I ended 2025 more or less in the way that I started it, with lunch out.
I have known Nate and Duncan for 20 or so years. They are long standing friends of Freyja and Simon's and currently live in Munich. Nate's father lives in Adelaide and they were over for Christmas, with a couple of days in Melbourne.
So we had lunch in Dokutoku. I did not have my usual karaage set meal but a karaage don instead. Freyja tells me that they have a lunchtime menu on the counter but it doesn't show on the online menu that I ordered from. I'll have a look the next time I'm in there for lunch.
It was good to catch up with Nate and Duncan. I didn't see them the last time they were in Melbourne, so it's been several years since we've caught up.
🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆
Several people have suggested that I would have a ringside seat for the New Year fireworks. I certainly had a good view of the food trucks, the picnic tables, the silent disco and other merriments. LOTS of people came for the revelry.
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Food trucks arriving at lunchtime
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| People arriving later in the afternoon |
The party boats all went out into the bay, other boats also went out onto the water. People were having a lot of fun.
I managed to stay awake for the 9:30 fireworks, which I showed to Cally and Flynn from my bedroom window. It wasn't the best view. I would have had to go to the ferry port or to the sunset viewpoint for that. They were behind the NAB building. But I could see well enough. I had gone to bed by the time the midnight fireworks happened but had set an alarm for 11:50. Although, I think I might have woken up anyway. Again, the fireworks were behind the NAB building but I could see enough. Freyja and Simon had a better view from their place. I think they could see ALL the fireworks in Melbourne (Flagstaff and Treasury Gardens and King's Domain as well as Docklands).
I think it is unlikely that I will venture outside to view New Year fireworks at midnight. Ever! But I might be tempted by the 9:30 ones
The first of the midnight fireworks. Subsequent ones went up higher
2026 has got off to a gentle, peaceful, sunny start. Brandy and I have been watching the council workers dismantling New Year's Eve. It took them several days to put it all up. It's taken them a morning to take it back down. I fear that the Herculean effort has worn Brandy out. I had intended to put a clean doona cover on and make the bed properly but have been deterred for now
Happy New Year, everyone. I hope that the sun shines gently, warmly (but not too hotly) on us all, with gentle breezes and night time rain during 2026
