Sydney day 4: rest day
Welcome
Yesterday we bouldered, rested, and went to an Irish session.
We awoke a bit earlier yesterday so we could indulge ourselves with a morning of climbing. The fuel that took us into this challenging physical session was Vogel’s Crunchy Oat Clusters - Blackberry, Blueberry, Cranberry flavour. Served in a bowl with milk.
It was a tough session. Tristan and I were still sore from a couple of days ago but we still wanted to climb up the walls. We went at it for a couple of hours (with a lot of breaks) until our arms agreed to hoist us no longer.
I think the rule is that you have to start with your feet off the ground with your hands touching the two arrows. Beautifully demonstrated here by Liz.
You complete a course by putting both hands on the end piece. Beautifully demonstrated by Tristan as he deploys a vertical extension to grab this pointy dome.
A more extreme finish is demonstrated here by Liz as she spins 180 degrees to complete an overhang.
In the afternoon it rained. Liz went out to do everyone’s washing and for that she was awarded 1300 boints.
Tristan folds his washing.
Jonathan spent the day mixing at a studio space on the other side of the city. He thoroughly experienced Sydney’s public transport system with a triple train journey in the morning, and a train + bus combo in the evening.
As evening fell we headed out to an event we had all been greatly looking forward to, the Irish session at South End Public House. We had been invited along by our friends Tom and Bonnie, a fine pair of Sydnets who regularly play in the session. Tom usually plays the DADGAD-tuned Guitar, the Banjo, or the Mandolin, while Bonnie plays the Bodhrán, and sometimes the spoons.
Enjoying a frothy beverage.
We all had the pleasure of listening to a beautiful couple of hours of music performed by a table of Guiness-drinking instrumentalists that kept growing larger as more and more players arrived throughout the evening. When the session finished we tried out some of Tom and Bonnies’ instruments and we attempted to learn a jig - a tough process while we were immersed in the cacophony of the bar.
Tom strums his heart out on the Tenor Banjo.
Tristan plays a Bodhrán using a brush-ended beater.
Takeaways from last night:
We all have new instruments to buy.
I need to get an Irish Flute.
Jon is going to buy a Banjo. They sound beautiful and are incredibly fun to play. Creates a strong percussive note that is somehow remains warm and comforting.
Liz is going to get a Mandolin. Cute and strummy. Plenty of strings.
Tristan is excited to get a Bodhrán. This beautiful Irish frame-drum can sound like many drums at once. Deep or high, resonant or crisp.
I would also like a concertina. They sound incredibley expressive and articulate and have a joyous character.
