HOGMANAY AUSSIE STYLE

We were booked on a 'cruise' on the Harbour in a dive boat. I was warned I might be seasick crossing the Heads but not to worry! Phil at his best!  I didn't even know what a dive boat looked like I wouldn't have been surprised to see a pontoon.  We were going with Gil and Wilson very good friends of Phil. Daisy was having a sleepover with Neill and Aly because she doesn't like fireworks We were due to go on board at Manly at 7.30. Good job we arrived in plenty of time we could hardly move along the beach for the crowds. When I saw the boat - it was a boat - I thought OMG!! There were safety belts everywhere and I thought for once Phil wasn't having me on and it was going to be pretty rough on the water.  Not to worry though, the straps were for storing the oxygen cylinders when they took diving parties out to the reef. Phew! We were very well looked after.  The crew brought out nibbles, canapes, soft drinks  (we brought our own champers) and we set off for Watson Bay where we had a great view of the bridge. The fireworks started at 9pm - a short display for the children which allowed young families to head home.  We were then served a lovely supper, prawns, chicken etc and managed to pass the time till midnight. The passengers on board were a sociable bunch. They were from all over - Ireland, Germany, Japan and the UK. The hostess was from Glasgow and still had her accent after 35 years in Oz.  It got quite cold and windy out on the water but it was great fun and the colder air kept me awake.  The fireworks were magnificent and well worth the trip to see them   There were hundreds of boats out on the harbour - all shapes and sizes - and they all sounded their horns (or whatever boats have) at the end of the display. By the time we battled through all the fleet back to the dock  the beach was deserted.  Just debris everywhere. Apparently over 1.6 million people watched the fireworks around the harbour and I have to report that all the rubbish had been cleaned up by the morning.  Happy New Year!!

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