Noakes and North Sydney

So much has happened in the last month!  We have a new apartment and I have a new job!

Emily and I moved from sleepy, leafy Darling Point to the more vibrant North Sydney at the beginning of May. We had grown tired of our old place. We had lived there for 14 months.( 14! a long time for us!) It was at a beautiful location, overlooking Double Bay, however it became more and more apparent, we were paying for the location and not the amenities of the apartment.  Our carpeting was very worn out,the kitchen and bathroom cabinets were falling apart and needed constant repairing, the shower taps leaked all the time, and because we do not have a car this year, the 15 minute walk to the train station was seemed longer and longer every day. Darling Point is one of Sydney's upscale neighabourhods, but unfourtnally for us everyone who lived there seemed to be very well established and it was hard for us to make friends.

We found an one bedroom apartment that fit most of our needs in North Sydney.  It was just remodeled, sporting a new carpet, stove, water heater,  bathroom vanity and was just painted. It is only 200 meters from the North Sydney train station, which is only two stops from the CBD. I thought we had a good view at our old place, however, we not are on the third floor and have a view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge! We are surrounded by cafes and bars. The bars close at midnight so the noise is not bad at all. Although last night because of the State of Origin Rugby League Game(all star rugby game), many people were celebrating each score with screams coming through our windows. This is not the norm and our place is actually very quiet.

What makes our new place special is that we are located close to our workplaces. Emily's employer's home office is within walking distance and I have just started  a new job at a boat yard that is only 10 minutes walk away.  Its called Noakes, and its one of the best known yards on Sydney Harbour.  Most of my days at work have been spent sanding and painting the bottom of boats, called anti-fouling. Its not the best job and its pretty dirty, but its a start and I enjoy it. Most of the guys that work there go sailing on the weekends and have their own boats. The boat yard is more like a playground for big kids.

When my day is done, I am home by 5pm and Emily and I get to have dinner and look over the Harbour Bridge. The Vivid Light Festival has started and we can see the lights from out apartment. The picture below is the view from our bedroom.