Bigger and Better than Ever!!

Well ... as promised, last night Sydney hosted a fireworks spectacular, that has won universal acclaim as the 'best ever' 'fireworks extravaganza' seen in Sydney!

"Massive bursts of red and green light filled the warm Sydney air as the clock ticked past midnight in Australia's largest city, with more than one million revellers lining the harbour to catch a glimpse of the dazzling show.

The giant steel archway of the Sydney Harbour Bridge was again the centrepiece of the display, with a giant neon hourglass illustrating the theme of time passing".

"Sydney has recently been acknowledged by numerous media sources as having the world's best New Year celebrations, topping the list of cities such as New York City, Edinburgh, Paris, and London."

New Years Eve - Sydney Australia

Last year, Sydney turned on a spectacular display of fireworks as well as a lighting extravaganza highlighting the grandure of one of the world's finest and most picturesque harbours.

If the following pictures are anything to go by, it will indeed take something very special to top last years effort - but that's exactly what we have been promised!

The crowds begin to assemble from very early on in the day!

The show begins by highlighting the world famous Sydney Harbour Bridge.

And what better way to usher in the 'grand finale' ... of course the Bridge?

Happy New Year from Australia!!

New Years Eve - Dinner

We decided to have our evening meal at the beach. The beach we chose is just a few minutes drive from our home and the same beach where our grandson Banjo had his first taste of the Pacific Ocean in Australia. Well today the beach was closed and with good reason as you can see from these photos.

This photo, which was taken from Dee Why beach looking towards the ocean pool and shows just how large the waves were on occasion. The local kids decided that with beach closed this was surely the place to 'hang out'!

Then again, perhaps they should have re-coined the phrase, from 'hanging out' to 'hanging on'! One youngster barely 3 years old, was almost swept into the pool by a rogue wave which surged across where he was standing! His parents were NO where in sight.

Fortunately, my water safety instincts kicked in. It would have made an interesting photo; as I held the tiny form aloft (with one arm) while juggling my camera in the other. Meanwhile as the wave peaked, I was knee deep in water and 'dangling' 3 year old above the water line!

Oh, and I didn't miss the photo - see above and consider that the 3 year old was held aloft above the surge in the photo.