Happy New Year!

Hey guys and girls! Happy New Year to you, hope it's everything you wish for!

Well I've just watched some footage of the firework display in London and it looked amazing! The climax was probably the biggest and brightest to date, no?! I liked how it was a sensory display this year and wonder if everybody could really smell all the different scents they used...can always count on good old Blighty to pioneer the latest creativity in just about anything!

However! I don't think anywhere can beat the Sydney celebrations! Just wow! Seriously, it was spectacular. This years display has just been officially decalred as sydneys best ever as well. 

Me and Tom set off from the flat at 7pm and the bus dropped us off at Hyde Park. Very efficient transport here, they'd put on loads of extra services and everything was meticulously organised. Security and volunteers everywhere. Kudos to them for that, I imagine doing the same in London would have been a nightmare. 

We sneaked a few drinks in at Hyde park (plenty of alcohol exclusion zones) before heading for the botanical gardens which is where we had planned to go. Many areas were sectioned off and were ticketed entry only. So we were on our way to the entry to the park but they had closed it off and weren't letting anymore in. We had left it too late. At 17000 capacity the area was full. Determined to get our view of the opera house and harbour bridge we set about heading around the barriers trying to find a way in. We walked around for a bit and wound up down by the docks near some apartments. We got talking to a couple of German lads who were in the same position and we all decided to go down by the waterside as we spotted a weak spot in the fencing which had been erected round the gardens.

In what felt like a scene from Bond or Mission Impossible we edged round the fencing where it met the waters edge and proceeded to stealthily climb up the rocks to the edge of the gardens before lurking in the bushes whilst waiting for security men to pass by. We then hopped the fence and casually strolled in, joining up with everybody else already in there. A lot of fun indeed! Especially as the adrenaline was fuelled even more by the vodka tinnies we'd just necked.

So 3 hours later of waiting in the best spot we could find, packed in like sardines and sweating in the evening heat, we were treated to a surreal view of the best display of fireworks I've seen. 

Sydney is undoubtedly the best place to ring in the new year. The atmosphere is electric, the harbour is just as stunning lit up at night as it is during the sunshine and the fireworks spiralling off the harbour bridge and opera house sails is really something special. The fireworks are actually staggered, at key points down the length of the harbour, so everyone can see. But by the bridge there is obviously a lot more going on. 

So at 12:45am on the 1.1.14 we were sat on the grass overlooking the water eating our first meal of 2014 (some chicken pasta I'd made before heading out) before we made our way back to the flat and went straight to bed. I felt so tired but Tom must have been 10 times worse with the shifts he's been doing lately.

Between Christmas and New Years we've been working every day but we are definitely looking forward to the next pay check! Double time and a half for our Boxing Day shifts $$$

We've just had a much needed lazy day chilling and catching up on sleep today (new years day). We were going to go and surf but the tiny 2ft waves didn't seem worth travelling the way for. Plus Tom is still knackered. I've been watching the tennis, live from Brisbane on our Foxtel box!. It's one of the warm up tournaments before for the Australian open which starts 13th jan I think. Federer plays his first singles match of 2014 tonight. He's never played Brisbane before so they are all going mental up there.

I might wake Tom up now and get his opinion on ordering in a takeaway and watching a film, since we have no food in for tea and we've been waiting to use the surround sound on a decent movie for a while. 

Have a great start to the new year everyone!

Here's some of my snaps from the night...shame about the quality of the images but ipad shots at night time aren't great and I didn't want to take my DSLR down there just in case the worst happened!

It's Christmas Eve?

Well here we are, it's 10pm on Christmas Eve and its extremely hard to believe it. It's been pretty cloudy but still fairly hot today. I'm sat drinking vodka shots (present from work) and watching a graham norton re-run with Tom and Nadine and we've just had a roast chicken dinner, which turned out pretty well actually. I'd spent most of the day cooking it while listening to Christmas music and was pleased with how it came out. Weather forecast for tomorrow is high chance of RAIN believe it or not! Laugh away, laugh away. But we'll see how it pans out. It will be 20 degrees or more at least though.

Anyways, we're going to carry on drinking, munch a few mince pies, hit the hay then get up and head to Bondi Beach on Christmas morning. 

