Sydney 2024

Having arrived safely in Sydney, I was greeted by Vi-Lay at the Padstow train station and escorted back to her place for homemade congee with century egg (these are black in colour) before being taken for a grand tour of the neighbourhood. So many churches, little ethnic restaurants and coffee shops, a Woolworths Metro where we picked up some yogurt for my breakfast, then heading home.  Even though Sydney time is three house ahead of Perth by 7:30pm I was exhausted.  Still to try to get adjusted to the difference time zone I took something to assist my sleep and crashed out, sleeping well till 5am.  I decided I wouldn’t go for my usual jog but instead just enjoy the lie in as I had a big day ahead of me.

I didn’t really feel like breakfast (my digestive system was still on Perth time) but thought I’d better have something before heading out at 10am. The railway station is just a two minute walk from Vi-Lay’s home, so convenient.  My Opal Gold pensioners travel card which, Praise the Lord I had checked before leaving Perth, suddenly wasn’t working!  The week I had decided to come to Sydney I had remembered to check if my Opal Gold travel card was still operational. As I already had the card from my previous visit to Sydney I thought I could just top it up through the online membership portal. I’m glad I checked it as it didn’t seem to be working.  I gave the information centre a call to unlock my account, change my new details, load the card with $20 and program an automatic reload for $5.00. All seemed to be set up ready for my trip. The woman I spoke to informed me my card was ready to go and would automatically deduct the fare from my bank account as soon as I tapped on at Sydney terminal. Which, praise the Lord, happened seamlessly. So I presumed I’d have no further problems.  But no! When I tapped on at Padstow, my card was refused, bank card refused! What! No! I checked and there was money on my debit card and I knew it was that account I’d linked to the Opal card. So what went wrong?

Praise God, I had plenty of time to get all I needed done that day.  A woman who saw me struggling suggested I just get on the train (which was about to arrive) and if I get caught just explain my situation.  I felt very awkward but trusted the Lord would lead me.  I found a single seat just near the doors (for quick escape – just joking!) and called the Opal operator to ask her to recheck my account. She asked me to re submit my bank card and put in another $10 on auto reload and just tap off when I reach my destination. When I checked my bank account there seemed to have money pending coming out for the Opal card all over the place.  I checked the Opal card app on my phone and saw money coming in and out too!  The total fare, for pensioners, per day (except for the airport stations) is $2.50.  Checking again later it had eventually sorted itself out.  The train inspectors didn’t check my card which was a relief but on another trip they did. I’m glad the Lord was watching over me.

I felt so at home being back on Sydney’s trains for although I drove my own car when I lived here if I needed to go into the CBD I took the train and when ever I visit I take the trains too.  From Wooli Creek I changed trains getting off in Kogarah one of my old stomping grounds. I had plenty of time before my lunch appointment so called in to see if my friend Gai still ran her Thai restaurant Sunbaijai.  She is a Christian who I met when a group of us went out for lunch after church many years ago.  There she was as I popped my head through the door.  She recognised me but had forgotten my name as I had hers. It was lovely to see she had survived the pandemic and was still open. I told her I’d be back for lunch with friends and asked if she could make me my special original Nam Tok (Thai beef salad done the traditional way) and sticky rice.

My next stop was my optometrist.  The receptionist had recognised my voice when I’d called from Perth.  Unlike in Perth I was able to have my eyes checked and a brand new pair of glasses with no gap through my health fund.  They would be ready to be picked up within a week.  Praise the Lord.

As I was walking back towards the station for a coffee I passed the street where my old church was so decided to call in, hoping someone I knew was around. I could see people inside so knocked.  Two familiar faces looked back, opening the door for me.  Dan Au, now senior pastor and his wife Fayette who was leading a kid’s music program. After hearty greetings, Dan suggested showing me the changes around the premises which then led to a walk back into Kogarah for a coffee.  There was a lot of news to catch up on.  Just before 12:30pm we walked back to Sunbaijai where Fiona and Carl were already waiting for me.  Dan, who also knew them sat down for a chat before our lunch arrived. It was so nice catching up with them all and a very delicious lunch to boot!

At 1:20pm I was back on the train going one stop to Rockdale where I had a bit of a look around the old haunts before my Physio appointment with my favourite physiotherapist Hassan. He does such an amazing job on my back, neck and shoulders, I’ve booked for two more sessions before I leave Sydney.

I then called my accountant, George, who I’d planned to catch up with while I was in the area.  He offered to pick me up as it was a 20 minute walk up hill on this hot humid day.  George is not your average accountant. He hasn’t been doing my accounting for quite some years as I no longer earn enough to pay tax, we were now just friends.  I had heard he had expanded the business adding a loans department to his accounting and financial advisory services and extending to the shop next door. He then very kindly dropped me at the station heading for Padstow.  It had been a very full day!

