Saturday 5th International fleet review Lauras day!

An early start to Lauras day awoken at around 6:30 to the sound of her ipod recieving texts. Myles had gotten confirmation that I could go up the AMP tower today Yipee

I was on the shorter of the 2 AMP buildings where the sign is. Pretty neat view of the harbor!

Before we get to that I had packed up at home and received an email from Myles informing me how to take photos of fireworks at night how to set the camera up etc etc. Now if I was coming into Sydney just to do that all fine and good I would have bought the tripod but I wasn't and it just wasn't feasible without my backpack.. Which Myles took as a tool kit so no tripod came with me to the city. It was a busy day starting with a drive to pick up Debs mother in a convoy to then head to Campbelltown to drop the car off at the train station so I could drive myself home in the evening. After this a lovely drive to Wollongong again over the Sea Cliff Bridge which was lovely as we went over the opposite way to what we went when Myles was driving. We were heading to Wollongong to visit Debs daughter Mel to see her new puppy which is a Pugalier a cross between a pug and a Caviler soo cute. (Very much like Tinkerbell in the way it runs and is SO excited to see people when you walk through the door.) 

We spent a good hour visiting and playing with the puppy and having ricecripsy cakes too which were yummy!! 

We were then on our way to Watsons Bay to park before we went to Sydney harbor to avoid the road closures and such like for the fleet review. 

I have never seen Sydney city so empty there were hardly any cars and we flew through Kings Cross past Rose Bay and into Watsons Bay where deb parked and we went to find out about Ferry Tickets for the day. We got tickets when we got to the Circular Quay in Sydney Harbor so we waited about 10 minutes for the next one to arrive in the sun which was gorgeous. We boarded the ferry and got prime spots at the front. This was an amazing trip because they were doing war plane fly overs right above us which was amazing to see. We passed lots of the tall and navy ships as well which was very cool. Once we arrived in the harbor we were greeted by the hundreds of thousands of people already there sitting on banks and on the steps of the Opera House. Couldn't believe the people that were there at about 2 O'clock already holding there spots in the heat of the day. I on the other hand didnt have this to worry about and we had planned to go and see Myles on his Barge and shout at him from the ferry. What we didnt predict was the amount of people trying to get onto ferries also! It was manic and very pushy. We got on what we thought was a boat that would get us close to Myles and turned out it wasn't what was on the information board and we only got half way. By the time we got back there was no more time to go out again as they stopped the boats very soon as the thought was there but we didnt make it. Sorry Myles!!

After this Deb and her mother headed back to Watsons Bay leaving me to find some dinner & the AMP loading bay. This was first on my agenda and with Debs directions was located very swiftly. I had about an hour to kill and half of this was spent queuing for dinner and eating it I had a slow walk down to the loading bay to meet a chap called Ian (Yes this is another Ian)

Great we found each other I was at the wrong loading bay I was at the bigger once for the taller building but we found each other nonetheless which was fine. I was taken up the lift to the 26th floor which was very fancy and then up some ladders and clambered onto the roof through the AMP sign. I was introduced to the guys who were firing the show and the ladies who were up there watching with me. We had another hour and a half to kill so we chatted for most of that about fireworks and traveling really was quite nice to be talking to people again not in my bubble!!

7:40 on the dot and we saw the light projections start on the opera house followed by an almighty cheer. It all kicked off and we had to head back a bit whilst our fireworks went off and then we could get as close to the edge as we wanted to watch the fireworks until we had more that was due to go off. It was amazing to watch we could see the whole thing all the way along the harbor it was breathtaking. We all got shuffled back with 30 seconds till our first lot of fireworks were going off and it was amazing you could feel the thuds as the fireworks left the tubes and I was surprised at how quiet it was I was expecting louder. We all jumped a little when some went off from the AMP above us and we got covered in ash and crap but that was expected all good fun. We watched the rest of the show with the same OkeyCokey action going back and forth but all really enjoyed it such a rush to have them so close and to have such an amazing view of the rest. Cant wait to see it back because we were so high up we couldnt hear any of the commentary so didnt quite know what was going on. We knew because we were told the basic story and could see the projections but it would have been good to have the view and sound! Cant have our cake and eat it too! After this another huge cheer and clapping and it was over. The boys checked out the tubes and all had fired successfully which made for a quick and easy tidy up. On the way out gave them a hand carrying smelly stinky racks to the lift but thats fine as I had such a good time I thought I best offer to help a little! Thank yous and goodbyes done it was on to the train...

Every person that was in the harbor now wanted to go home and as there was no cars guess what trains were manic!! After getting through the gates I did the English thing and started to que for a ticket for the train but this is Australia we dont seem to pay for trains so I was given a slip and went on the platform and got on my train on time. Great got a seat but surrounded by noisy kids! Well at least it kept me awake. After a while I asked the lady next to me if she knew how many stops till mine and I was informed that it was the last stops which made it pretty easy for me and relaxed till I got to the end. Deb sent me some amazing directions on how to find the carpark and I did very easily and made my way home!

Great day and photos & videos to come for you all!