Tag Archives: new years eve

New Year’s Eve in history

NYE 2009 group shotHad a great New Year’s Eve at home with friends and it got me thinking where I have spent my NYE and whether it says something about my life.

So here is my list:
2009 - at home with friends. A wedding was going on behind us and fireworks were set off above us.
2008 - at my Mum’s in Melton. Illegal fireworks went off in the park as we band saucepans.
2007 - last childless NYE. Nay was heavily pregnant so we watched Sydney fireworks alone with a 40″ flat screen television.
2006 - watched Sydney fireworks from point in Balmain. Sat at vantage point for 11 hours waiting for 20 minute display.
2005 - hottest NYE ever. First with Nay at Fat Boy Slim concert on Bondi Beach. Great night and very hot day that followed.
2004 - TJ and I planned to celebrate in Melton, but the venue closed at 10. Wandered back to Mum’s and drank flat coke while watching a possum on the roof. Rose early for swim at St Kilda beach.
2003 - rang in the New Year in South Island of New Zealand with a great group of friends and margaritas.
2002 - a quiet NYE in Melton with family.
2001 - a warm and wet night in Yeppoon trying to drink tequila shots with Kafir limes. Blahhhh! I must have drunk too much as I wasn’t keen on the ringing bells at midday the next day.
2000 - ringing in the new millenium freezing with friends on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra. Watched sunrise on Capital Hill that morning.

An interesting list – a different spot each year. Wonder what this decade will bring.

Happy New Year 2007

For years and years and years, I’ve wanted to be in Sydney for the New Year fireworks. Last year I was in the right city, but a concert on Bondi beach. I remember it was a stifling hot night (30 degrees and no breeze) and the day got up to 48 degrees. This year it was a little different.

I’d found an interesting point on the north-eastern tip of Balmain a few months earlier, whilst geocaching. It has a great view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. After showing Nay, I called the local council to confirm that they woul dhave toilets on the night. They also told me that the suburb would be clocked off from traffic at 3 pm.

So Nay and I travelled to the point at 1 pm, with food, drinks, a tarp and a blanket. I shrugged off Nay’s suggestion of a jacket as we left home, thinking that we only had to contend with the rain, if it arrived. Instead, we had to ensure several hours of wind…brrrrrrrrrrrr.

After we had steak sandwiches for dinner, we settled in for the 9 pm fireworks, which gave us a spectacualr preview of what was to come. An older woman sitting behind us, made many oohs and ahhhs that had me laughing on the inside. I think her Irish accent made it funnier.

Shortly afterwards a middle-aged gentleman settled down next to us and proceeded to consume two bottles of sparkling wine. He was alone and I felt sorry for him. At one stage he turned to me to ask the time and I replied with a smile. Hope he enjoyed the night.

The fireworks at midnight were awesome. The highlight for me were the ones that launched from the top of almost every building in the CBD.

On the way home, we passed an Indian restaurant, where all the waiters were dancing in front of a Bollywood film.

Overall, it was a great evening, despite the looooong wait. So roll on 2007.