28 JANUARY 2007. SUNDAY. 11:40PM.

It was one of the most fuss-free and pleasant Oz Day Out event I've ever been. No wrestling with the crowds, no arriving early to get the best seats, no cops on horses chasing down drunken hooligans, no traffic jams to battle. We've been having the privilege of holing up in a south perth apartment for the last couple of years. I hid indoors from the 40 degree heat all day, got picked up and arrived with ham, cheese and tomato tortillas at 7pm ready for dinner. We drank champagne and fake inked ourselves with removal tattoos. We chow down our food in air conditioned comfort and stroll down to the foreshore with 20 minutes to spare. This year's south perth crowd was obviously halved compared to the previous year. It was easy securing a good spot. We tuned into our mobile radios and waited for the first flare to ignite. The skyshow spectacular was wonderful but slightly underwhelming, and the 35 degree heat and winds at 9pm could not be ignored. At the end of the 20 minute extravaganza, we felt like baked chickens sitting the fan oven and it was time to return to our aircon sanctuary for some homebaked japanese cheesecake. I came home, dugged out old photos and realised this year the view was a little different. That's what's been bugging me all night. I think they decided to rotate the barges and we got stuck with the side view! Cheeky buggers. PHOTOS HERE.