headed south toward home to meet Candice for dinner at a restaurant we had been wanting to try: Holy Duck. As the name suggests, the restaurant specialises in duck dishes. We enjoyed an amazing meal and had a good time catching up, before calling it an early night.
Saturday morning started off early (thanks to an early evening on Friday night), and I enjoyed a long walk to the suburb past Newtown, Enmore, to grab brunch with my post-doc Sydney Uni friend Soph. We met at an amazing Israeli restaurant, Shenkin, where we enjoyed shakshuka and pancakes topped with vanilla cream and fresh fruit. It had to be one of my favourite brunches ever.
 |
| The amazing brunch. |
In the evening, I headed over to Surry Hills to Goros, a Japanese restaurant meets video game place, to have a bite with Candice and one of her former work mates. When we were done there, Candice and I found a secret little whisky speakeasy (we both like whisky) called Tokyo Bird; it was the perfect way to wrap up a busy day.
Finally, on Sunday, I had another early morning (again, great to have early nights), spending some time reading in bed before heading up to St Leonards on the north shore to have brunch with a friend. In the afternoon, I took a train over to Bondi Junction and enjoyed a walk down the coastal cliffs to Tamarama Beach. While the sun was warm on the walk, I don't know how the surfers were able to stand the cold water and wind!
 |
| The view north up Bondi Beach. |
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| Looking south toward Tamarama and Clovelly. |
And at the end of the night, I got to watch the Blues win!
All in, it was a fantastic week and, like all the weeks before, full of a range of fun experiences. Now to conquer a new week.
*As I believe I have explained previously, a "hotel" is actually just what a pub is called, going back to the days when drinking establishments were required to provide lodging. It is the quintessential neighbourhood watering hole and many still retain the charm and ambiance of the early 20th Century.
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