Fallen behind again - a good symptom of the busy fun I've been having since arriving. Saw Ritchie & Laura at the airport Sydney-side. Got the train to Bondi, and directions from Luke C, aka Curly. Walking into the room was a blast from the past - Whacker, Mick, Lukey, Curly's brother Ben. Met Alex and Emma too. Turns out Cowzer and Kelly are around as well, but don't see them at all. Dinner of sushi, and we sit around with cans, chatting about other people from Greenhills and making fart jokes. Out to a pub for the night - bit of craic, Ken McG was there. Some silly dancing, the Pogues and Kirsty McColl rounding out the night.
After, we dawdled outside, the lads debating whether to head into town. I awaited their decision, standing quietly by the side of the road, when suddenly a security guard grabbed me by the arm and pushed me bodily. I stayed upright, but was hurled about ten feet. I wasn't drunk, barely tipsy, and it was bang out of order. Emma gave some of the other guards a piece of her mind, but it was water off a duck's back. Pottered home via taxi with Curly and Emma, to find a letter on the door of the flat asking the lads to be a little more light-footed. Lukey and Curly started arguing, Lukey being quite drunk and loud, and Curly wrote a charming apology note.
Lazy morning next day. Brunch in a café - the Skinny Dip - around 2pm, then walked with Benny around past Bondi Beach. beautiful surf, and lots of people out enjoying the sun. Left the lads to head into town to meet Cathal and Helen. Crowds in the harbour. Left my bad into a hostel for $2, then waited for the pair, sitting on the ground amongst the waiting families. H&C suffered a few delays, the ferries not being very regular due to NYE. Met them eventually, with us separated by a gate that a rather unfriendly lady was refusing to open. Picked up my bag and some beer, and made our way out to Redfern to a house party. Met Cathal's cousins - Jill, Darren, Cillian. Also some other fun people, including Maddie. Talked politics with her for a while, one of the taboos. Mostly just caught up with Helen.
At 11.30, we all headed to a multi-storey car park, the roof of which had an amazing view of the cityscape - glittering jewels of light forming rectangles of buildings in the inky blackness. At midnight, the fireworks began exploding from different points along the skyline. Spectacular display of colour and light, Lasted about 15 mins. Police were there, but friendly.
Afterwards we moved on to a different party, with a bit of dancing. Chatted to a girl called Shelley for a while, standing atop the compost heap at the end of the garden. 2012 - the year of compost. The night wore on after a time, and 10 us piled into a taxi - jammed in! - to get to one of the girls' houses. Some food, then most people fell asleep. Myself and H&C hailed a cab, heading back to the first party to collect my bag, then on to Mosman, where Cathal's sister lives.
At 6am we pulled up by Balmoral Beach, Cathal's idea being to start 2012 with a quick swim. I leapt off the jetty without hesitation, the water actually being quite pleasant. First swim of the new year! Bit different from a NYD swim at home. Slept well afterwards.
Woke to H&C's voices - Cather and Vinny were our hosts, and their 8 month baby Evie, and 2yr old Aleida. Evie is a delight, very happy baby. A simple breakfast with some melt-in-your-mouth toasted Italian rye bread, and I return to the beach with the family, leaving H&C to sleep off the previous night. They've invited me camping up north, so they need to sleep before driving.
Beach is pretty full, but we find a spot easily. Jill and Cillian arrive with Cathal after a while. Then dinner of yummy raveoli, and we hit the road. It's 270km to Sandbar, and the car is an automatic. Driving a new sort of car in a new city is nerve-wracking for Helen, but she performs beautifully. Night falls as we drive, but we arrive at the campsite around 11pm.
Awaiting us are about 8 families - nearly 30 people. They have a campfire going, and a cup of tea is soon offered. Bed is not long afterwards. They have a tent set aside just for me, complete with sleeping bag, pillow and airbed, and I have possibly my most comfortable night camping ever.
(2nd) The next morning I begin to get to know the campers. Cathal's aunt is Miriam, her husband is Mike B, and daughter Kate.
