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Vivid Fireworks, HIllsong, Elizabeth Farm.


Hi lovelies,

Welcome to part 2 of Saturday.  We left you with us having two naps after visiting the markets.
Around 4pm we headed back to Balmain to meet Mike and family for a walk to Darling Harbour to see the Vivid fireworks display.  



The walk as not long, only 2 1/2km each way, but all paved, and nearly flat.  We crossed the Anzac Bridge and then past the Maritime Museum to Darling Harbour.   


We all had some dinner and then settled to wait for the fireworks.


There were some “transformer” type structures that were part of the display.


They were pretty cool.


There were street performers to keep everyone entertained until the fireworks were on.


The fireworks were well worth the wait, and looked lovely against the night sky. 
 
  
The photos really do not do it justice.


It was then back past the museum and over the bridge.  Our step count for the day was larger than most we have done before, and our feet certainly were a little tender.



Sunday we headed off to Hillsong Church one of their morning services.



This place is truly amazing, and with 5 services on a Sunday the organization was fabulous.  They have such a wonderful way of making visitors welcome with a concierge service to get you seated, tell you where the facilities are and even give you a cuppa after with a couple of people to chat with. 




As for the service itself, we were surprised that with 3500 people in the service we attended that it still had an extremely personal appeal to it.  This service was a little different to their regular ones in that the preaching team were away at a retreat.  Technology allowed them to participate in the service we were at and we joined in times of praise and prayer together.  


The speaker for the morning was Pastor Mark Varughese, from Kingdomcity, and he was both entertaining and challenging.  I would encourage anyone who gets the chance to hear him speak to take advantage of it.

After church we headed off to Elizabeth Farm,

which was part of the original farm house and land that was granted to John and Elizabeth Macarthur in 1793.


Our guide for the morning was Alana Banana, and she was a wonder.  Such a capable guide and was able to keep everyone’s attention from the kids to us oldies.  


One of the sad things about the house is that all the furniture had long ago been taken to another residence. 


The nice thing about that is that the furniture that is now in the house are replicas. 


 Even though some are still extremely old you can touch, sit on, lie on, climb up everything.



It was wonderful to wander through the garden and see plants from the day and learn about the reason for them.  Like this prickly pear, which is illegal to grow. 

 The Farm has a special dispensation  for the historical reason that this plant was grown for the Cochineal bugs that live in the plant, gave the “Red Coats” their red colour. 

The old water filtration system still works.  It took a long time to get a cup of water.

 
The chamber pot I knew about, but I must say that I am glad I was not around in the time of the birthing stool.

 
Kids are encourage to help with the washing.

A thoroughly lovely place to visit.  I would encourage all to go along, and if you can join a tour, 





which is part of the admission price, not an extra, then go for it. Especially if you have Alana Banana for a guide.


All for now lovelies.

Keep enjoying life and stay safe.

Love us.

 

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