Christmas and #SydNYE
- Kelly McKenna
- Jul 22, 2017
- 4 min read
Continuing with the ‘I love Sydney’ theme, I had to write a post about our unbelievable festive period last year (one day I will get this blog up to date, I promise!)
The first wonderful thing of note was that it was the first Christmas that we actually got to spend together without worrying about work (We did go in from 28th-30th, but that was still only 9-5 and let’s face it, nothing really happens on those days anyway except more eating and drinking…)
So our festive season started in early December when, just a few days after starting his new job, Richard’s company invited us on a four hour cruise around Sydney harbour with complimentary drinks and a Christmas buffet lunch. We felt utterly spoiled as we took in the stunning views and unbelievable weather, but it was a bizarre experience for both of us wearing our Christmas hats in 30+ degree heat. We topped off the day at the wonderful Opera House Bar and then stumbled back to our tiny little flat full of Christmas cheer.
On the Thursday before Christmas, we met up at Bondi Junction Westfield to do our Christmas shopping for each other. We’d set just a budget of just $100 each to get presents and in Australia that doesn’t get you very far so we both had to get a bit creative. Afterwards we met up for some pre-Christmas drinks and burgers.
Christmas Eve-eve was the last day of work for both of us and I got on the “Christmas bus” to the city which was awesome. The whole bus was decorated and they played Christmas songs the whole way, I would have stayed on it and driven around the city all day if I’d had the choice. Rich came home from work with tonnes of presents from his colleagues and I eventually fell through the door about 8pm after having a “couple” of pre-Christmas drinks in the office. I was delighted to find Rich had made Christmas brownies from our Christmas themed Marley Spoon box, although despite our best efforts we never did manage to have a mulled wine and mince pies evening.
Christmas Eve was another hot day and we enjoyed the sunshine and basked in the beauty of knowing we had all of Christmas together. In the afternoon we took turns to sit out on the balcony drinking Sol whilst we wrapped presents for each other. We had decorated our tiny apartment and bought a cute little tree so even though it was incredibly warm outside, we managed to feel quite festive. In the evening we got a bit dressed up and headed down the street to a junction in Paddington called ‘Fiveways’ where we ate Christmas Eve tea in a pub called The Royal and where they had a live band. This was where we decided to start a McMillward Christmas Eve tradition of drinking cocktails and I had a passion fruit and white chocolate martini which was hands down one of the best cocktails I’ve ever had. Afterwards we headed home, put on our matching Elf PJs and waited for Santa.
Christmas Day started for me at 0615, but I patiently let Rich have a lie in until 8am before I made him get up and do presents. We’d both made our hundred dollars stretch quite far, which was great as it meant present opening lasted for more than five minutes. After a Bucks Fizz and pastries breakfast, Rich set about starting our epic turkey dinner. In the early afternoon we strolled down to the local beach and in another typical “how not to travel” moment, we didn’t take any water or money with us. Idiots.
Down at the beach we cursed ourselves for having a traditional British Christmas as we could only stay for a short time without burning everything. Back in our furnace, Rich put together a gorgeous Christmas dinner, which we ended up eating on the balcony in our swimmers. If we’re ever fortunate enough to have another Christmas in Australia, it’ll be the beach and plenty of “shrimps on the barbie” for us…
On Boxing Day we headed to Milk Beach which is a very small little cove with a stunning view of the city. We had a great few hours, sunbathing (or sun baking as they often call it over here), swimming and we even managed to catch the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race which was awesome. I was also very amused to see an ice-cream boat pull up rather than a bus and even a couple of girl in matching Christmas Jumper Rash Vests. They are certainly on the top of my wish list if we are ever lucky enough to get another Aussie Christmas. Not something we did, but if you are ever lucky enough to end up in Sydney on Boxing Day, presenting a foreign passport will get you free entry at Randwick Race Course. Having got blind drunk there the previous week celebrating a friends birthday we passed it up, but a few girls I worked with went and had a great day out.
After a quiet couple of days, before we knew it, it was New Years Eve. Neither of us are really that big on doing things for NYE as we both find it to be a bit overhyped, but hey we were in Sydney and if there was ever a year to go big this was the one. A few weeks earlier, we’d booked tickets to an adult only night at Luna Park, which set us back almost $300 but which were completely worth the money. We were worried that being NYE the public transport would be a nightmare, but we actually ended up arriving 2 hours too early! Sydney has got it sorted, they know exactly what they’re doing on that night of the year.
We wandered around North Sydney looking for somewhere to have a drink and were struggling until we eventually stumbled upon an odd little place which looked like it had modelled itself on a bar from 1980s England. In a strange way it was nice to start the evening with a little reminder of home, but soon enough it was time to head back to Luna Park to soak up the atmosphere, go on a few theme park rides and drink a few beers watching the sun set. Not many people know that Sydney do fireworks at 9pm as well as at midnight so that little ones can be tucked up in bed, so we were fortunate enough to get an extra treat in between rides. As the clock struck midnight, Sydney harbour absolutely erupted and from our vantage point virtually under the harbour bridge we had the most spectacular view.
And then, just like that, 2017 had arrived – full of a whole set of new hopes and dreams and one hell of an adventure…
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