NYE 2008
We enjoyed a slightly different NYE this year to our first in 2006. As the weather was hot and sunny, the idea of staking a spot at Cremorne Wharf for the day and ending up frazzled didn’t appeal, so Clive, Rebecca and I enjoyed a leisurely day at home, waiting for the heat to ease a little.
After an evening BBQ we set off by car for Manly to watch the 9pm family fireworks. The foreshore was jammed with groups of families and friends, all doing what the Aussies do best – no, not cricket, picnics! Not for them a tired old blanket and curly sandwiches. Looking around we saw tables laid with cloths and covered with dishes of prawns, salads, dips etc. You name it, it was there! The champagne was already flowing in some groups and the atmosphere was one of happy anticipation.
As the light fell, we sat on the pavement above the beach and watched the children playing in the sea and on the sand. Bang on 9pm, the fireworks started from a barge in the harbour, and we could just see the 9pm Sydney fireworks in the distance too. The display lasted about 15 minutes and was enjoyed by all, especially the little ones. We oldies weren’t that impressed, but then we knew what was coming later!
We ambled back to the car and drove to Cremorne, to park as close to the wharf as we could. We were lucky and found a spot about 20 minutes’ walk away, which was great. The wharf itself was packed, as we expected, with the noisier young people at the top of the road and the families with children sleeping on the pavement at the bottom. This is where we headed, as the view from the wharf at the bottom of the road is, we think, the best!
As midnight approached we stood where we felt we’d get the best view, about a metre from the railing. There were about 3 rows of bodies in front of us, but as Rebecca is the same height as me now, she had no problem seeing over people’s heads! We had Irish to our left, French to our right and Asians in front of us (so we got a good view), and the 12 minute display was fantastic, the best I’ve ever seen!
There will always be those who say the money could be spent on more worthwhile things (I’m usually one of them!), but I have to admit to really enjoying the spectacle and forgetting about the money for once! I think our favourite part this year was the waterfall of fireworks that cascaded from the bridge and all along its sides. Well, either that or the fabulous orange flares that fell slowly from the skies and floated gently down into the water. Hmm...
We made our way back to the car on a high, feeling very safe and relaxed – there were families everywhere as well as plenty of police! We all thronged up the middle of the dark streets, waving at residents on their balconies and in their windows, and then gave a lift to a Melbourne man and his son who were heading back to his mother’s house in Cremorne. He said the Sydney fireworks were much better than the Melbourne ones, but then he had to!
We collected Laura from a party at 1am (Caroline was staying with friends) and eventually toasted in the New Year ourselves. A lovely end to another interesting year – but why do they all go so quickly?
After an evening BBQ we set off by car for Manly to watch the 9pm family fireworks. The foreshore was jammed with groups of families and friends, all doing what the Aussies do best – no, not cricket, picnics! Not for them a tired old blanket and curly sandwiches. Looking around we saw tables laid with cloths and covered with dishes of prawns, salads, dips etc. You name it, it was there! The champagne was already flowing in some groups and the atmosphere was one of happy anticipation.
As the light fell, we sat on the pavement above the beach and watched the children playing in the sea and on the sand. Bang on 9pm, the fireworks started from a barge in the harbour, and we could just see the 9pm Sydney fireworks in the distance too. The display lasted about 15 minutes and was enjoyed by all, especially the little ones. We oldies weren’t that impressed, but then we knew what was coming later!
We ambled back to the car and drove to Cremorne, to park as close to the wharf as we could. We were lucky and found a spot about 20 minutes’ walk away, which was great. The wharf itself was packed, as we expected, with the noisier young people at the top of the road and the families with children sleeping on the pavement at the bottom. This is where we headed, as the view from the wharf at the bottom of the road is, we think, the best!
As midnight approached we stood where we felt we’d get the best view, about a metre from the railing. There were about 3 rows of bodies in front of us, but as Rebecca is the same height as me now, she had no problem seeing over people’s heads! We had Irish to our left, French to our right and Asians in front of us (so we got a good view), and the 12 minute display was fantastic, the best I’ve ever seen!
There will always be those who say the money could be spent on more worthwhile things (I’m usually one of them!), but I have to admit to really enjoying the spectacle and forgetting about the money for once! I think our favourite part this year was the waterfall of fireworks that cascaded from the bridge and all along its sides. Well, either that or the fabulous orange flares that fell slowly from the skies and floated gently down into the water. Hmm...
We made our way back to the car on a high, feeling very safe and relaxed – there were families everywhere as well as plenty of police! We all thronged up the middle of the dark streets, waving at residents on their balconies and in their windows, and then gave a lift to a Melbourne man and his son who were heading back to his mother’s house in Cremorne. He said the Sydney fireworks were much better than the Melbourne ones, but then he had to!
We collected Laura from a party at 1am (Caroline was staying with friends) and eventually toasted in the New Year ourselves. A lovely end to another interesting year – but why do they all go so quickly?
posted by Hawkins Family @ 2:35 pm
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