NYE 2006 & Reflections

- NYE 2006 -

Janna and Jess with the perfect view behind them.

The first and last time I was in the city for NYE. We arrived around 1pm at Blues Point (in North Sydney) and already the place was starting to fill up. With tents, picnic mats and people everywhere we settled down on our patch of grass (ie territory) and got comfortable seeing as we were going to be there for the next 12 hours.

Luckily reinforcements arrived as the day progressed, more NSB's, NSG's, CCC, and study campers came to.. hold the fort! Most of the day was taken up by eating, chatting, playing card games and going for walks to stretch our legs.

But the price to pay for such a magnificent view was the number of smokers and drinkers. You could literally smell the alcohol in the air. Oh and not to mention the hour-long wait if you needed to go to the bathroom. By the end of the night, it was said that the women had overtaken the men's bathrooms and the men had to resort to peeing in the bushes? Or so I heard...

The fireworks however, were... absolutely stunning. Watching it on TV simply does not capture the way the sky lights up with the brilliant colours, and feeling the explosion in your body, the ground trembling under your feet and the atmosphere of the crowds gasping in delight.

[If you're using Mozilla, all thumbnails in this post can be right-clicked and 'View Image' will let you see the original sized picture]




It was all over, too quickly. Then it became the mad efforts of 3000(?) people trying to make their way back home. What was disturbing was the amount of broken bottles and shards of glass all over the streets and the dangerous mood of the crowd trying to push their way into the train station. I was infinitely glad and relieved to get home, in one piece. So it was definitely an experience, but only something I'd want to do once in a lifetime.

- Reflections -

Where to start? 2006... my final year of high school. Most people say it's the best year of high school and I think I would agree. Everything in Year 12 takes on meaning as you spend the last moments with your friends, the teachers are actually nice to you, and you work hard to achieve to the best of your ability.

Term 1 saw events like House Choir, Swimming Carnival and Year 12 Camp




And of course, the completion of the new library!


Term 2's highlight was without a doubt, Study Camp!




Term 3 was hectic with trials, but the last week of school was absolutely unforgettable. Farewells and "Final" everything and Valedictory Dinner closed this chapter.




Term 4 was HSC but that dims in comparison to more momentous events like schoolies, and formals =D (3 altogether)




But apart from school, highlights of this year include KYLC (January) EYF camp (July) and RICE (August)




(If you've managed to read down this far, well done!)

Finally, 2006 has been a year of many changes, both good and bad. It's been a year of paradoxes, where everything has been turned upside down and inside out. In losing friends I've made more, in drifting from God I've grown closer, in darkness I found light, in loneliness I found comfort, in despair I found hope, and in serving I was served.

And every single person God has put into my life has helped me in small or big ways to grow, to discover more of myself, to learn about life and to love. And so I thank God for all of you for helping to shape who I am. Especially my family, and my boyfriend. God bless you all in this coming year of 2007 and may we look forward to our heavenly home and continue to live for eternity, growing in Christlikeness and in our love for each other and for God!