Best Jacaranda in Sydney

Peter from Sydney - the Emerald City reckons he has found the best Jack in Sydney. But I think I have found a better one. I guess I am going by shape of the tree and blossom coverage. Peter's does have a better background than mine.

This jacaranda is growing in Goodhope Street, Paddington, just down from Five Ways.

Do you know where the best Jacaranda in Sydney is growing? Best in what way?

Has he gone stark raving bonkers?

A vision splendid - Peter Fitzsimons

This was in the Sun-Herald last Sunday!

BRING it in tight. Here's the plan. For many a moon Sydney has struggled with the ugly slash across its very face that is the Cahill Expressway, perched above Circular Quay railway station. While other great cities in the world – such as New York, San Francisco, Mumbai, London and Paris – present an open and glorious vista at their major point of scenic entry, we have the wretched Cahill.

Paul Keating was the last leader of any description who had a look at getting rid of it but had to abandon such thoughts because of the $90 million price tag and the enormous logistical difficulties.


But here is the thing. This week the news broke that the Circular Quay ferry terminal is riddled with concrete cancer and will have to be replaced. Good! Why not – are you still with me tree-people, God bless you, I am singing for you too? – rebuild the whole terminal 100 or so metres out into the harbour, put landfill in the remaining space and have that as the principal city square?

It could be our version of the fabulous Piazza St Marco in Venice, 'cept instead of the Palace of the Doges dominating at one end, we'd have the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and harbour right in the palm of our hands.

What WAS he on?

Old rockers never die

The Skii Harvey Band performed at Hyde Park on Saturday afternoon for the Sydney International Food Festival

Painting flesh on the bones

The complexity that was master cartographer, Matthew Flinders, was brought flagrantly to life on Sunday afternoon at the National Maritime Museum, when Robert Clancy (professor, physician, and map tragic), Paul Brunton (Curator at Mitchell Library, bon vivant and generally good bloke), and Miriam Estersen (biographer) were let loose with the bones.

Hard to convey what FUN this seminar was. The packed theatre resounded with gales of laughter. This museum and its event calendar has a special place in my heart.

To my immense delight, I met Judy who has about 90 letters from her aunt who nursed in India during WW1 and is interested in transcribing and preserving them. Right up my alley way!

Theme Day - Public transportation

Getting around any city is not easy. It is usualy quicker to cycle or to walk. Environmentally they have the least impact, which is, surely, an aim.

Motorised methods are available but often lead to gridlock and are exorbitantly expensive, not just in ticket cost. In Sydney we have: tram, bus, taxi, water taxi, ferry, train and monorail.


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