Happy New Year

I’m back in Sydney for New Year, for the first time in a few years. For the last few years, I’ve been spending New Year’s Eve in Lismore, often attending the Tropical Fruits party. While I’ve enjoyed those events, I must admit the music has changed a bit too much for my liking—it seems to be all “doof, doof, doof” without any lyrics these days! I usually find myself gravitating toward the Cabaret area, which is more my speed, but this year I didn’t feel like staying and decided to head back to Sydney instead.

I’d had a vague idea of attending the City of Sydney party at the Opera House, but I never quite got around to it. Interestingly, I discovered you can get tickets to watch the fireworks from the Cahill Expressway. A friend whose partner is in a wheelchair mentioned it to me, as they were heading there for the accessible display. While the idea of getting “down and dirty” with the massive Sydney crowds usually worries me, the Expressway vantage point seems like a great option for next year.

The highlight of my return was the flight back yesterday. We flew right past the harbour, offering a perfect view of the Opera House and the Bridge. It even passed near my office, so I could spot my building before we touched down.

Despite being back in the thick of it, I had a very quiet night. I watched a bit of the coverage on TV, listened to the radio, and was in bed early. I slept right through, save for that typical 3:00 AM wake-up call we men tend to have, and woke up feeling refreshed.

Travelling into town this morning, I’d forgotten how wonderful Sydney is at this time of year. So many people leave the city, making it surprisingly peaceful. Most shops in my area are closed, but the pubs and supermarkets are open. I ran into a friend from New Zealand who has lived here for 30 years, and we both agreed how lovely the city is when it’s this quiet. Fond memories of COVID!

My main focus is now on my overseas holiday in mid-February. I’m off to Sweden, Thailand, and the UK, so I popped into town this morning to grab a few essentials. That is my big focus for 2026 so far!