Igniting the light

I adore fireworks and convinced my sister to brave the crowds on Friday to join me for opening night of Vivid Sydney 2024.

I arrived early to watch the First Light performance at Campbells Cove then gazed in delight as the fireworks exploded over our heads and above the Sydney Opera House.

Fabulous!

Here’s the official spiel from the media release: “The ‘Lights On’ moment wowed onlookers with over 30 light installations and 3D projections across the famed 8km Vivid Sydney Light Walk, highlighted by the Sydney Opera House featuring the breathtaking new digital artwork, Lighting of the Sails: Echo (2024). Created by multidisciplinary Australian artist and 2023 Archibald Prize Winner Julia Gutman, with creative technologists Pleasant Company, the projection on the Sydney Opera House Sails digitises centuries-old fabric-making techniques into an animated, modern epic.”

Speaking of juxtaposing old and new, doesn’t this Sydney Tall Ships boat look amazing with Vivid as its backdrop.

I hustled my sister over to the Sydney Tall Ships berth as the smoke from the fireworks was settling so I could take a few happy snaps for their Facebook feed. I’m looking forward to climbing aboard for a Vivid Sydney cruise in a few weeks time.

After I posted the pics we headed to Hickson House Distillery in The Rocks for a couple of fishbowl-sized gin and tonics. It’s the most gorgeous bar, with soaring ceilings and fancy chandeliers. We nestled on a velvet sofa, shared a bowl of french fries with black garlic aioli and felt like we were a million miles away from the crowds thronging around Circular Quay.

Hickson House’s owner is the most lovely bloke called Mikey, who wandered in with his wife just as we were leaving. We hugged and had a quick chitter chat before he had to bustle off to attend to the Minister for Tourism and the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner when they swept through the front door.

The political pair had been performing official duties for the Vivid Sydney launch and then decided to unwind afterwards at Hickson House. While it was highly unlikely they would recognise me from any of the work events I’ve lurked around, I skedaddled just in case.

The movers and shakers populated my Saturday morning too – I was having coffee with friends at Balmoral Beach when Richard Wilkins and his son Christian wandered past.

But rest of the weekend was very low key.

Although, I was very excited to get my hair coloured at lunchtime on Saturday, not just because my grey roots are now gone, but also because I got my hair washed! I am still banned from showering for another week so it’s been hard to keep my hair clean. It was bliss to tilt my head back in the basin and have someone else sort it out for me.

My hairdresser, oddly enough, has almost exactly the same hip tendonitis issues as I do. She has recommended some sort of electric wave therapy that she said has made a huge difference. She’s also getting hyaluronic acid injected into her hip in the next few weeks. Hyaluronic acid injections have become a popular way to replenish joints and ease pain. I took notes on my phone as she gave advice while painting the dye onto my hair.

After that it was all work, work, work. I have a big freelance project that’s fast approaching final deadline so I’ve been balancing computer time with trying to mitigate hip pain. It’s a fine line. Sometimes I sit at my desk, sometimes I stand at the kitchen bench, sometimes I sit on a stool at the bench with one leg hanging over to relieve the pressure.

This week’s priority is to sort out classes and exercises that will hopefully strengthen my glutes and help them recover.

Oh, and also celebrating Whisky Month …

Hope you had a great weekend.

Song of the day: Katie Perry “Firework” (obviously)