Tina's 91st birthday in Carcoar

A lovely long weekend in Carcoar celebrating Tina's 91st birthday.  I drove up and came home with Dom (Tina's son) and his partner (Nacha) and we stayed with Ruth, Tina's daughter.

The ride to Carcoar

Delicious Lebanese Dinner

Coffee at The Gallery

Lovely old photo of the Stones

Tina's new home

Tina's birthday

Gypsy

Carcoar Village

Dog paintings at The Botanica

I was delighted to come across these photos on Facebook. The Botanica Cafe in Waverton sadly closed in 2023. One of the things that made it so special as our local haunt was these paintings of doggies on their back wall. They were the dogs of the owners. Tragically, someone broke into the cafe a few years back and stole the paintings.  But here they are, immortalised for my viewing pleasure. Pure nostalgia. I spent so many wonderful hours at this cafe. It was a very special place.

Quiz at the Dog Museum

A fun evening. At the end of the first half of the quiz, we were in the bottom half. Then in the second half, we catapulted ourselves to second. Very exciting! Mary-Anne excelled in putt putt, getting her ball through the tiny mouth of a cardboard dog in one go.  Food options were rather limited (cheese toasties or cheese toasties) but we all enjoyed the dog sculptured chocolates Mary-Anne won for her triumphant putt!

Sydney Park

After a great game of tennis with Rajesh, I explored the park next door to him. It's a wonderful place with quite an extensive wetland.  I might bring my camera here sometime and take some bird photos.

Interesting facts about Sydney Park

• Former brickworks: The park was once the site of major brick-making operations in the 19th and 20th centuries. The historic chimneys near the main entrance are remnants of this industrial past.
• Transformed landfill: After brickworks ceased, the area became a landfill until the 1980s. It was later rehabilitated and turned into one of Sydney’s most beautiful urban parks.
• Largest park in the inner city: Covering over 40 hectares, Sydney Park is one of the largest green spaces in inner Sydney, located near Newtown, Alexandria, and St Peters.
• Sustainability showcase: The park is known for its award-winning water reuse system. It includes wetlands that clean and recycle stormwater for irrigation.
• Biodiversity hotspot: The wetlands and restored landscapes support a wide range of native flora and fauna, including frogs, birds, and dragonflies.
• Cycling heaven: The Sydney Park Cycling Centre is a unique learn-to-ride facility for children, with traffic lights, road signs, and mini roundabouts.
• Popular for dogs: It's one of the most dog-friendly parks in the city, with wide open spaces and off-leash areas.
• Art in the park: Sculptures and public art installations dot the landscape, including works that reflect the park’s industrial heritage.
• Great for hill views: The grassy knolls and high points offer panoramic views of the city skyline, especially stunning at sunset.
• Cultural venue: The park hosts events, festivals, and performances, including music gigs, community fairs, and environmental awareness days.