Was feeling pretty sad and sorry for myself earlier but gradually got better through the day, watching re-runs of Whose Line Is It Anyway, cramming mince pies and laughing at youtube videos. I'm fine now. Got an email saying my Christmas cards have turned up at my mailbox in sydney this morning but  I couldn't get in to the city in time. Just as well I suppose as reading the cards tomorrow would only make me sad and realise that it actually is Christmas Day. Cause its not going to feel like it, and I guess I'd rather it didn't. But it's like my Dad rightly said to me...Remember all the memories from previous Christmases but focus in the reasons why we're in Aus and enjoy the new experiences for what they are. Plenty more Christmases to come. 

So whatever you're doing tomorrow and whoever your with, I hope you all have a fantastic day and enjoy yourselves and spend some quality time together :) Merry Christmas guys!

Sleepy head! #crazyshifts

The Christmas Countdown

So it's 5 days until Christmas! And as I write this post sat up on the balcony overlooking the Christmas carol concert on Coogee beach I can't help but feel nostalgic for the English Christmas festiveness. I always knew it would happen. I love this time of year. Its natural to miss home quite often but it seems to be all I can think about lately, to the point where it gets quite uncomfortable as obviously this is when I spend so much quality time together with my family and friends. I really wish I could be with them. This will be the first Christmas I've spent without them and it's not going to feel much like Christmas at all. Add to this the fact that over here, the decorations are very reserved and unnoticeable, the atmosphere and spirit seems artificial, the carols aren't convincing, the Christmas tv show's are non existent and the food is just doesn't cut it compared to all that festive food back home. Why? It has to be the weather and the climate. As the Australian summer peaks in late December the Aussies have put their own down under stamp on it all. It's probably because I'm not a beach bum but I don't get much enjoyment out of their version of it. It really doesn't feel like Christmas at all here. And for those of you who know me well you'll realise this is a living hell for me hah.

To many Christmas will always be a cold, snowy, dark and frosty but enjoyable holiday; its just what we're used to. Tradition here for many is Christmas on the beach, a bbq, socialising, some music and a trolley of booze. Not to say that this cant be enjoyed still. But what I mean is you can do that any day of the year over here. It has no menaing.

Only one day a year at home can you make a great Christmas dinner, watch Christmas films and eat sweets with the family, go for a winter walk and enjoy watching each other open their presents in the warmth and comfort of your decorated house, all in one single day. That is why most of us look forward to it. Over here I ask Aussies what they are doing for Chrissy and they never sound excited or bothered. Its just another day off work for them. 

It's actually not uncommon to hear of Australians and lots of expats having their 'Christmas Dinner' on the 25th of July, because its presumably more convincing as its a great deal colder and wetter.

Maybe it's just me refusing to get older and start loathing Christmas? But then I think age has nothing to do with it though. You can never be too old, too 'bah humbug' or too busy to enjoy the spirit and happiness of Christmas. Anyone has the choice to embrace and make the most of it. Yes I'm talking directly to all the Scrooges reading this thinking he's gone Christmas mad.!

"I really like Christmas. It's sentimental I know, but I just really like it"

- Tim Minchin, White Wine in the Sun

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9U-OdJIgZu0

So what else has been happening these past couple of weeks you may wonder. Well...we've just signed a contract for a room in a flat we can live in over Christmas (will post more about that later), Tom's been working his butt off (4am starts), I bagged a 3 course lunch aboard a Sydney harbour boat cruise for free! And my watch came, which I'm really pleased with. Will be a nice early Christmas present for myself! 

Still no surfing though, haven't had much free time at all and when one of us does, the other is always working. I feel like I haven't seen or spoke to Tom for ages most days. Our routines are really out of touch at the moment! But we're doing fine.

Here's a round up of pictures from the last few days:

Reliving memories watching the Santa Claus at our friends' place!

Beautiful Coogee Beach literally on our doorstep. There was a mini heat wave today that peaked at 37 degrees I think it was! Sweating just from walking down the drive to the road!

Best fish and chips I've had in Aus so far! At "chish and fips" cafe by the beach. Mmm

This is start of the Coastal path walk which takes you from Coogee to Bondi. Need to start jogging this route (in cooler weather of course) and visiting the beaches in between more often!

Coogee beach from the top of the coastal path. This was my view while sunbathing on a day off. I don't mind the sitting on the beach but I prefer to go somewhere with a great view, lil bit quiter and away from the crowds. With a much welcomed cool sea breeze on the cliffs too!

Great sunbathing spot here. Love the landscaping around coogee. Always well kept and maintained. Respected by the public too. No litter or graffiti whatsoever. 

