Day 4 Closer each day... Home and Away

Waking up on Thursday morning and it's not sunny! That's not in the plan. But it's warm with a light on-off drizzle. Jane and I head out early for a swim at the beach just below their home. I'm a habitually early riser so actually staying with folks for whom a 6.00 or 6.30 start is the norm is perfect for me. The big beaches, Bondi or Manly, are very busy by 7.00am and there are a few swimmers, walkers and yoga fans already on this little beach. We had swum here yesterday and the temperature of the water can be described best as 'Oooh... Now that's ok'. Once you're in, it's pleasant.

The homes built around the beaches are stunning and each bay, beach, inlet and harbour has its own eclectic selection of houses with stunning views across the water. Whilst we are swimming Jane tells me that Ken Done lives here on this beach. When we came here 30 years ago, we loved his paintings and bought a poster which hung on our bathroom wall for many years. Coincidence!

Once back and breakfasted, we drive out of the city to Palm Beach, one of the northern beaches and known to the residents of our home in Yorkshire as Summer Bay in Home and Away. Indeed the surf club and shop are logo'd up accordingly, ready for filming. Above the beach is the lighthouse and we make the steep climb to the top of the hill to take in the great view. Then it's an even steeper climb down by the shorter but more perilous route for a well-earned steak sandwich. On our way back we call into other bays where wealthy Sydney weekenders make the most of the sun and surf.

This is a fit, outdoor life and Nick, having only cycled to pick up the car from the ferry this morning wants to swim lengths in one of the pools adjacent to the various beaches so I plunge in too and swim further than I've swum in a long time. It eases my conscience for the dinner ahead.

Tonight's dinner is at the Bathers Pavilion and it's more fabulously fresh fish - huge mussels for me and barunda for the others and it's so lovely to have Tinks, the youngest of the children, with us. She's hoping to come to the UK in the spring so fingers crossed, we'll see her then.

Our final morning starts with a drive to Manly to see Ben do the Big Swim - a sort of aquatic version of the Park Run. But there are 'bluebottle' signs on the beach - not insect bluebottles but small, very stingy blue jellyfish - so Ben gives it a thumbs down and we head out for breakfast after a bracing walk along the beach. The beach is buzzing with activity - runners, walkers, volleyball, yoga - and it's still only 7.00am. I could get used to this!

After a relaxed morning with a little light shopping it's time to head out to the airport for our flight to Adelaide. The traffic in the city is heavy and we make it with little time to spare and too much luggage. The ground hostess lets us off the hook for being overweight but there will be purge of some of the crap that the man who does not travel light will have to jettison before we fly to Melbourne in a few days' time.

Massive thanks to Nick and Jane, Ben and Tinks for being top hosts and tour guides. Good times with old friends! Visit us in the UK sometime soon!