With the good weather we've had this week I've been able to spend much of the week outside. I met Sian for lunch at the Fish Markets yesterday - I hadn't been before so that was something of an experience. It was chaotic inside and packed with people (and, yes, fish), but we managed to find a spot by the quay amongst the seagulls. The most memorable sight was not any of the seafood on display, but a huge pelican who was cruising around the car park. He was almost chest high and just waddled around amongst the cars and people, eyeing everything suspiciously but clearly too lazy (or just too big) to fly.


Last night I went to a pub in Surry Hills for Ludo's birthday; I enjoy discovering new places and seldom go out in Surry Hills as it's slightly awkward to get to from where I live. It's a picturesque hive of quiet, tree-sheltered streets lined with terraced houses and punctuated by pubs, boutiques and cafes.  As is usual on such evenings I knew virtually nobody, but it was a good crowd of people, and the pub (The Shakespeare Hotel) is a warren of carpeted rooms, alcoves and small bars which does great value pub food for $10, and has a great atmosphere. We decided to head in to Kings Cross once things were winding down there; I hadn't been out in the Cross since I was here 10 years ago, and I quickly remembered why. It was totally heaving at 1am, all the bars and clubs were rammed and the decent ones were stupidly expensive; police milled around in large groups on street corners whilst dolled-up groups of men, women and everything in between hung around outside the bars. Knowing that getting back to Balmain at 2am on Friday night is much easier than at 4 or 5, I strolled back to the city and caught a cab home.