So these are a few snaps from the harbour cruise I mentioned before. Basically, I had made my way into the city, armed with my camera and some food for lunch. I had planned to take a ferry to fort dennison - a small fort-turned-museum-and-restaurant in the middle of the harbour - and was wondering round circular quay trying to figure out which dock to go to when a gentlement comes up to me and asks if I wanted a free ticket to a lunch on board a captain cook cruiser. He was in a group of workmates who had booked ahead but a couple of them hadn't been able to make it. I immediately said yes, shook his hand, thanked him for hos generoisty and that was that! So I spent the afternoon enjoying some fine food on board a luxury boat cruising round the harbour for 3 hours. What a way to see the sights! Talk about being in the right place at the right time. 

Here you can just about see some of the grid work on the harbour bridge for the New Years firework celebrations. Really excited for that! Can't believe how quick its come round. Should be an amazing end to 2013.

You can often see big cruise ships in the international terminal of circular quay, the scale of them is really dramatic against everything else. This was one of the smaller ones!

Business cards! I used one of my days off to pester a few architectural and design studios in the city. Of course, I wasn't expecting anything but it was good to talk to a few people and make some contacts. You never know where something might lead, hey.

One Central Park building - by Jean Nouvel. Sydney's latest flagship building for sustainable, symbiotic green architecture. It is green living utterly redefined and a remarkable example of how nature can thrive in the dense urban landscape. 

Kudos to the city of Sydney for pioneering and integrating so many green-wall system techniques. I love this look with the solar shaded glass. This is an indication of what the future of most sustainable cities will and rightfully should look like.

This particular building comprises a shopping centre at ground level, commercial use on upper level then apartment and studio units above, overlooking a centrally elevated communal area. Whats special about this building is that its the first of its kind in Australia in the sense that it uses a heliostat (set of plane mirrors to reflect sunlight) providing maximim light infiltration and solar energy management, as well as controlled solar shading.

And finally... this stunning Christmas light installation is amazing but is about the only decent piece of decoration in the Westfield centre at Bondi. There are no Christmas lights in the streets here either so you don't get that Christmassy feel when going back home after work in the warm muggy darkness of the night.

Progress in Sydney

IHey there people and peopleettes, hope you are well!?

I thought I'd tone down the detail of the posts now I'm based in sydney for a while. I'm not exactly going out and doing much in the way of sightseeing at the moment. I'm fortunate to have been given a decent amount of hours at work (considering I'm only casual) so I'm in the thick of the Christmas rush and earning decent $. 

Work has been pretty full on but I'm coping well and learning as and when I can. A lot of it is just observing the others, being confident and learning from mistakes. I'm enjoying it a lot but sometimes it can get quite boring when we're quiet, but some of the guys I work with make it go a lot quicker with their banter and humour. I can complain, it's good fun and a nice team to work with.

I just caught the end of the staff sale when I started and managed to put an order in for a watch i had my eye on, which was also on sale anyway. So, I got a killer discount that I'm very happy with.

Sold my first watch today as well. Found out you get commission on every watch sale you do, no matter how expensive it is. Slowly racking up quite a few decent sales now so at least I'm proving m worth. I will ask if I could potentially get a transfer to the Melbourne store after my Christmas contract ends in mid January. Depends if they need anyone, but it would be ideal if they did.

This is the watch I've bought. Can't wait to wear it.

Tom and I are still on the hunt for a flat share. We really want to get somewhere soon as we feel we are out staying our welcome at our friends' place. We just feel we're getting in the way too much and don't  want to be a nuisance or anything. Plus we just really want to have our own room instead of sleeping in the van every night. It's ok but not ideal. And now Tom is working some night shifts he gets in at 5:30am while I need to be up for work at 7:30, not that we get much sleep anyway, as the lights inthe car  park  don't turn off at night.

So we are trying our best to find so sing suitable. It's tough as we're only looking for short term rent. Between now until mid to late January. And most flat shares are 2 or 3 months minimum. Hopefully something will come up soon. 

Haven't had much time off recently but got a few days to myself coming up soon. Unless I get called in again. On my last day off I walked in to Bondi junction and then walked round centennial park with my camera. Really nice place there. Hoping to go back and have a picnic or bbq with our friends. You can rent peddle cars and ride horses around the grounds. They have actual lanes for peddler's, horses, bikes and joggers! Ill leave you with a pic of the view from the very top of the park by the playing fields which has a great view of the city skyline...

...and the view from the balcony of our friends' flat. (Thought I'd posted it before but couldn't find it) ...