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Taking our new toy out for a trip

Regained mobility. In December, be become mobile: After months in this city without wheels, at the first and third December week-ends, we borrow the car from Mark and Erica, which we finally buy from them just before Christmas. Until now, we knew how to entertain ourselves without a car (confer to all previous monthly reports). But after all this time, we are determined to drive: Riding spontaneously to the beach in the evening, doing a day trip with short notice, or meeting for a run at 8:00 am was impossible for us until now. Erica not only brings the keys along, but also a book "4 WD around Sydney" thus we make our first dirt road experience with our new car. By the way: What we will put into this longtime longed for car: An esky (i.e., cool box – 50 litres; keeps ice icey up to 5 days), tent, mats, picknick belongings,... Then all these things bought in Australia get out of our cupboard and into the car. See our photo gallery and special report Escaping Sydney.

New life after the bush fires

Bush fires. In early December, the drought has lasted much too long. In addition, we have very high temperatures (up to 38° Celsius) and strong winds. Bush fires emerge everywhere in New South Wales. The outskirts of Sydney are endangered as well, the biggest threat in 20 years. Our suburb is safely located on a peninsula, therefore we are only affected indirectly by closed highways, news concentrated on reports of fires, wind strengths and directions, a standstill of public transport, and the smell of fire in the city. When we drive through the Blue Mountains three weeks later, we see the new life amidst the burnt forests: Green branches emerge from black stumps.

A voucher present for Claudia's birthday

Claudia's first (Australian) summer birthday. In the last couple of years, Claudia sometimes celebrated her birthday somewhere in the world. This time, however, it is new that her birthday is as well in summer as at home. Thus, we invite our friends with the big announcement "After all these winter birthdays we finally celebrate Claudia's first summer birthday". Guess what they do? They order a weather what they think a German winter is like: The night before the birthday it starts to rain! The temperature drops significantly to 14° Celsius, it rains to swim away. Compare it to an Irish country rain. And Sydney dances of joy! Our friends await us under a rain cover, smile, and say "We wanted to make you feel at home, we just couldn't get the temperature low enough." (remark of the editor: Germany reports -10° Celsius this day). It rains for 30 hours before the sun breaks through again. The bush fires are extinct in time for Christmas.

Christmas Party Down Under – Dave debones the turkey

Christmas. Who now thinks of mugs with "Glühwein" in stiff hands and carols like "Süßer-die-Glocken-nie-klingen" will be highly disappointed. Christmas in Sydney is well a family feast – as everywhere in the world – the notion of "contemplative", however, doesn't fit. Who wonders that the feast is celebrated with a BBQ?! We and many more friends are invited to Dawn's and Dave's garden party. We mix Christmas traditions of the northern and the southern hemispheres: The coulourful blooming tree in the garden is decorated with golden Christmas balls, and someone puts up the CD "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas". When we have turkey, ham, and salads with sangria, however, the music is switched to more rocky rhythms. Between the meals, we go to Birchgrove Oval to play with Claudia's most genuine Australian birthday present, a cricket set, in order to burn calories.

Ghost boats appearing out of the rain cloud during the start of Sydney to Hobart

Sydney to Hobart regatta. Boxing Day (26. December) is the traditional start day for the offshore race Sydney to Hobart. It is said to be the toughest race in the world. Curious to watch the start, we fetch our belongings as well as Sabine, Eric, and his father Albert and head towards North Head to see the gun fire at 1:00 pm. At 12:50 am the sky becomes dark black. Every hope is in vain, the cloud breaks exactly above our heads. It pours like a waterfall – fortunately, we had just finished our little waterproof potatoe crisps –, the sight decreases to 10 metres. Somewhat around 13:10 two grayish sails emerge from the grey clouds and those spectators who still stand by frenetically applaude. Which boat it might be is the topic under discussion...

New Year's Eve 2002/03 in Sydney

New Year's Eve 2002. Long beforehand, this evening was in the air: in discussions with friends, in suggestions about the size of the fireworks, with a special Web site (www.SydneyNewYearsEve.com) including information about special events, road closures, public transport, etc. Indeed, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, our suburb Balmain/Birchgrove – due to its location close to the Harbour Bridge a favourite spot for spectators – is closed. Each and every square inch is sealed by picknick rugs, tents, or transportable loos. The two of us celebrate New Year's Eve rather quietly but even nicer with a private garden party at Ken's and Susie's directly at the waterfront. Though the 9 pm fireworks are cancelled due to strong gales, the midnight fireworks are even more impressive and are mentioned in the German news. Please refer to our impressions of the 2002 fireworks.