The Blue Mountains Long Weekend

On Friday I am gutted to miss out on High School Musical on Ice but I do the honourable thing and go on an advanced party to the Blue Mountains with Andy in the form of a driving lesson. I’m hoping that after an hour or so the party will become literal, but sadly halfway up the mountain a tyre blows. It takes about an hour to change due to a very short spanner and mechanically tightened wheel nuts. Still we get it sorted before a downpour and still have time for a quick beer and some shopping before the troops arrive.

Our rented cottage is a real beauty in the middle of the secluded hamlet of Wentworth Falls. The whole house is painted white and boasts three bedrooms and a roaring log fire. Little extras such as a bar of scrummy chilli chocolate really put the icing on the cake and turn it into something special. I fix the fire whilst the girls make bangers and mash and we retire to our splendid attic room with a great view.

On Saturday we drive up to Katoomba to watch the rainclouds literally rolling down the street like tumbleweed. After lunch it clears up a bit and we head to Scenic World to experience the thrill of the steepest incline train in the world. It’s great fun, although I was expecting some sort of seatbelt, especially for the kids. We descend into the heart of the Blue Mountains and enjoy a scenic woodland walk past the old coal mines. We take the cable car back past the famous ‘three sisters’ and ‘orphan’ rocks.

Once back at the cottage we stoke up the fire again and enjoy Karen’s amazing risotto. We also enjoy plenty of booze forcing Nicky into a powernap. After Karen has reminded Andy several times that her risotto is ‘much better than one you would get in a pub’ she too succumbs to the land of Nod. It is left to me to drink up the bottle of 2004 Penfolds Bin 389, sadly not as good as the 2005 but could improve with age – it doesn’t get the chance.

It’s Sunday again and time for Harley’s special treat – the Thomas Train. The temperature plummets to 10 degrees but this doesn’t dim Harley’s enthusiasm for the Zig Zag railway. The steam actually comes through the open windows in one of the tunnels as we wend our way to the activity shed for a mini-locomotive ride, a merry-go-round and face painting. Even the confusing presence of a second Fat Controller cannot tarnish the day’s enjoyment and we zig-zag our way back up the hill over pretty stone bridges and past beautiful mountain scenery.

There’s just time for a final driving lesson as Andy drives me back to Sydney. Poor Andy has a major traffic jam to negotiate, but the constant stopping and starting is actually very good practice. We arrive back at the house less than 10 minutes after the others in spite of a 30 kms per hour lower maximum speed limit for most of the way. Andy has put in a faultless display and is now ready for his test. Let’s hope he keeps up the good work and gets it out of the way soon.

We spend the next day sorting out the luggage and sending any excess back to the UK. Tuesday is much more fun with a morning trip to Balmain for presents for Andy and Nicky. They’ve put up with us brilliantly for 2 weeks and get a teapot and some golf balls for their troubles. They did get a great meal at Marque too so we don’t feel bad.
It’s our last evening in Sydney and in fact Australia so we get a babysitter in and celebrate with a meal at the fancy Rockpool restaurant. Aperitifs are taken at an impressive bar that looks like a prison from the outside but is very modern inside. There is even a mixed loo with enclosed cubicles for number 2’s and half-enclosed urinals with one way glass so you can pick out your paramour (male or female) from the safety of your own closet. Rockpool itself is top-notch and I enjoy a breathtaking John Dory sashimi with its own roe and a superb seafood stew that is a meal in itself.
It’s a fitting end to a fabulous time in what for me is the country’s true capital in terms of culture and entertainment.