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Published: January 1st 2008
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Happy new year to you all. We had an absolutely amazing hogmany and a very unique first day of the year today.
We went to our club lounge for drinks last night before heading off to the lawn and were very impressed to see that they had a chocolate fountain together with strawberries and marshmallows on skewers for us to have with champagne. This started the evening off very well (although I nearly went to the lawn with a big chocolate dollop on my top!).
We were allowed entry to the lawn from 7 so trotted down at about 6.45 and were amazed to see all the people gathered already on the public viewing areas, many with no view at all of the bridge or opera house - they would only see the fireworks up in the sky. Further down we saw a sign that indicated that no room at all remained by the Opera House or bridge so I wonder where people who arrived nearer 9 would sit. I cant imagine everyone at Glasgow heading out 5 hours before midnight and happily sitting where they had no view of George Square!
When we got down towards Government
House we had to go through strict ticket checks to ensure that we actually were allowed in the area and then entered the grounds. We had to wait about 40 minutes to get in to the lawn as there were strict ticket , identity and bag checks but the time passed in no time as we were entertained with planes flying so as to write messages in the sky and chatting to other tourists in the queue. One we actually entered, we had to walk through the Botanical gardens and down to the water front and when we arrived we were delighted with the view that we had - the opera house just to our right and the bridge straight ahead. We put down our rug in a nice spot about half way back (I read on my trip advisor forum that this was the best place as everyone remains seated during the display and gives the best angle for viewing) and G went to get our picnic hampers and buy drinks.
He came back with the hampers, a beer each and a bottle of champagne. The hampers were really impressive, with bread, crustini with dip, thai noodle salad
(with chicken for G), a mushroom and tomato tart, cheese and biscuits and a brownie. To add to that we had brought crisps and pistachio nuts to nibble so we weren’t short of food! We had the stubbies and then started on the champagne (G thought he would buy it early in case they run out but they opened it for him when he bought it so it would be a waste to let it go flat). Shortly after the first set of fireworks started just by the opera house - these were probably the best we have ever seen although everyone kept saying that they are nothing on the midnight ones (they were right). After this, there was the parade of lights which involves loads of boats parading in the water all decorated in lights, which we watched from our rug. We decided to phone Pam as we had not spoken to her since we arrived in case we could not get through after midnight. Pam may well have won the last Tube of the Year award by asking - have you phoned all the way from Australia? (no Pam - we flew home especially to speak to you!!).
There was then entertainment for us with 2 people singing and playing guitar (and Gavin on backing vocals) - this was really cool and relaxed and quickly passed the time to midnight. It was totally unreal when you looked up and saw the view and realised where you were. We had finished the champagne by about 10.30 so bought another one (which come this morning was possibly not the smartest plan) to watch the midnight fireworks which were absolutely breathtaking and in time to music- we have a video of them which we took on the camera but the music is rather overshadowed by my oooooh’s!! I will try and work out at some point if I can post it here.
This morning I decided to miss breakfast and have an extra half an hour in bed - Gavin was quite hopeful that this may mean that we were no longer able to go to Bondi Beach but my little extra rest did me the world of good and we were soon ready to catch the train to the Beach (the beach to Gavin is like the museums to me - not the favourite bit of the holiday
and this was compounded with the realisation that G would have to share the rug on the sand with me as we only had the one and he would be completely unable to avoid the sandstorm that I consistently make whenever I am anywhere close to the beach). The ride on the train to Bondi Junction was only about 15 minutes and we were soon on the beach via the smoothie shop. The beach was really amazing and the waves HUGE, bigger than I have ever seen. The beach wasn’t as crowded as we expected and we got a really nice spot although within about an hour it was totally packed. I lay down for a little snooze while G had a walk along the beach (I was sure he just wanted to try and avoid the sandstorm). G then came back to lie down and we both watched the waves then had a nap. About 10 minutes later the inevitable happened and I sat up and I have no idea how but a huge pile of sand wafted over G and stuck to him and his sunscreen. This woke him up quickly but he was very good and just
wiped himself with the towel and lay back down. After a couple of hours we decided to do the coastal walk to Coogee Beach. This was about 5 kilometres and the waves were just amazing - we had lots of fun watching these and the surfers. Once we got to Coogee we got the bus back to Bondi and the train back to the hotel where I brought in more sand than I think the Hilton has ever seen. G helpfully ushered me straight to the shower!!
We both had an absolutely amazing night last night and even g enjoyed today as it was so different to any new year’s day we have had before.
We are now in our club lounge having our drink and nibbles and are heading out for dinner at Circular quay and then drinks at the Opera Bar. We will then head back for an early night since we are climbing the bridge first thing tomorrow morning before heading up for our 2 nights in the Blue Mountains. I am not sure if I will have internet access there but will update you on our travels again soon…
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