There was no competition when we decided how we were to ring in the new year, to celebrate the last few days of 2012 we thought we’d go back to where we’d started it.
The fresh Tasmanian air was filled with a swirling concoction of scents of the various food vans. Over the course of the festival the volume built, combining 15,000 people chatting and music coming from various stages, culminating at midnight, on New Years Eve. For us there was very little alcohol drunk, not a lot of festival food eaten, and not very much sleep had.
These miniature morsels of cake, were a party in your mouth. The raspberry was a surprise party, hiding a fresh tart berry in the middle.
While the sun was out, the wind was blowing close to gale force. Walking past this tent earlier, J commented that if it wasn’t tightened then it would probably rip (being a professional rigger at some point in his life, I tend to believe him with these sorts of things), we walk back past only minutes last and this turret had ripped, it took 7 hours to repair.
This peking duck wrap was delicious, the outside like a oily and crumbly rotti with sesame seeds encrusted. The pulled peking duck, and lettuce, topped off with a delicious sweet, sticky sauce had the perfect combination of crunchy, chewy and wonderful flavour combinations.
We wrapped up our new years celebrations at 8 pm on New Years Eve, I was aslwwp as soon as my head hit the pillow. Working at the Festival we were driving international artists to and from the airport, their hotel and the festival. The last bands to play on the night of the 30th finished playing at 4 am on the 31st. So after the hour into Hobart and the hour drive back out to site, I crawled into bed as the sun was coming up.
The day of the 31st was pretty vague, I felt like I was living in a slow motion bubble, where sounds were distorted and images weren’t quite clear. Sleep was definitely necessary. It was refreshing to wake up on New Years Day after 9 hours sleep, feeling clear and ready to take on 2013!
How did you ring in the New Year?
Whoa dude, that sounds EXHAUSTING! Was it worth it, working for them, as opposed to just being a paying patron?
Ive never been much of a festival gal, although V fest in the UK was a highlight of my life. I’m too much of a princess now HAHHA.
I brought it in with dinner and drinks in St Kilda with my besties and watching the fireworks from the beach and NY day was spent lazing in the sun drinking PIMMS!
Happy 2013 m’dear!
xx
It was exhausting, but was fabulous waking up refreshed on New Year’s Day. For me it’s worth it, working, because I think I would get bored if I wasn’t. That, and we get back stage passes, and after that it just wouldn’t be the same being a paying patron. Dinner, drinks and Pimms sounds like a wonderful way to ring in the new year.
Would you recommend working at a festival to others? I’ve often considered doing it (those calls for volunteers always appeals – free tickets, hello!) but just don’t know if I’d enjoy it.
Glad you had a wonderful new years! We celebrated the day before with all our friends, hosting a little party at ours. This makes me sound so old, but I actually tend to be asleep before midnight on NYE, and am always totally sober – that way I wake up nice and early on New Years Day, ready for the next year to begin.
I like working at festivals because I like to be in the thick of it. I also don’t know what I’d do with myself for all of those days. I get bored pretty quickly, and don’t drink a whole lot. It’s definitely worth a go, at least once.
Talk about super duper fun! You took some great photos, I’m especially loving the ones of the mini cupcakes. Yum!
It was heaps of fun, exhausting but so much fun.
Wow that does sound rather tiring. It’s nice to wake up fresh on the first day of the year isn’t it?! We had a quiet night with friends but it was probably the best New Years we’ve had in a while.
I felt so good on New Years Day and we were off site at 7 am and away from that festival. We had our own celebrations that night, at The Hobart Taste Festival. It was the perfect way to celebrate. Sounds like you had a wonderful night!
I love that rainbow tree – so inventive. The festival sure looked fun but maybe not so much for you. For the first time ever, we stayed home and had French champagne. I can recommend it.
I love the rainbow tree too! I took so many photos of it. Sounds like you had a wonderful New Year’s Eve, I’d love to take a leaf out of your book one of these years.
What a lovely way to celebrate the New Year (if you’re not working, that is!) But what a great looking festival. I would love to know what bands were playing xx
I was working New Year’s Eve, which was nice. There was heaps of bands playing, maybe 30 over the 3 days. Highlights for me were First Aid Kit, Matt Corby, Hilltop Hoods, The Hives, Django Django and Maximo Park.
What a great way to ring in the New Year! Volunteering, even though it’s hard work, is fun because you really feel a part of the festival.I see you had a great time and were able to get some great pics!
I think it’s great to feel part of the festival. Now I can’t go back to paying for a ticket, it’s just not the same. I did have a great time, but I was super tired at some points.
Tasmania! I went there about two months ago, it’s pretty awesome. The festival looked like a lot of fun. I love the look of that peking duck wrap too! I avoided the crowds on NYE and went to a friends’ house for a more quiet, but still drink-filled, night.
Tasmania is stunning! Last year we spent 3 weeks there after the festival and got to explore, but this year we flew out just days after the festival. A quiet New Years Eve is something we’re going to have to try soon! Sounds like you had a great night!
Hehe you’d be one of the few that woke up refreshed on New Years Day-good for you! 😀
It’s such a great feeling to wake up New Years morning feeling fresh, a great way to start the year.
it would be an amazing experience but SO tiring working a festival. happy new year clare, i cannot wait to return to tasmania some time x
Tassie’s awesome! The festival was great, but you’re right, so tiring! Happy new year to you too!
oh my gosh I didnt realise you were working at the festival! Did you meet anyone cool? the food you did get to eat looked yummy. i really want to go to the taste festival in tassie that is one at the start of the year.
I did meet a couple of cool people, but I suppose it depends on what you think is cool
The Taste Festival is the one over New Years, it goes for a week. Fabulous!
Like you Clare I was at a festival, the Woodford Folk Festival dancing the New Year in with all my friends. I am thinking about volunteering for it next year to get a ticket. My sister works for the falls festival in Lawn doing the same job as you driving international performers around. It sounds like a load of fun.
That duck wrap looks real good, a roti with sesame seeds on it – nice.
Happy New Year.
Woodford would be amazing! The job is pretty fun but also can’t be super stressful, and tiring.
I wondered why your shots looked so fabulously backstage. What a sensational experience. I am sure you will never forget. New Years Eve is such a blink and miss it affair anyway. you have a more lasting memory. The food looks great too as i would expect in Tassie
I’m never usually excited about celebrating the New Years aspect, but do love enjoying a festival.
I’m super jealous! What a great day. We spent New Years Eve at Star Casino and made it home just before 5am. Woo hoo!
Your New Years Eve sounds wonderful! I’m not really a partier, so never really celebrate the night, just the festival.
Pingback: Tasmanian Tidbits |
Pingback: Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore »