Marguerite
Active Member
Happy New Year, everybody!
We just got back from mother in law's, we spent most of the night watching "Colour of Magic", a 2008 movie based on the Terry Pratchett book of the same name. We paused the movie to watch the final countdown.
In Sydney, we don't have a ball that drops or anything. We just have all cameras trained on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Everything is set up for the main Sydney party at the Opera House, although there are parties going on all round the foreshores. Apparently we've been 'blessed' with Paris Hilton's presence for New Year. wow. (not)
The final countdown - and right on the stroke of midnight, the fireworks begin. The whole of Sydney Harbour is involved, including Middle Harbour and the inner harbour, right inland up the river. The display is wonderful, it finishes with the Bridge looking like it's completely alight, a waterfall of fire with a crown of exploding fireballs.
We're so close we could feel the explosions. If we'd been at our house instead of mother in law's (she's down in a hollow) we could have stood in the street to watch the fireworks. Certainly from our island beach today, if we'd been there tonight we could have seen the city fireworks. We were invited to a party at friends' tonight around the corner, they would have a fabulous view of the harbour fireworks.
After the fireworks finished we went outside to let off sparklers and difficult child 3 let off some caps and glow sticks. husband's niece made some champagne cocktails with hibiscus flowers (husband quietly reckoned it made the very dry champagne more palatable) and I made it more palatable again by adding some fresh strawberries. We then watched the rest of the movie, so we're late getting home.
It's now 2 am, we're heading for bed and taking our colds with us. It's 25 C even at this hour (that's 77 F). A warm night, but not too hot. Pleasant.
I LOVE summer, although I'm not enjoying the fire danger being so high. Tonight (Wednesday) was the time for watering the garden and I missed the window. I'll have to wait for Sunday now, to get the next chance to hose the garden. My vegetables are wilting badly, I'll need to pour a few watering cans on, from the rainwater tank. The drawback of summer.
Walking home tonight we could see the stars so clearly. Being far enough away from the city to avoid light pollution, our night sky is wonderfully clear. Orion was overhead but heading toward the west, the Southern Cross would have been behind us. The sliver of moon would have set hours ago.
In the morning it will be hot again, the family have planned another beach trip. mother in law said she's staying home this time. We need to enjoy the beach weather in the morning, there are strong winds forecast for the afternoon and evening.
Enjoy your New Year and have a Happy New Year! Let's chime in around the world, when it's new year for each of us!
Marg
We just got back from mother in law's, we spent most of the night watching "Colour of Magic", a 2008 movie based on the Terry Pratchett book of the same name. We paused the movie to watch the final countdown.
In Sydney, we don't have a ball that drops or anything. We just have all cameras trained on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Everything is set up for the main Sydney party at the Opera House, although there are parties going on all round the foreshores. Apparently we've been 'blessed' with Paris Hilton's presence for New Year. wow. (not)
The final countdown - and right on the stroke of midnight, the fireworks begin. The whole of Sydney Harbour is involved, including Middle Harbour and the inner harbour, right inland up the river. The display is wonderful, it finishes with the Bridge looking like it's completely alight, a waterfall of fire with a crown of exploding fireballs.
We're so close we could feel the explosions. If we'd been at our house instead of mother in law's (she's down in a hollow) we could have stood in the street to watch the fireworks. Certainly from our island beach today, if we'd been there tonight we could have seen the city fireworks. We were invited to a party at friends' tonight around the corner, they would have a fabulous view of the harbour fireworks.
After the fireworks finished we went outside to let off sparklers and difficult child 3 let off some caps and glow sticks. husband's niece made some champagne cocktails with hibiscus flowers (husband quietly reckoned it made the very dry champagne more palatable) and I made it more palatable again by adding some fresh strawberries. We then watched the rest of the movie, so we're late getting home.
It's now 2 am, we're heading for bed and taking our colds with us. It's 25 C even at this hour (that's 77 F). A warm night, but not too hot. Pleasant.
I LOVE summer, although I'm not enjoying the fire danger being so high. Tonight (Wednesday) was the time for watering the garden and I missed the window. I'll have to wait for Sunday now, to get the next chance to hose the garden. My vegetables are wilting badly, I'll need to pour a few watering cans on, from the rainwater tank. The drawback of summer.
Walking home tonight we could see the stars so clearly. Being far enough away from the city to avoid light pollution, our night sky is wonderfully clear. Orion was overhead but heading toward the west, the Southern Cross would have been behind us. The sliver of moon would have set hours ago.
In the morning it will be hot again, the family have planned another beach trip. mother in law said she's staying home this time. We need to enjoy the beach weather in the morning, there are strong winds forecast for the afternoon and evening.
Enjoy your New Year and have a Happy New Year! Let's chime in around the world, when it's new year for each of us!
Marg
