DANCES WITH WARRIORS

They’re just fun to play with.

We get a lot of Chinese visitors in Sydney these days, particularly around the Chinese New Year.

They all want to see the icons around the harbour.

SAILING SYDNEY, FORMULA 1 STYLE

The America’s Cup Experience – now for everyone. Photo courtesy Sailing Sydney.

There are many ways to get out on Sydney Harbour, all of them good. You can take a ferry ride to Manly or (my preferred option) Watson’s Bay. You can scream in a jet-boat, paddle a kayak or cruise on a party boat with DJ and bar.

Or you can do as I just did, and take to the water on a thoroughbred racing yacht designed to win the America’s Cup. Thanks, Sailing Sydney, for having this landlubber aboard.

SYDNEY NEW YEAR’S EVE – fireworks on the bridge

A cracking start to 2012.

Mevrouw T and I are rather bah-humbug about New Year’s Eve, with its noise, crowds, forced jollity, over-indulgence and morning after regrets. Our procedure in recent years has been to watch the 9.00pm children’s fireworks on TV, then go to bed and try to sleep through the distant rumble of the 12.00am edition.

This year however came an offer too good to refuse – a very pleasant dinner party chez the only people we know whose apartment overlooks Sydney Harbour.