That evening Vi-Lay and I synchronised diaries, planned out what we could taking into consideration her work from home and office days and all those I was hoping to catch up with while I’m here.  She then raced off to the gym leaving me to enjoy a quiet time till her return.  She then had a zoom meeting with a group of six work friends trying to organise a trip away.  She later commented that our overseas trip organising took a lot less time than their two hours!  I turned in early, thinking I’d sleep but my body clock refused to relocate to AEST!  I don’t think trying to organise things in my head helped either!

Thursday Vi-Lay organised another work from home day.  I hadn’t slept till very late and woke exhausted.  I had a lazy morning with a walk to the nearby coffee van outside one of the local churches.  Here I met a pastor from another church who gave me a booklet Y – Jesus in both English and Arabic.  I think he might have been Lebanese. It was good to see his evangelistic heart. The coffee was good too.  The rest of the day I worked on writing this blog while things were still fresh in my mind.  With a drive to Revesby to pick up some lunch for us both.  Vi-Lay had previously lived in Revesby and knew of a Vietnamese bakery which made very good Banh Mi rolls. Vi-Lay had another busy afternoon and evening and I caught up with an episode of The Blacklist season 10 which I haven’t been able to watch as I’m not on paid TV. I was still in bed by 9pm and this time slept well.

Friday, Vi-Lay left the house by 7am to work in the CBD.  I’d planned lunch in the city with another friend, Grace, who had been my business partner setting up an app for seniors which we terminated due to the Pandemic.  En route to the station I stopped off for a morning coffee at the coffee van.  The girl recognised me and asked if I’d like a loyalty card as I’d bought three already.  I corrected her as I had only had two but she said she was sure it was three.  Then we remembered the first time I had come it was to inquire about the church times. She then prepared my coffee before I’d paid so I asked her could I please pay and was told I had already.  Praise the Lord I’m honest and although my short term memory isn’t so good these days it’s not that bad! I checked my bank app as well. I’d payed cash previously but had decided to use my card this time and there weren’t any transactions.  I had even brought my own biscuit to have with it.  Then off to the train and into the CBD and a short walk to meet Grace.  She knew all the best places to eat and although it was a very hot and humid day it was worth the walk to Thainatown (an adaption of Chinatown).  The food was scrumptious and reasonably priced. So nice to have REAL Thai food unlike Perth where it’s very westernised!  From here we walked to two Kanom (Thai desert) places to pick up some treats including durian with sticky rice and coconut milk.  Which I bought two of, one for me and a treat for Vi-Lay.  I was going to hang around in the city and wait for Vi-Lay to finish work but because it was so hot, I headed to Hurstville instead to see if I could find the $15 haircut salon.  At least in the train I was in air conditioning.

Praise the Lord, the salon was still running.  A quick cut and out to find a bus home.  If I’d taken the train it would have meant I’d have to go back towards the city then change lines so I decided to try the bus which went directly to Padstow from Hurstville.  Well that was the plan.  My transport app gave me directions to the bus stand which was nearby. Here I checked to see there was a bus in six minutes.  While waiting I asked the driver of two buses that pulled up.  The first gave me the bus number I needed to take to Padstow which confirmed the app but I had forgotten to ask if this was the correct stop to wait at.  The second driver suggested I hop on and he would drop me off at a stop which would give me the right connection.  My app now told me my bus wouldn’t arrive for another 10mins!  Where was the last one?  I jumped on the waiting bus not realising how long it would take before I was dropped off. The bus was crowded with kids from school who didn’t realise they had to vacate their seat for adults.  The bus driver asked one to give me a seat but when I realised how huge his school bag was I said it was ok I could stand.  It took sometime before I was dropped off at the connecting stop.  The second bus had one other passenger.  The driver, who I found out was originally from Vietnam, and I had a lovely chat about all sorts of things.  He finally pulled up opposite the Padstow station and asked if this was where I wanted to get off.  Oh yes please!  I said as I perused my surroundings recognising where Vi-Lay and I had walked a few days earlier. What a day of adventure I’d had!

I thought I’d sleep well but once again the neighbour’s security lights disturbed my sleep.  Still can’t complain I had another busy day. Vi-Lay had invited me to join her at the gym for two classes on a visitors pass. The first class was a bar workout which works mostly on your glutes and legs. I don’t think I did too badly although some of the exercises I didn’t do.  Then a body balance class which I’d previously done when I used to go to the gym years ago.  We finished off with a hot shower before picking up a coffee for me and a browse around a Korean $2 shop for Vi-Lay, who needed a few things and which offered 10% off for seniors which I was able to help her out with.  Bargains in hand we drove to Como where we met up with our friend Sonali and David.  We knew each other from our church attendance in Kogarah.  We had a lovely catch up over lunch before taking a stroll to the river’s edge.  It was amazing how much cooler the weather was, it had dropped down to 21⁰ and a cool breeze.  In fact Vi-Lay and I were wearing cardigans!

