How we all will have benefited from the watering and the ease of grey, timeless, yuletide days. 

And the way the cool rain came just in time for the joining of the years. How soon, in a remarkable moment, the present and will past converge. The way with the ring of a bell, the crack of a firework, or with a kiss, the years will be welded together. 

And I enjoy the anticipation and relish the before-it-happens-instant, like the way a cricket ball might be beautifully suspended in the air as it is thrown between fielders, before inevitably, matter-of-factly, being caught – and the spell is broken.

And the way down on the riverbank, beside our stream and each-other, well, it’s a fine place to observe and feel the way it makes us all feel. 

The way I like walking down to the bridge, down beside the Lorn paper shop, down past where the early morning people sit and yarn and say hello, down through the sweet warm December air, down to meet January, with her promises and heat.

The way I reckon we go down there kind of curious to see what comes next. 

The way down there atop the bridge and above the river you can see out across the waiting, curious, 

wanting to feel something faces. The way you can see down river to the east and clouds above the coast, and old Newcastle. The way you can see the water pass below, and think how much you done seen and felt during the year?

And how in them waning hours of the year down there on the riverbank we might remember the ones we’ve lost? And how when them crackers light up the sky and we're gazing up into the fantastic colours we might see them again – and know that they’re down by the river with us all the same. 

And the way there's a great unity to be felt down there dear reader, the way a federation of our lives is made under the fireworks and on the banks of the mighty Hunter River. How in the dwindling, crumbling hours of a year we decide on a type of serenity.

And the event gives me optimism that things will be okay – that we have this last minute capacity to come to our senses, to allow for an equilibrium with each other, and ourselves.

And the way they came up here to this spot on the river a long time ago dear reader, came to this particular bend in the river – the way they made a place to live, like Wonnarua people had done for thousands of years before them and us?

And how I’m glad someone said this is where I’ll be, glad they found this bend in this river, the way I’m glad to be part of this place.

And as Walt Whitman said dear friends, “for every atom belonging to me, as good belongs to you”.

And so it goes.

Goodnight and happy New Year.