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“Life is what happens whilst you are making plans”, is a quote attributed to numerous people, amongst them, John Lennon of Beatles fame. Never has this aphorism been more true than in recent days.

Over a year in the planning, yesterday should have been the day we were filled with nervous excitement. Wondering what the next 12 months would hold as we embarked on the trip of a lifetime. A round the world travel adventure, sipping cocktails on deserted Filipino beaches. Swimming in the tropical shores of Thailand. Exploring the best of Europe in a campervan, and checking out the best of the vineyards. On to Canada to explore the Rockies, before brushing up my Spanish in a language school in Central America.

Well, you know the rest. Like all of you, our lives have been disrupted by events that are impacting the whole world. Humanity is being tested like never before. Lives are being changed irrevocably. New phrases are entering the lexicon. “Social distancing”. “Self isolation”. Lockdown has become a part of everyday life.

As society slowly learns to adapt to a time where we can’t see our loved ones for fear of making them ill. And jobs are lost in their thousands as social distancing means a loss of our social lives, and with it many people’s incomes. I suppose we still have a lot to be thankful for. Rather than setting off with the whole world being our oyster, we are learning to adapt ourselves.

At the end of our travels we had made the life changing decision to uproot our fabulous life in Sydney, and transport it to beautiful Western Australia. Specifically to Perth. A place we have visited a number of times and love. A place where the sun seems to constantly shine. That Margaret River, one of my favourite places in the world (in part due to the wonderful wineries and beautiful beaches) is on the doorstep of Perth, may have something to do with our choice.

Fast forward to Sunday, and with the announcement that Western Australia would be closing its borders on Tuesday afternoon, we quickly jumped on to the Qantas website and booked ourselves on a flight out. The next day. And here we are. After a flight of just under 5 hours, and a time difference of minus 3 hours from Sydney, we are safely at an AirBnB in Perth.

This is day 1. What day 2, and subsequent days hold, we don’t know. We have a week booked in our accommodation. And we need to sort out what to do after that. We don’t yet know if we will all be in full lockdown as the UK now is. We do know that across Australia all pubs, restaurants have had to close, with cafes only allowed to do a takeaway service. Importantly, the bottle shops are currently excluded from the closures so are able to stay sane through drinking copious amounts of wine. And more importantly, there is a bottle shop conveniently located a short walk from where we are staying. If a wider, New Zealand style lockdown is put in place, we will just have to find somewhere we can stay a little longer, and head out for a large supply of food and the elusive toilet roll.

Whilst this is a terrible time for everyone, the fact that a relatively “normal” life is returning in China does give me some hope. A glint of light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Until that light gets brighter, please adhere to the official advice that your respective government is giving you. It is very important. The less people we are in contact with, the less opportunity we give this virus chance to spread amongst us.

Let’s all work together to keep everyone safe. Once the darks clouds have passed, everyone is invited to the virus  “going away” party!

What is “average”?

Let’s try a thought experiment. How long does the average person live? Notwithstanding I don’t know what the “average” person is, if we just use this measure, how many years do you think this “average” person would live for? How about we agree on 80 years old. And if said person was to live to the ripe old age of 80, how many weeks would you guess this is?

Go on. Have a guess. Without Google and without a calculator. Off the top of your head, how many weeks? I have been reading a new book called “4000 Weeks”, and yes, if we live to 80 years old, we will have 4000 weeks at our disposal.

The problem is, many of us have already used up a large portion of these 4000 weeks. A decade ago, (a decade? Seriously, a decade??), I wrote a blog about it being “Half Time”, and as I turned 40, what changes did I want, or need to make in the second half, to use a football analogy.

Past the half way mark

I am well and truly in the second half now. As I turn 50, and using 4000 weeks as an average (total) length of my lifetime, I now have 1564 weeks left. This feels scary. It feels way too short. And it feels very real, reminding me of one of my favourite quotes, “memento mori”. Literally, remember we die, but more abstractly, I see this as a stark reminder to live. Being acutely aware of our guaranteed demise brings into sharp focus for me the need to live a life of purpose. A life of adventure. A life that I look back on at the close of my 4000 weeks and say, “yeah, I am happy with that”.

This is the reason I do this blog on an annual basis. Or at least, annual-ish. We are in the second week of January already and before we know it we will have Easter eggs adorning the shelves in Woolworths. I reflect on the year that has just passed, and look back at what my intentions for the year were. Balancing the books to determine whether I achieved what I set out to achieve, and if I have in fact lived the last year in the way I wanted to live it.

What is left to say abut 2021 that hasn’t already been said?

2021 has again been a year that we didn’t expect. We said this about 2020 and I genuinely thought the world was starting to turn the corner. Then, along came Delta, and more recently, Omicron, and suddenly it feels like Groundhog Day. Countries are closing down, not opening up. COVID cases are going up, not down. And we are back to wearing masks indoors. 

And yet, the year has been very good to us. The absolute highlight being April when we took ourselves off to Margaret River and eloped to the forest. I could never have predicted how perfect the whole experience would be. Staying at the Empire Spa Retreat in Yallingup for 3 nights was a great way to relax and enjoy the big day. Vasse Felix was the ideal place to celebrate the nuptials the day after with a delicious degustation lunch. And the best hotel in Australia, Como The Treasury was the absolute perfect place to celebrate our mini-moon.

We were on the move, again

The year started in the cottage that had been our home for some months. A home that we had grown very attached to. Lazy Sunday afternoon BBQs in the back garden became a highlight. Sadly, our landlords returned from Queensland and we had to move once our year rental was up. Thankfully, we didn’t have to move far. We are actually on the same road, except we had to move back to apartment living. You may remember the washing machine debacle, the very week we moved in. I don’t think I will forget it.

