Wednesday, 2/6/08 Where are Robin Rosen Chang and Heather when I need them?

Blurry eyesight is either caused by the cateracts or, hopefully, more blikely by not knowing the time or day it is. It doesn’t matter. The first walk I’ve taken along the wharf makes me want to move here, but it’s doubtful the’ll let me stay even though they’ve washed my sandy shoes, not animal farm infested ones.

I read Cialis Street instead of Callis Street twice (that’ll tell you where my head is). I haven’t a clue if it’s Tuesday or Wednesday or that time it is without Robin or Heather, the two who’ve set my watch to the correct time. I’m either goingf to figure it out myself, pay for their round trip here from the States, or buy a watch that already has Australian time on it.

I’m resting on a park bench wide enough for three with one Australian woman reader and two Asian women talkers that have just squeezed in.

I’ve walked for over two hours in the sun (well protected) along a path that hugs the wharf. Joggers and runners (wearing numbers) of all ages, gender and sizes, are exhausting to watch but beautiful

I musn’t forget. Back on Cialis Street I met a street knife sharpener (I got his photo by permission) with two large grinding wheels on a motorcycle. I’ve never seen a fgrinder mounted on a motorbike before. The last time I saw and heard of a street knife sharpener, was in the movies about Hester Street. The grinder used a sewing machine type pedal with his feet then. “Coal, Ice, Knives and Scissors sharpened,” they’d yell.”

One pm loval I think. If it weren’t for the first thing The Lonely Planet Guide says aboutr Australia, is that half the inhabitants have some cancer (protect yourself), I’d definitely mofvve to ?Sydney: The Roal Gardens warning sign reads, “WALK on grass and don’t feed the birds;” I love it.

A tree shaded bench to myself with greenery of all kinds around. Where’s my cousin Tammy who scolded me for not knowing the names of flowers surrounding my house. There’s a water fountain engulfed by two-foot leaved plants and blossoms. Narrow-leafed palm trees and a lake border the walks. In spite of the warning, the well walked-on- grass is manicured. The garden designers of Sydney have helped nature majestically. Freda would have loved it here.

I went to the Art Museum of Australia and got a wonderful tour of native as well as early settlers’ art. After seven hours of walking (making up for no safari walking,) I sat down and had a croissant and 4 o’clock tea. The only civilized thing the British taught me.