Pick of my posts and the year in review - 2024

I normally do this as 2 posts but this year, just one. It's been a great year, but I don't feel I've been writing as much as I normally do.

So straight into it - 2024 has been a great year despite health issues and a steady physical decline. Or what feels like that. More tests in the new year. Good times.

In January we took what I thought would be our last holiday with our son, but thankfully he's coming to Japan again next year. Very happy to have two kids in tow for that. The eldest moves back home to look after our fur baby. Travel posts on Japan included one on Otagu Nenbutsu-ji , Bunraku and eating Fugu

I wrote the Road Less Travelled about our life choices and Money and Happiness about the privileged thinking people use when considering money, forgetting the ease it affords them. I also wrote about making the most of your years as you age. 

One of the absolute highlights was dining on top of the Harbour Bridge at Luke's Table. It really is a magical experience. We also had a pretty spectacular weekend with friends at Currawong.

I wrote about the importance of play and friends, and making new friends. I wrote about the antiquated shame with women's health. That has absolutely got to change.

In April we returned to the Banyan Tree in Bintan, where we went for part of our honeymoon 25 years before. It was really lovely. It was fun to compare the then and now, seeing it quarter of a century later.

I had a blast at Ultra, and am super stoked to be going again! Especially as I'm missing Timmy Trumpet and now Kygo and Cyril due to weddings etc. I wrote about my faulty memory and the joy of dancing.

I went to the book launch of my friend's novel that was published posthumously. A very bitter sweet experience. A great gift for Puccini lovers.

I was back in Singapore for the F1 Grand Prix. I am not booked for next year and have to say I'm quite disappointed. Hopefully something happens and I get to one somewhere....

We had the most amazing time swimming with whales in Moorea.

I used points to fly to Auckland to see Grace Petrie. While there, I ticked off a bucket list excursion to Gibbs Farm. It was well worth it. As was the detour to Piha Beach. A sensational 46 hours. I'm planning to go back and walk coast to coast when I can....

There was another getaway to Currawong with different friends & I loved getting out on my new stand up paddleboard (a birthday present earlier in the year).

So when I look back, it's actually been a pretty fantastic year, despite the woes. Plenty of good times and dancing with friends. A lot of travel. Plays and concerts. Activities and fun. It's funny how the negatives can cloud our vision a bit.

The green ones are 3D Xmas trees - so cute!

Best wishes for the New Year. May we all step up and do better for the planet and future generations.

Linking with #WednesdayAroundtheWorld #MCoW #SundayBest #WeekendCoffeeShare #TrafficJamReboot

Holiday Reading

This was a book club pick and I really enjoyed it. It's about relationships with mental conditions and the impacts around that. I was engaged and the narrative voice worked very well, I thought. I listened to it and it really felt like someone you knew was talking by the end of it. It was surprising and enjoyable, more for being something quite unusual in the topic and story.

I had to read this after seeing the show, because I wanted to see how the mirroring worked in the book, and the way the story threads appeared before we understood what we were following. I thought the writing (and presentation) of this tale is very interesting in the craftmanship.

I enjoyed the book, and the use of different fonts made it clearer than the tv show (where I spent a lot of the early episodes saying "That's a different narrator - who's that narrating for him?" or "What's that clicking - is it a film?"

Anyway, book is good, and tv show is really great. Wins all round.

When I saw this on a bin I was reminded of how much I loved Peanuts as a kid, so decided I would re read some. I can borrow them from the library on Hoopla so read them on my phone when I get a chance. This one is in colour and the other is in B&W.

They are still funny but there are some that seem so harsh or sad.

It's kind of strange - yet true, I guess.

I did enjoy them though, 50 years on!

This is a short story on Audible. Very funny - worth the $3 investment, I thought. Nails a lot of the weird human herd behaviour. I laughed out loud a few times in recognition.

Hope Santa brings everyone a few good books for Christmas.

Enjoy the time to relax and read.

Linking with #MonthlyWrapUp #SundayPost, #SundaySalon  #StakingtheShelves #Bookdate

Christmas Tradition

 One of our Christmas Traditions, for the last 16 or 17 years is to go the the Hunter Valley for the Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Light Spectacular.

We've done it in a huge group of 10 other families, taking over the resort pool, in smaller groups and then just with a friend and our youngest child.

I was surprised we were there until closing this time, as apparently it never gets old.

There were a lot of new light displays this time, and I really loved these dazzling reflections. 

This time, as well as the crazy amount of cicadas, there were rabbits everywhere. 

I get up early and look for kangaroos to shoot (with my camera) but alas this trip I'd not charge the battery and it ran out. However, it's always a lovely break and I even got time by the quiet adult pool to read while they played tennis and roamed around.

We shall see if this is our last time in 12 months. I have to say, it's a great way to relax in the lead up to Christmas.

Linking with #WildbirdWednesday

That's what's been on my calendar.

Linking with #WBOYC

Merry Christmas to you all. Stay safe on the roads, remember the double demerits and see you next year!

Note the Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Light Spectacular is on until 26th January. 

Linking with #WeekendReflection #WaterThursday  #TravelTuesday #MCoW #WednesdayAroundtheWorld #SundayBest #NaturesNotes #SatuurdayCritters #GardenAffair   #AwwMondays #WWOT #ThruMyLens

#SkyWatch & #GaleriaHimmelsBlick

I'll be off for a few weeks. My Insta will be updated but that's it.

Just an aside, remember that it's okay to have boundaries with family and friends at Christmas. Shut down conversations that are unacceptable. Old family patterns do not need to be tolerated. Criticism of lifestyle or partners do not require you to keep the peace. If you've lost someone, it's okay to be sad.

It's also okay to blow the whole thing off if you aren't up for it. 

For those in a good place, make sure you invite those alone along to your celebrations. They can say no. Don't decide for them what they will like. Sometimes the invite means the more than the event.

Christmas is a really hard time for a lot of people. It's up to us to help. Make that the core of your Christmas spirit.