Victor's and Barbara's 2012 Blog Page.

To celebrate our 15 years together, Barbara and Victor decided to splurge on an extravaganza.  We booked top seats for "The Magic Flute" (Mozart) at the Sydney Opera House, and combined these with an accomodation and dining package at a 5 star hotel right on Circular Quay. On 30th January we flew to Sydney and stayed a day with Kim and Russell, then took the train to Circular Quay. We dined at the Aria Restaurant, enjoying a panoramic view of Sydney Harbour, the Bridge, the Opera House, and an ocean liner moored at Circular Quay. We then wandered up to the Opera House and watched a brilliant performance of "Die Zauberflote", in an English-language production originating from New York's Metropolitain Opera. We thought the soprano who played the Queen of the Night was absolutely fabulous, and the baritone who played Papageno was pretty good as well. Victor was a little dissapointed with the tenor who sang Tamino, probably because I have been spoiled by performances on CD.  The production included some amazing giant pupetry, depicting magical monsters, with brilliant stage effects and lighting. The following day we toured the Opera House complex, which includes 3 drama theatres, the Opera House itself, and the enormous concert hall. All these are sheltered under the famous "sail" roof, and located at the tip of Benelong point, jutting out into the harbour. We also walked around the rocks and adjoining areas.
The Opera House and bridge, from the Domain.	The Bridge, from Benelong Point.
Circular Quay. The Aria Restaurant where we dined  is just behind the flags on the left.	Holland-America liner "Vollendam" at Circular Quay.
Back home in Red Gum Rise in February, with enormous effort and skill from Daniel, we completed our new chook house and wired enclosure. On 10th Feb six chooks became its proud residents. Honey was fascinated, and she constantly patrols around the wire or just sits for hours admiring the girls. And a koala bear arrived in a tree just above.
A Koala just above our new chook house.	Our new chooks.