Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth II cruise ships block up the city

My early morning bike session on Tuesday morning (5.30am start in Centennial Park) had us going to do hill laps around Watson's Bay/Vaucluse which coincided with the arrival of, until very recently, the largest ocean liner (Queen Mary) coming through the heads or entrance to Sydney Harbour.

Usually at that time of day you see the odd car but this morning (20th Feb) it was like the Sydney to Hobart sailing race was starting. Every man and his dog were either at a harbour look out or on the water!

Bikes and cars don't really mix that well so I was happy to get back in one piece!

In the evening things didn't get much better but I managed to avoid the gridlock in the city caused by people after work trying to get into the city to see the two ships and the free fireworks display.

Go and see this film - Little Children

The title of this film Little Children and the clip I'd seen for it of Kate Winslet in park with fellow mothers and their children which happens at the start of the film doesn't really sell this excellent movie. It cruises in first gear in the beginning and then gains momentum with none of the usual Hollywood stereotypical characters, plotlines and direction which most of us can see a mile off. I defy you to guess what will happen as this film changes gear and takes little twists and turns which happen in real life with very believable characters which keep you wondering what's going to happen next.

Probably the best film I've seen since Crash. Has won lots of film awards and nominations and great reviews so I went to see it based on other peoples ratings of it rather than my feeling based on the title and a film clip! Some comments on this film liken it to American Beauty but better!

IMDB - 7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 82%
MetaCritic 75% (Users 71%)

Yum Cha at Zilvers, Sydney

Atsuko arrived from Melbourne for a couple of days in Sydney for work and so we caught up for Yum Cha in Zilvers in the city with Wayne and Wini and their 1 year old daughter Caitlin. Midway through, a dragon came through the restaurant since it's nearly Chinese New Year!

Natalia's leaving drink

Our favourite Ukrainian doctor is leaving Sydney to eventually do some volunteer work in South Africa via London, via Austria (Skiing), via Rome, via the Ukraine. Just a few people turned up to wish her farewell at Tilbury hotel (bar) in Wooloomooloo close to the famous Harry's Cafe De Wheels - Harry's for you who don't know serves pies and is a favourite spot to go at all hours of the day and night when you need some sustenance...I went there since I'd forgotten that meet at 7pm really means meet at 8pm in Sydney!