Chris and I started the day early by going to the zoo, because there’s really nothing else to do in South Perth. While the crocodile and the big cats were impressive, I found myself wanting more in the way of bears. All that they had were red pandas and koalas, and neither of those are *real* bears. I also noticed a sign on the otter enclosure saying ‘do not throw coins in the water - they may pose a choking hazard’ but I suspect that the zookeepers are really trying to keep the otters from getting their hands on some money. Because everyone knows they’d spend it on booze and guns if they had the chance.

Down at the foreshore, it was wall-to-wall hicks, idiots and breeders. Still, we managed to get a spot right on the water’s edge and settled in to watch the aeroplanes and helicopters fly past. Morgan rocked up with some beers and we argued about which plane would be better for picking up chicks in, or some crap like that.

The fireworks themselves were kind of fireworkey and bangish, like usual. I wondered why they didn’t have one really huge one right at the end, but this apparently was because they use several of them now at different points in the show. I figure there’s no option left but to go nuclear, just so there can be something bigger to work up to. When they were done, we drove home through South Perth at a snail’s pace. A couple of people walked past carrying a ’souvenir’ plastic traffic barrier.