Guess we should start at New Year...
Since we arrived here everyone we've met told us that we must see the new years fireworks at Mrs Macquaries's Chair which gives a fantastic view of the harbour, opera house and the bridge. We thought we would get there early to get a good spot and arrived at 12:00pm to find a huge queue which was doubling back on its self!
Two hours later we reached the entrance to the park and once we passed through security we made a dash to find a bit of grass. By the time we got there the park was already packed out but we managed to find a spot on a slope with a perfect view for the fireworks....
So then it was only 10 hours until the fireworks!!!We got chatting to a guy from the Lake District who had planned a trip to visit his nephew who would other wise be spending Christmas and New Year on his own. His nephew decided to move back to the UK just before he arrived so Martin was out here spending Christmas and New Year on his own!
After a long day of waiting the count down finally arrived and the show began. It was as if the harbour was turned into a huge theatre for 13 minutes with the most amazing display of fireworks we have ever seen. The surprise for this year's show was the display of fireworks off all the tall buildings in the city either side of the bridge. It was worth the wait!
Since New Year work has begun again with pace, Esther has finished her job at the bank and is preparing for her new teaching job which starts next week. We have been gradually buying bits of furniture for our new place.At the weekends we have been taking advantage of the amazing beaches we are surrounded by. Summer is well under way and the temperature hasn't fallen below 26 degrees for a while.
Below is a shot of me after my latest attempt to bodyboard at Dee Why beach.
Cricket has also been a big feature the past few months with everyone assuming that being Welsh and English is the same thing and throwing jabs at every opportunity. (Although I do admit that I use it to my advantage whenever England win - which hasn't been often recently!) We got close to the Aussie passion for cricket when we went along with a group from my work to see the Eng vs Aus 20/20 game, with the Aussies demonstrating pure class and the supporters loving it! We felt a bit outnumbered!
Last Saturday we headed to the domain (basically a big green park) for Jazz in the Domain. It was a great event where we joined a group of people from church and along with 90,000 others enjoyed a picnic, chatted and enjoyed the sounds of Brazilian Jazz while the sun set.
Well, that's pretty much what we've been up to since New Year. We have been feeling a little homesick recently, missing family and friends. But, with so much going on, it's been a great start to 2007.