There's also Pat and Paula, Cathy and Billy, Carmel, Eilis, Rose, Joe, Brian Mike D, and Aussie Peter leaves that morning. The kids include Una, Sinéad, Aoife, Ciara, Liam, and I'm sure there's two more I've missed.
We head to the beach, where the tide is pulling run-off from a lagoon to create a really strong current [in a 'river']. Float down it a few times, then walk down the beach. Lots of jellyfish, and a pelican, which resembles a pterodactyl in flight. Play in the waves, but there's an incredibly strong rip, so powerful. Get pulled out a little at one point, have to work hard to get back to a safe point. Thankful for last year's swimming lessons! Few drives on the local fairway - I am awful! Not a single decent shot.
After lunch we play some volleyball - myself, H&C, Brian, Joe and Mike. Gets serious and sweaty - satisfactory sport. Dinner is served on the beach by the lake, though there is no water in sight. The winner of the kids' Survivor competition is announced, as thousands upon thousands of bats stream across the horizon, silhouetted against the twilight sky. A campfire of sorts follows, I do some scout songs, there are recitals, the national anthems, some Irish songs. It winds down on-site with Leonard Cohen, and I retire before the party ends.
After, we dawdled outside, the lads debating whether to head into town. I awaited their decision, standing quietly by the side of the road, when suddenly a security guard grabbed me by the arm and pushed me bodily. I stayed upright, but was hurled about ten feet. I wasn't drunk, barely tipsy, and it was bang out of order. Emma gave some of the other guards a piece of her mind, but it was water off a duck's back. Pottered home via taxi with Curly and Emma, to find a letter on the door of the flat asking the lads to be a little more light-footed. Lukey and Curly started arguing, Lukey being quite drunk and loud, and Curly wrote a charming apology note.
Lazy morning next day. Brunch in a café - the Skinny Dip - around 2pm, then walked with Benny around past Bondi Beach. beautiful surf, and lots of people out enjoying the sun. Left the lads to head into town to meet Cathal and Helen. Crowds in the harbour. Left my bad into a hostel for $2, then waited for the pair, sitting on the ground amongst the waiting families. H&C suffered a few delays, the ferries not being very regular due to NYE. Met them eventually, with us separated by a gate that a rather unfriendly lady was refusing to open. Picked up my bag and some beer, and made our way out to Redfern to a house party. Met Cathal's cousins - Jill, Darren, Cillian. Also some other fun people, including Maddie. Talked politics with her for a while, one of the taboos. Mostly just caught up with Helen.
 |
| Children's fireworks at 9pm |
At 11.30, we all headed to a multi-storey car park, the roof of which had an amazing view of the cityscape - glittering jewels of light forming rectangles of buildings in the inky blackness. At midnight, the fireworks began exploding from different points along the skyline. Spectacular display of colour and light, Lasted about 15 mins. Police were there, but friendly.
Afterwards we moved on to a different party, with a bit of dancing. Chatted to a girl called Shelley for a while, standing atop the compost heap at the end of the garden. 2012 - the year of compost. The night wore on after a time, and 10 us piled into a taxi - jammed in! - to get to one of the girls' houses. Some food, then most people fell asleep. Myself and H&C hailed a cab, heading back to the first party to collect my bag, then on to Mosman, where Cathal's sister lives.
 |
| Home across the Harbour Bridge |
At 6am we pulled up by Balmoral Beach, Cathal's idea being to start 2012 with a quick swim. I leapt off the jetty without hesitation, the water actually being quite pleasant. First swim of the new year! Bit different from a NYD swim at home. Slept well afterwards.
 |
| Sunrise at Balmoral Beach |
Woke to H&C's voices - Cather and Vinny were our hosts, and their 8 month baby Evie, and 2yr old Aleida. Evie is a delight, very happy baby. A simple breakfast with some melt-in-your-mouth toasted Italian rye bread, and I return to the beach with the family, leaving H&C to sleep off the previous night. They've invited me camping up north, so they need to sleep before driving.
