I’m recovering after a hectic New Year’s Eve Party on the Opera House forecourt. I scored another invitation to the Lord Mayor’s shindig by volunteering to help run part of the event. They needed a qualified pilot to man the radio at Event HQ while there was an air display over the Harbour and they asked me to do it a while back when I was still working for the City of Sydney. 
I volunteered and suggested that maybe they could give me a couple of invitations to the party, which they did – brilliant.
Event HQ was a top secret location – floor 25 of the AMP building overlooking the Harbour. Security was very tight indeed. The room with the view was set up with long tables carrying computers, screens and lots of radio gear and phone systems. I had a window seat and a handheld aviation radio, which was sufficient for the job. The display pilot was Red Bull Racing pilot Matt Hall who I know well from his days in aerobatic competition. I just had to contact him briefly when he arrived (exactly on time, of course) to tell him it was ok to fly over the Harbour. He did a display at 6pm and another at 8pm. The second one was a bit tamer than it should have been because he had to wait for some boats to get clear of the Harbour centre because he could not do aerobatics over them – but it was still good. After that, I walked over to the Opera House for the party on the forecourt. 
I met lots of people from the Herald as well as former colleagues from the City of Sydney. I drank lots of beer and had some good finger food and we danced the night away. Fireworks were fantastic, as usual. Took the train home about 3.30.
Today we are feeling a little weary. My ears are ringing from the loud music and Jan says she’s gone deaf and might sue! We had a big brunch and now I might have a little lie down. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
