Ten hours from London to LA, a three hour layover at LAX and then 15 hours to Sydney. Just as well we like flying…..😱.

First time back in Sydney for 12 months. Everything looks much the same....it's like we never left!

Sydney seems to have completely recovered from the crazy lockdown - most noticeably, tourists are back in force. The longest lines to get through Border Control at the airport we've encountered for many years despite, or more likely because of the limited number of automated passport check kiosks.

And the short-cruise-from-Sydney industry is flourishing. The day we arrive coincides with the first ever Disney cruise kicking off in Sydney Harbour

As in 2022, our arrival in town coincides with the annual Gala Dinner of the Sydney Institute. The dinner is staged in the event centre of the vast and poorly signposted Star hotel and casino in Darling Harbour. This is the 34th year of the annual event. We’ve been members of the Sydney Institute for 10 years or more but in pre-pandemic days, the dinner was always in April (when we’re rarely in Sydney) so this is just our second time.

The dinner attracts a formally dressed crowd of 700 or more - the rich, famous and influential of Sydney (and a few like minded people from interstate). This year’s speaker is Chris Minns, the Labour Premier of New South Wales.

Ironic as most of the well-healed crowd are dyed in the wool supporters of the right-of-centre Liberal dominated Coalition which has suffered electoral annihilation both Federally and in most states thanks to the dreadful former Prime Minister, Scott Morrison. Inevitably then, we find ourselves at a table with a bunch of Coalition fans, including lobbyist Paula Gelo, former senior advisor to Ken Wyatt, Aged Care Minister in Morrison’s government who was accused of bullying staff; and a Sydney barrister, Ishita Sethi who’s vying to fill the remaining term of the Federal Senate seat vacated by former foreign affairs minister in Morrison’s government. Ms Sethi who is one of nine candidates practiced her pitch on me through the evening, but stands about as much chance of being selected as I do!

The lobbyist succeeds in introducing Sandra to Premier Minns who it turns out was for five years, a high school classmate of our nephew Phil