EC-Rider Travels

Thursday was a bit of a catch-up/admin day but ended with a lovely dinner with gorgeous Hamish Baxter and his lovely girlfriend Larissa. We had just the nicest evening at a Korean Restaurant which, much to our surprise, we found in the middle of a shopping mall in China Town. Regardless, it was utterly delicious, cook your own on a mini-bbq in the middle of your table. Hamish gallantly took the helm and was head chef as Larissa and I chatted and ate! It was such fun and lovely to see them both and hear about Sydney life from the young’s perspective. They certainly seem to have a pretty good work/life balance and just love having the beach on their doorstep.

Today, Friday, started with another wonderful ballet class, this time with the well-known teacher Hilary Caplan who had taught a number of students who had come to The Royal Ballet School, including Steven McRae. It has been so lovely for me to see where many of the RBS Australian students, came from. I watched the vocational students who varied in age from 14-17 years old. Some, not all, were full time and dancing all day and then returning home to do their school work on line…….amazing dedication. Hilary’s pianist was her co-founder/owner of the Alegria Dance Studio, Archie McKenzie, who was not only the most incredible pianist but also a teacher so they taught the class together and were quite a formidable team! They had some nice dancers and one particularly lovely boy who I thought was very RBS! Just plucking up the courage to email Chris. Hilary and Archie sweetly took me out to lunch and we had a fascinating talk about the ballet world.

I then took an Uber to Bondi, which I was still to see and met Amanda’s half brother Tim Johnston, and had a wonderful afternoon walking the iconic Bondi to Coogee Walk with him. Another lovely cousin, who I have met a few times but never got to know, so it was fun to spend time together.

He then kindly drove me back to Woollahra in his 1963 Land Rover which was a lot of fun despite the lack of indicators, seatbelts and only a few gears I think! Amanda had gone to Brisbane for a wedding, so I was in charge of cooking chicken for her two beautiful dogs Lunar and Piper (don’t tell Beanz!). Early start tomorrow so bed now.