Finishing on a High

As the Seekers sang many moons ago, The Carnival is Over, for this is it, the final entry. No doubt this won’t be the last haiku I’ll ever write, so here’s hoping I’ve learnt something in the process of tackling this project that I can use as my mind engages with other forms of writing in the new year.

Fireworks are always a good thing on New Year’s Eve, but without any photos of my own on file, plus a reluctance to use a free internet image as I wanted the whole shebang to be my own creation, and the fact I’ll probably fall asleep before Sydney Harbour explodes at midnight so I can pinch one off the TV, here’s my best attempt at brightening up the last page.

Sayonara.

Zoom, whizz, boom, sizzle

see the year out with a bang

and not a whimper

Howzat, Here come the Yachts

Aaaaah, audible sound of relief. I like Boxing Day. The big day is over for another year, the crazy build up is finally behind us, no big feast to prepare, there’s still plenty of leftovers in the fridge to feed a small army, now comes some put your feet up time.

Going back quite a few years, I remember when we’d either sit down and watch the first day of the Boxing Day Test Match on TV, or actually be there while on one of our trips visiting family in Melbourne for Christmas. Or if not at the Test Match, we’d head to the MCG for a one-day International game. One of the boys would strip their Australian flag cover off their doona and we’d use that as our flag to wave madly every time the Aussies took a wicket or excelled with the bat.

So today, the MCG curator gets to show off how immaculately he can crisscross mow the grass as the Boxing Day Test against India gets underway, and to add to sporting drama, the fleet sails out of Sydney Harbour in a great fanfare for the annual battle down the east coast and across the sometimes-treacherous Bass Strait on its way to Hobart. Line honours have a certain prestige, but when you see just how small some of the yachts are in comparison to the maxis crewed by a cast of thousands, your level of respect rises markedly for those mad but dedicated men and women who pit their skills against the elements.

We become armchair experts for a few days, both in cricket and sailing, watching with anticipation as both cricket teams and yachts jockey for position, at one moment gaining the upper hand, and then seeing it all fall away as fortune favours the opponent. A battle royal is about to unfold….don’t miss it.

2011 Sydney - Hobart winner

Farewell landlubbers

the fleet sets sail for Hobart

Sydney Harbour gleams

Yuletide Cheer

Family and friends

cooking, feasting, laughing

sharing this special day