I slept better that night although the security lights still disturbed me.  Sunday I helped Vi-Lay with her washing before strolling up to get a morning coffee.  Then off to church, followed by Yum Cha with her godparents and a young guy who took us to his preferred venue not far from Kogarah. They had all my favourite dishes and more.  Going home we passed through Hurstville where we stopped to restock some of my breakfast needs, plus another of my Chinese dessert treats I knew were here.  I also showed Vi-Lay the $15 hairdressers before heading home for a relaxing evening.

I didn’t have anything planned for Monday after my good friend Ohn had cancelled our catch up due to a work accident. It became a day to relax and catch up on other things. After breakfast I went for a walk to check out other coffee places as my usual was closed on Mondays. I started to realise, unlike Perth, Sydney shops automatically add on the charge for card use.  I can understand but I think it’s a bit cheeky if you’re not told about it.  I suppose they presume you know.  It all adds up over time.  Vi-Lay had another work from home day so I kept out of her way as much as possible.  We shared her leftovers for lunch and the two custard tarts from yesterday’s Yum Cha.  At 4pm I decided it was cool enough for me to go for a walk to explore my surroundings.  Crossing a busy three lane highway and behind local shops, entered a casuarina grove.  I just love the way they whisper as the breeze rustles through its weeping needles. From here I followed the path onto a raised wooden walk way through the mangrove swamp. It was quite a bit cooler then the streets.  I walked north under the M5 motorway then south to the railway line before heading back to the house, 3km in all.

That evening Vi-Lay was off to another gym class while I relaxed catching up on some more of my Netflix series.

Tuesday was a busy day taking me back into Rockdale and Kogarah.  I left the house around 8:30am headed to the train station where I wanted to reply to a message from my friend, Beth who I had hoped to meet for a coffee. Her second message arrived just as I sat down to wait for my train.  I called her back to make arrangements when and where to meet.  I had a doctor’s appointment first with my Sydney GP who I hadn’t seen since my last visit six years ago.  I had woken with an ear ache on Monday and thought I’d better get it checked.  She also checked my skin and burnt off a few skin spots.  Beth met me at the Rockdale Plaza which was still very familiar to me.  It was lovely catching up over a coffee.  I asked if she could drop me in Kogarah on her route home. Before leaving the shopping centre Beth wanted to do some grocery shopping. As we passed by a shoe store I stopped to see if they had the sandals I was looking for.  They did but only for men.  As they didn’t look overly masculine I decided to buy a pair. If I bought a second pair they would be half price.  Great, I’d buy two pairs.  I’d been looking for them since my visit to Bali last year and couldn’t find any for less than $100 anywhere.  These were less than $60 for two!

After being dropped in Kogarah, I collected my new glasses then strolled back to Sunbaijai for Gai’s Nam Tok and sticky rice.  Before taking the train home I bought some grapes, asking the guy at the tiller of a local fruit stall why businesses here in Sydney charged extra for using bank cards as in Perth it was not the norm and if a fee was to be charged, unlike Sydney, we were told?  He informed me they didn’t charge the fee. I was impressed.

Wednesday was another home day.  I turned my phone off to recharge quicker and forgot to turn it on till after 4pm!  I had wondered why it had been so quiet.  I had been out for a coffee and the local Chinese grocery to buy some vegies for lunch and turned the phone off when I got home. Vi-Lay had been out all day arriving late afternoon.  It had been a nice quiet relaxing day, I was now halfway through my Sydney adventure.

Photos:  1. Purple Glory Bush Tibouchina semidecandra    2. Gai working in her kitchen    3. Ps Dan, Fiona, Carl and myself    4. Grace and me    5. Me, Vi-Lay, Sonali and David    6. Mangrove walk    7. Flower and berry of the Pitanga or Brazin cherry – Eugenia uniflora

Prayer & Praise Points:

Praise the Lord for all that I have accomplished thus far during my Sydney stay.

Please pray with me for Emma’s family as they face the grief of losing Emma to leukaemia.

Pray with me for Ross Winchester who I’ve known since before my ministry in Thailand.  He is starting chemo for an aggressive form of cancer.

Pray for God’s peace to be known by all people especially for those who live in despair, that they will find hope in Christ Jesus.

Please continue to pray with me for world peace both in the Middle East, Ukraine and Russia.  Pray with me for the hostages and refugees who are caught up in the suffering that both these wars have caused.

Please keep my sisters, Tricia, Jen and Kat, in your prayers.  Pray that they will come to know the love of Jesus.