Dispatches from the Fury Road: Wow.

“Come along and watch the fireworks from our balcony.”

Yes please. After experiencing a challenging 2023, I decided I deserved bright exploding lights over Sydney Harbour from an angle I’d never seen them before. Along with the company of three friends (which soon turned into two when their daughter didn’t make it to midnight), I sat on their balcony enjoying delicious wine, top chats, and the joy of accidentally kicking potato chips into the dark depths below. I hope random possums enjoyed the satisfaction of crunching snacks between their little teeth.

By the way, I know processed foods aren’t good for animals just like fireworks and most humans. Every time a random fire cracker explodes somewhere in the world, Mum reminds me that when she was young her dog Mac would hear fireworks and be so scared he’d hide under the bed. I have had it drummed into me from a young age to think of the animals every time the sky lights up with the type of colours that inspire cabaret singers to launch into breathy versions of Flame Trees. Mum is one person all animals can count on, and I know for a fact she definitely wouldn’t feed them human treats.

Yet on this night, with my friends, I put all thoughts to one side and enjoyed the show. Feeling the force of the explosion well after I had heard the bang. The different groups of friends and families, all lined up on their balconies, reduced to “phwoars” and “woo-hoos” as ways to express their joy. There’s not much you can do at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Tomorrow is waiting and you know if you’re lucky to continue to live, you’ll reach it soon enough.

For a moment I forgot about the previous year. I forgot about the exhaustion that still plagues me today. I forgot about any plans for 2024. I even forgot 99% of my vocabulary. I was content to have just one word at my disposal that I said over and over again as the night sky continued to explode with colourful joie de vivre.

“Wow”.

That will do for now.

Justin Hamilton

Surry Hills

4th of January, 2024