The following is a description of NYE 2009 (or is it 2010?). We left Paul's work place after 5 (left the car there also cause there was no way we were driving into the city and looking for parking on NYE) for an annoying humid half hour walk to Granville station. We then discovered that we had no cash for train tickets and that the minimum transaction amount for using eftpos was $24. Which then meant hunting down an ATM.
The train ride was more pleasant, we found a 2-seater and it was air conditioned. Changed trains at Central for a train to Edgecliff. No seat on that train but it was like a 10 min trip. Called Tommy to find out what was happening. He suggested we go to Coles and buy a bbq chicken and bring it to his friend's apartment. Paul and I tried to look for Coles but found a Beer Wine & Spirits store instead where Paul purchased some bubbly - Yellowglen Vintage Bella and a full case of Sol cervezas. I then called Tommy to ask where the Coles was which he then gave me directions to. Next to Coles was an Asian bakery - still open to my surprise (it was after 7pm already) and we purchased dinner: 2 croissants, 2 spinach turnovers, 1 spinach and ricotta quiche to share and 1 chicken pie for Paul. He also purchased some flavoured milk for me from Coles.
We sat in front of Coles eating whilst awaiting Tommy's sister Rosa and her husband Robert. We then walked to Tommy's friend's apartment - poor Paul had to carry our heavy liquor and direct us. The apartment's view was just as breathtaking as last time. Tommy lay down some housekeeping rules - avoid spillages on the coffee table thing that looks like a long, giant oversized ottoman (it was upholstered in Italian silk) and no touching the expensive glasses ($200 a glass!! They were handblown in France or something).
Rosa prepared a cheeseboard for us and so we ate, drank and were merry until the 9pm fireworks. Afterwards Tommy put on Seinfeld DVD's and we indulged some more. We started tidying up before the midnight fireworks and left somewhere between 12:30-1. The walk back to Edgecliff station was irritating due to huge crowds. Being greeted into the new year by the gay group was amusing. Behind me for a good 5 minutes straight was the most annoying scraping sound of a suitcase being dragged. Who brings a suitcase to NYE!?
The queue for tickets at the station was REEEEEEEEEALLY long (Tommy didn't have a ticket) and then the ticket machines suddenly died so cityrail staff handed out "pay at destination" tickets which are essentially IOU's. The trip was interesting - across from us: a middle aged female cityrail employee eating pumpkin seeds and not being very neat about it (seed shells dropping on the floor and stuck around her face), a strange lady with ridiculously thick glasses staring Tommy and I down (seriously, the thickness made her eyes look huge to worsen the effect), and a special needs type young lady who was shit-faced, repeatedly stroking the back of her right hand with her left fingers - and she was REALLY concentrating on the task. We contemplated where we would change stations - Town Hall, Central or Redfern?
We made the mistake of choosing Central. There was a very large crowd surrounding the stairs for platform 18/19 and it wasn't moving. I was very sweaty. Paul suggested taking a train around the city circle and hoping it would lead us to where we needed to go. Sneaky but ingenious.
The trash littered all over Circular Quay when our train passed was UNBELIEVABLE. So glad to have had the comfort of an apartment with all the necessary amenities. Somewhere around Flemington or so staff told us to move up to another carriage. We assumed a vomit situation was at hand. Finally Paul and I got off at Auburn for another long annoying walk. The garbage trucks happened to be doing their rounds right at that moment so we were exposed to the most unpleasant smell for a good half hour whilst cockroaches dodged our steps past a long row of open empty bins.
We got to work and as Paul pressed his keyring button thing to open the gate this weird French tourist couple had parked their 4WD nearby and the gentleman asked Paul whether it was safe for them to sleep in their car there. Paul assured them no one ever came back there. I felt extremely disgusting at this point and dehydrated so we stopped into the office for cold water and I washed my face etc. When we got in the car and drove out, the tourist 4WD was completely covered in some sort of tarp. It must take a lot of skill and experience to be able to completely cover a car and get into it simultaneously. Within a few minutes I blacked out and Paul drove home.
So, here are some pictures:
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| Our fantastic view |
