When Friends Meet

On 15th April 2008 I was lucky enough to be a part of a most memorable day for at least six ladies. An event which was to take place in Sydney’s Darling Harbour on what turned out to be a cool and slightly rainy day. But it is a day which is etched in six ladies’ hearts and minds forever.

In late 2007 Aussie Wendy emailed me, as well as many other members throughout Australia, to let us know that our very own GK Ann was coming over from England and partaking in a cruise which took in New Zealand, then onto Melbourne and finally Sydney – where she and hubby Ken were to spend a day before beginning their journey home. I immediately jumped at the opportunity, having never met any online friends before, despite Wendy and I living just two hours apart from one another. Somehow we just never crossed paths. I live on the outskirts of Sydney city in the Greater West so there wasn’t as many miles to cover to reach the destination as some of the others.

As the date drew closer Wendy finalised the list of those coming to the meet – Tooty from Mildura, Cattic from Tasmania, myself from the Greater Western Sydney and Wendy and Amanda from the Hunter area north of Sydney. Many others had considered and wanted to participate but circumstances had prevented them from taking part – however they were never far from our thoughts on the day, as we wished they could have been a part of it too.

The day for me began somewhat early. As many people who know me well enough know I am NOT a morning person. In fact I would be much happier if the mornings started later – preferably in the afternoons. *g* However on this occasion I made an exception. I was up and out of the house by 7am (very very early for me), and as I waited at the bus stop opposite my house I realised I had left my cardi on the bed. Grrr….I couldn’t go back for it as to do so would mean I would miss my bus and therefore miss the connecting train getting me into the City in time. Oh well. It was a pleasant morning. I’d live. Train turned out to be cool with the air conditioning up too high and standing room only for the first 15-20 minutes of the trip, afterwhich someone vacated a seat to alight at the station. At least I had a seat for the rest of the 50 minute journey – and that was an express train. I arrived at Sydney’s terminal on time, however I was disappointed to find that it was cold and raining…and I had left my cardi at home along with my umbrella. Didn’t matter that I was carting around a huge bag filled with goodness knows what…obviously didn’t have what I really needed at that point. LOL

Since there was still an hour till meeting time, I decided to walk to the meeting point at Darling Harbour. Not too far on foot anyway, and maybe I would find the market open to buy myself a jacket. No such luck – only open on Thursday through to Sunday. Today was Tuesday.

Once at Darling Harbour I sat along the wharf and text Wendy, who turned out to be at the time battling Sydney’s wonderful city traffic AND trying to find a parking station at the same time. Hehehe Brave girl, especially since she hadn’t experienced the wonders of Sydney’s drivers before. Wendy and her daughter Stephanie came down to the wharf to meet me and I recognised Wendy right away. Looked just like her photo on the member pages – minus the koala. LOL We hugged and exchanged greetings and then made our way back up to Sussex Street where they had left the others…but we had a hurdle along the way. Wendy is terrified of heights and we had to cross a footbridge going over the on ramp to the Western Distributor! She clung onto us and set her sights on the end as we crossed – daring not looking down in the process. Once safely across the other side, and a huge sigh of relief from Wendy, we met the others – Amanda (Wendy’s daughter), Tooty and Cattic and her hubby Albert (who was a glutton for punishment choosing to spend the day with a bunch of women!) Then we had to find Ann’s hotel – which seemed close from where we saw it from Darling Harbour, but the walk was slightly uphill and tough on some of the older legs. Even my 36 year old hips. LOL But we made it, with Wendy, Amanda and Stephanie going ahead to meet Ann and Ken in the lobby, while I waited at the corner for Tooty, Cattic and Albert. We walked up with Ann embracing Wendy only to be bombshelled with myself, Tooty and Cattic as well. It was a day of all days for Ann, of which I am truly sure she was so touched. She said to us later than Ken told her “Your friends done you proud!”

Ann was so surprised to be meeting us all, and that Wendy had kept it under wraps from her all this time. Ann thought she was only going to be meeting Wendy and her daughters – she had no idea she was going to meet other Aussie GOF members as well. I could see as Wendy introduced me Ann was almost speechless as she embraced me – to be meeting THE Stina whose tags she had asked Wendy to hold for her while she was away so she wouldn’t miss any of my creations. LOL This was the tagger “designed by” Stina. Do I even have such a reputation? Hehehe The moment was so memorable for Ann I could see, as Ken videoed every moment and Wendy smiled with pride that she had been able to bring such joy to a very dear and special friend. I wanted to get out my camera right then and there, but I held back remembering my hubby telling me I’m like a Japanese tourist with all my photos. Lol I didn’t want to overwhelm Ann all at once, though I’m sure she felt overwhelmed enough! I brought my camera out later and found it hard to put away, as the others will tell you. Tooty spent much of the time trying to avoid the lens…but I wouldn’t hear of it. I even pretended to take a photo of something else just to get her in. LOL

