I must be crazy! New Year 2007 will be forever in my memory as the most boring 14 hours followed by the most incredible, fantastic, awesome, stunning 15 minutes of fireworks at the stroke of midnight. Arriving into Sydney on 30th December I only had time to sleep before waking up the next day and joining the mass of humanity oozing into the harbour to find a spot from which to view the fireworks. By 10am the concrete was filling up but I managed to squeeze into a space right at the front with the opera house to my right and the bridge infront of me across the water – perfect! it was so perfect that I daren’t walk away and spent 14 hours guarding my spot (as did everyone around me) to ensure that when the time came I was in prime position! So, without a book to read, no crossword puzzle, no soduku, newspaper or any form of mental stimulation I sat and sat and sat as the minutes dragged by in the heat and my skin turned pink. a plane high in the sky drew patterns and symbols in keeping with the theme of ‘time of your life’ Having made friends with some Brits nearby I trusted them with my backpack long enough to walk off and find food. An hour later I had picked my way through a human carpet to find McDonalds! I also bought fruit though and lots of water. An hour after that I had picked my way back and made everyone jealous with the smell of a Big Mac and fries! So with crowds building, squeezing every inch out of the harbour the sun set and the atmosphere turned electric. Boats of every descriptions floated about with colourful lights to reflect the theme of time. By 9pm we were all a bit overexcited as the first fireworks whet our appetites for more to come – even they were good and it was just a warmup. With an hour glass on the bridge counting down every 5 minutes (it seemed to take forever) the magic moment arrived and the sky above Sydney Harbour filled with light, music, bangs, fizzes and ooooh and aaaaaaaah from the crowd. It costs $3million and 20,000 fireworks died for our entertainment. The best thing for me were the plumes of light bursting from the top of every skyscraper in the business area of the city - and the waterfall of light which poured from the bridge at the finale- amazing! I am now exhausted, no sleep at all (I had nowhere to sleep so spent the night in a hotel lobby) and can’t check in to my room until 3pm - I must find coffee! Happy New Year!
Archive for December 31st, 2007
Christmas 2007 for me will carry memories of sheep, horses, small kids, a one eyed ageing sheepdog called Glen, a lost cow and the company of a warm and hospitable family living the Kiwi farm life in the green valleys of Glen Murray, about an hour south of Auckland. I arrived at the farm on Christmas Eve greeted by head of the family Chris Venamore, dressed in working farm clothes with Glen the sheepdog at his heels. Before long I was unpacked and settled into the guest cottage (located in a corner of a paddock with 5 grazing horses) and found myself sat next to Glen on the quad bike as Chris took me on a tour of the farm to meet the sheep, cows and horses, but more specifically to try and locate a lost cow! A neighbour’s farm was playing host to some stray cattle non of which seem to belong to Chris, but mysteriously one of his heiffers was missing. In the few days I was at the farm, the cow never appeared. Christmas Eve dinner was at the home of Val and Shelly Venamore – Chris’s brother in their home nearby. As we left around 10pm, the full moon was hanging in a perfect sky surrounded by bright twinkling stars! Christmas morning for me was spent in the company of ‘Rupert’ – a bay gelding who took me on a ride through the woods next to the farm. I think he was glad to be out and was quite a handful! After dressing in the smartest clothes I could muster from my backpacking wardrobe, I joined the family in the car for a short trip to ‘Totra Nui’ (probably spelt it wrong!) the newly finished second residence which was the perfect setting for Christmas Day. Family members from Auckland arrived with their children to join those already there and I was treated to a hearty meal and some good conversation with the Venamore clan whilst the kiddies ran about full of beans from opening presents. It was a typical Christmas really! On Boxing Day Elizabeth joined me on horseback to ride around the bush covered valley near to the farm and help Chris to bring in some sheep ready for crutching and shearing, Glen doing his bit with enthusiasm from the back of the quad. It was a great ride in fabulous scenery and good company. After warm scones on the verandah of the homestead (thanks to the Venamore daughters!) I offered to help with some yard chores and spent a satisfying afternoon sweeping and tidying the yard and tackroom. By 9pm I was struggling to stay awake on the sofa watching ‘calendar girls’ with the family so made my excuses and took myself off to bed via the paddock which was now full of sheep! My last morning was spent exploring the woolshed and meeting the sheep – 2 of which were about to be dispatched to fil the freezer. Chris gave me a demonstration of shearing – on a dead sheepskin! and despite wanting to stay longer the hire car was due back at Auckland so with a sigh I hit the road and left the farm behind me bound for the city life.