Beach is pretty full, but we find a spot easily. Jill and Cillian arrive with Cathal after a while. Then dinner of yummy raveoli, and we hit the road. It's 270km to Sandbar, and the car is an automatic. Driving a new sort of car in a new city is nerve-wracking for Helen, but she performs beautifully. Night falls as we drive, but we arrive at the campsite around 11pm.
Awaiting us are about 8 families - nearly 30 people. They have a campfire going, and a cup of tea is soon offered. Bed is not long afterwards. They have a tent set aside just for me, complete with sleeping bag, pillow and airbed, and I have possibly my most comfortable night camping ever.
(2nd) The next morning I begin to get to know the campers. Cathal's aunt is Miriam, her husband is Mike B, and daughter Kate.
There's also Pat and Paula, Cathy and Billy, Carmel, Eilis, Rose, Joe, Brian Mike D, and Aussie Peter leaves that morning. The kids include Una, Sinéad, Aoife, Ciara, Liam, and I'm sure there's two more I've missed.
We head to the beach, where the tide is pulling run-off from a lagoon to create a really strong current [in a 'river']. Float down it a few times, then walk down the beach. Lots of jellyfish, and a pelican, which resembles a pterodactyl in flight. Play in the waves, but there's an incredibly strong rip, so powerful. Get pulled out a little at one point, have to work hard to get back to a safe point. Thankful for last year's swimming lessons! Few drives on the local fairway - I am awful! Not a single decent shot.
After lunch we play some volleyball - myself, H&C, Brian, Joe and Mike. Gets serious and sweaty - satisfactory sport. Dinner is served on the beach by the lake, though there is no water in sight. The winner of the kids' Survivor competition is announced, as thousands upon thousands of bats stream across the horizon, silhouetted against the twilight sky. A campfire of sorts follows, I do some scout songs, there are recitals, the national anthems, some Irish songs. It winds down on-site with Leonard Cohen, and I retire before the party ends.
***
Break camp on the 3rd, and I help as best a Scout can. Everyone pitches in, and we are done swiftly. The setup was impressive - fridges and everything! Say goodbye to all, and H&C, me, Miriam and Mike and Kate reunite at Seal Rocks beach. A quick but pleasant swim, a picnic on the grassy slopes above the beach - simple bless. M&M then give me a lift back to Sydney, H&C are continuing their camp elsewhere along the coast.
Struggle to find a hostel in Sydney. Have to book a cheap hotel on the north shore. Head there to shower, but the Germans and Japanese want to meet in Bondi. Am very late in joining them, after 21.30. Chill with them by the beach for a while before we all have to go. Walk home across the Harbour Bridge, admiring the skyline and Opera House by night.
***
Today then, was initially lazy. Hot breakfast at 08.30, then back to bed. Needed it. Up around 12, walk into town across the bridge again, this time by daylight and armed with the camera. Lots of photos of the Opera House. Booked Blue Mountains hostel, then joined a free tour. Excellent one too, led by a Matthew. Started by the Town Hall, through Queen Victoria Building (beautifully restored), past Sydney Eye tower, into Hyde Park (giant chess), past the Barracks, the Rum Hospital, Martin Place (Matrix filmed here), into the Customs House (big model of the city), through the Rocks and under the bridge. Paid him $20 in the end, was such a good tour.
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| Hyde Park |
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| Hyde Park |
Finally swung by the Opera House, and now enjoying a pint. Tour has me me thirsty for Sydney - so much I missed out on. Really enjoyed my time here, but the balance has been toward meeting people and having fun, and thus I've missed out on cultural aspects and exploring the city myself. No regrets though.
***
I've quite quickly grown to like Sydney - it's definitely one of my favourite cities. So much to see and do! Historic architecture, a skyline, great monuments, walkable tourism. Reminds me of New York, but friendlier.
***
My hostel (more of a cheap hotel) is on Carabella Road, in an area called Kirribilli. Anglicisation happens the world over it seems.
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