We spent a good while in the lobby getting to know each other and chatting. It was lovely. Then we decided to head out and explore the wonders of Darling Harbour. However, Tooty couldn’t walk too far and Ann seconded Ken into retrieving her “wheels’ from their room upstairs afterwhich she leant Tooty a pair of her walking sticks to help make it easier for her. So we stuck closeby and visited Wildlife World. I’m not sure I really took in the place all that much, because we were just enjoying being in one another’s company and having fun. I do remember skipping by the spiders and snakes – and all those creepy crawlies. The koalas and wallabies were cute to see, with one bobbing up and down from behind a rock every so often then sticking his head back up before bobbing back down again. Some of the wallabies I found sat like my Sheba (dog)…but her back legs don’t work which is her excuse. LOL But I spent most of my time there with one or the other ladies. I found Tooty sitting down by a snake exhibit. She asked me did I want to pat the snake – HELLO! No. lol However…after seeing Stephanie almost in love with the creature, I decided if she could brave it, so could I. Plus the snake did look kinda cute. She was a little python and apparently very loyal an affectionate. Hard to imagine that of a snake, but that’s what the handler stated, and she seemed to have a wonderful rapport with Charlotte (the snake). So I accosted Wendy, gave her my camera and told her which button to press. I was going to brave the elements and pat a snake. And it was strange….I have never touched a snake before, but it felt weird. And those who would never believe I would touch a snake I now have a photo to prove it! Who would have thought?

We emerged from the Wildlife World through the souvenir shop (from which I restrained myself) before deciding on somewhere for lunch. I was quite happy with Subway back near the Imax, but as it was a little far for some Wendy managed to find a lovely place called The Cargo Bar. Tooty and I found ourselves a little cool so we decided to move our table to near the outdoor heaters – which are lovely and warm. But by the time we had eaten Ann and Ken were finding them too warm and the staff turned them off. So I got cold again. I think Ann and Ken were more acclimatised to British weather that this wasn’t cold for them…but it was for me. LOL It was a lovely lunch. I had Barramundi – one of my favourite fish – though the serving of the fillet wasn’t very generous, but it was delicious. I think most of us had Barramundi – Wendy, never having tried it before nor Ken, being as it is an Australian fish. Though I’m sure we would export them overseas – probably cost a pretty penny too.

Fat and full after a wonderful lunch, we headed back to Ann and Ken’s hotel again, where we congregated in the lobby. We took some group and individual photos, and Tooty was even lucky enough to get a Turkish Delight chokky! How did she manage that and I miss out? Not fair! Ann and Ken then bought us all a round of our chosen hot drinks. After spending half the day looking for somewhere that sold my beloved Vanilla Coke, I was grateful for a most delicious hot chocolate. And it was lovely! We stayed for hours none of us really wanting the day to come to an end, but knowing that it soon would. It was dark when Wendy decided to go find the car and bring it back to the hotel to load up her passengers for the journey back across the Harbour Bridge and up into the Hunter Valley. Parting was such sweet sorrow, as neither of us wanted the moment or day to end, but all of us growing rather weary from the excitement – and me from my extra early start! LOL Once Wendy was back with the van and loaded up with everyone, we bid them farewell and they drove off into Sydney’s wonderful peak hour traffic. I was left with Ann and Ken to exchange farewells and another long warm and cuddly hug. Ann is very very cuddly! Hehehe I thought she was such a lovely warm soul and Ken was delightful.

Ann urged me to be careful on the way back, as I was walking back to Sydney’s Central station for my train back home. It was about a 20 minute walk and it was now dark, but the streets were also teeming with commuters making their way to the train, buses and taxis also. Still I assured them I would be fine, and bid them one final farewell before beginning my journey down Sussex Street to Central. I made it just in time for my train and was roasting by the time I sat down and relaxed in my seat for the 50 minute journey home.

I was still reeling from the days’ events as they played over and over in my mind. How wonderful it was to meet everyone and put faces to the names at last. I lost myself in Ann’s wonderful northern accent and wrapped myself in my grandmotherly image of her. This was a day I would never forget. And to meet Tooty, with whom I have chatted with on IM on many occasions about our beloved fur babies and whatnot, and Cattic, with whom I have helped grasp some of the finer points of PSP, and of course Amanda from PE and Wendy (with my image of her with a koala…lol) It was certainly a day NONE of us would forget.

I only had one regret on this day – besides leaving my cardi at home on the bed and almost freezing throughout the day – and that was my dearest and beloved friend Linda V from Adelaide could not make it to be a part of this special day. But throughout the entire day, she was never far from my thoughts. I even snapped a few pics here and there on my mobile phone (sneaking another of Tooty…lol) and sent them to her throughout the day so she would still be a part of the event in some way. Linda V and I have been friends since long before either of us joined GOF, and though neither of us have met in person….I hope that one day in the near future that she and I will be able to add our story on these pages.