#44. Sydney syzygy

The moon was at its most spectacular tonight as the sky darkens and while it is close to the horizon. Sydneysiders will have moonrise between 7.07pm and 7.36pm as the sun sets. This monster moon will appear up to 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than an average full moon. Getting prime pozzie means securing a spot which gives you a clear view of the easterly horizon, just before sunset. Bronte Beach is tipped as probably the best location to witness this, and the Surf Club bar was open from 5.30pm so one could enjoy a drink whilst watching this unique experience. Were you to skip this astronomical showstopper on this scale, you can see another one ... on November 25, 2034.

by the way, there is not a problem with the spell checker! A syzygy is a straight-line configuration of three celestial bodies in a gravitational system.The word is often used in reference to the Sun, Earth, and either the Moon or a planet, where the latter is in conjunction or opposition. Solar and lunar eclipses occur at times of syzygy, as do transits and occultations. The term is often applied when the Sun and Moon are in conjunction (new moon) or opposition (full moon).[5]

#43. VCCC

Paul was speaking at a conference at the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Center yesterday. It's an amazing building, and with spectacular views. We look forward to having a vaca. in Melbourne sometime, hopefully in the not too distant future.

#42. Happy Halloween, Bondi style

Definitely much more popular than when we left Sydney in 2008. One difference is you really have to preserve a jack o' lantern (bleach rinse, WD40) in the Australian sun.

But you can't beat NYC for Halloween as this picture of a friend's daughter shows

#41. Day 3 of nippers

#40. Sculptures By The Sea

it's on again until November 6. We've been warned it's hugely popular and to expect traffic and pedestrian chaos on the next 2 weekends. As with other modern art, hard to know what to make of it. At least X, M n F got some practical use out of this oversized orange flip-flop.

#39. First day of nippers

We were lucky - it was a beautiful morning, about 21 deg C at 9 am and not a cloud in the sky. X., our little future lifeguard, loved it. They didn't go in the water much; the pool is still closed after the storm in June (post #15); scheduled to be ready next week or the one after, and it was high tide in the Bogey Hole.

#38. Australian Reptile Park

Lovely sunny day today, so PnX wnet to the Reptile park at Somersby while M went on to Terrigal to visit Marie. X had fun.