The long awaited travel sabbatical

In terms of travel, it is now pushing on 3 years since we were last allowed to leave Australia. This continues, with Western Australia still locking out the rest of the world, and locking us in. We had planned my big 50th celebration over Xmas in Queensland and this got cancelled a week before we were due to leave as a result of the ever changing border restrictions. Thankfully, Mrs C is very organised and within minutes we had a new plan. Three nights on Rottnest Island over Xmas, and two nights in the port city of Fremantle for New Year.

We have managed to get on a plane this year, having a great holiday in Broome, north WA, and a fabulous road trip around Tasmania, somewhere we would both like to spend more time. We have also taken the opportunity to explore even more of this vast state we live in. Western Australia has so much to see and we have spent many (not enough?) weekends in Margaret River. This truly is our happy place and I suspect there will be much more of it in our future.

Winter is not that cold over here in the west, but weekends in picture postcard little country towns Bridgetown and Nannup allowed us to witness the changing seasons with leaves on the trees turning a beautiful golden brown. It also gives us the opportunity to book a cottage with an open fire and spend the evening relaxing with a bottle of red wine. Perfection.

With our state premier (dictator) promising to catch up with the rest of Australia, and open our borders in February, we have renewed hope that 2022 will be the year we finally get on the road for our travels. Just a slight delay of two years, but the best things come to those that wait.

I became a professional coach

Whilst we have been waiting to travel I have been continuing with my personal development. In the last year I have been deep on a journey of discovery and learning, training to be a professional coach. With a few remaining activities to complete, I should soon be able to apply for my Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential with the International Coaching Federation. This will be a massive milestone for me and something I will be very proud of. It is too early to determine what comes next after this.

On the education front, I have been at university, studying for a Graduate Certificate in Organisational Coaching and Leadership. At the time of writing I have about 6 weeks left before I complete this. As much as I love learning, and will continue to learn, what I have discovered is that I don’t like academic writing. Something that is critical to being a university student. A good reflection and this gives me pause for thought before I commit to any future courses.

What comes next?

What I am happy to commit to is that we will continue to enjoy life. Despite the restrictions we are all facing across the world, we know how fortunate we are and are very grateful for the opportunities 2021 provided to us. Life is not something that eventually happens to you. It is what happens now. In every moment. The present.

“How we spend our days is of course how we spend our lives.” – Annie Dillard

The next time we speak, the world may have changed again. For us, or against us. Time to embrace complexity and see what emerges. Either way, I am excited.

Van Gogh and Provence

I wrote this as I lay and take in the views of the cypress trees nearby. The same cypress trees that so often inspired Vincent Van Gogh during his stay in 1889.

And when I say stay, his time in the south of France weren’t his happiest moments. After a period in Arles, where his mental health declined, he admitted himself to the nearby asylum, here in St Remy de Provence. You may remember that he cut his own ear off after an argument with his friend, Gaughin. 

In the year that he was in the asylum at St Remy he produced over 150 paintings. One of his most productive periods. And one of his last. Leaving St Remy in May of 1890, he had shot and killed himself in November of the same year.

Swapping the rails for the road

We were in much better spirits as we headed by train from Dijon, via Avignon to pick up a hire car, and into Provence. This part of France is not served well by train so car was our only option. A hefty chunk from our travel budget that almost brought tears to my eyes. Seeing we had a Fiat 500 cheered me up immensely. My second time in a Fiat 500, although my first time was in one of the original, tiny cars, as I drove us both around Florence.

Victoria took the wheel today and not long after leaving Avignon we were rolling into St Remy de Provence. With a population of under 10,000, St Remy sits in the northern Alpilles, in southern France. The birthplace of Nostrodamus, St Remy is also where Princess Caroline of Monaco lived for several years with her children following the death of her second husband.

It is immediately easy to see what would draw people here. A small town of narrow cobbled streets, the sun glancing between the buildings, lighting up small piazzas of people chatting and sipping the famous Provence rose wine. Despite being a place that attracts tourists, it somehow manages to keep its rather sleepy feeling. We sat in the shade of a large tree and ordered two cold drinks.

As we had the luxury of a car we chose to stay some 10 minutes from St Remy, opting for a bed and breakfast in a converted farmhouse. We were spending two nights in the very small village of Maillane. A village of three restaurants and one wine bar. Our bed and breakfast had a small swimming pool and with the temperature in Southern France increasing, it was a welcome relief to go for a cooling dip.

Baux-de-Provence

Having the car afforded us the luxury of being able to go and explore places. One such place was Baux-de-Provence. Somewhere I did not know about and was recommended by Chris at the bed and breakfast. Ten minutes drive, a rather precarious mountainous drive, had us in Baux. And straight away, it grabs you. The dramatic landscape, towering over the village.

With a permanent population of under 400, the tourists easily outnumbered the locals. And it is easy to see what draws the tourists in. A castle that appears to merge with the mountain that it climbs out of. And a village that dates back to the Iron Ages.

A reminder about how precious life is

Chatting with the owner of the B&B, Chris, was a reminder of why we were on this trip of a lifetime. Chris is originally from Belgium, and often spent his holidays down in this part of the world. Ten years ago he suffered a life threatening illness, and spent over a year in hospital. When recovering he realised he had spent his life trying to do too much and wanted to enjoy his life more. So he packed up, moved to southern France, and bought the farmhouse that he now runs as a B&B.

Anyone for Cassoulet?

Two nights of relaxation, and eating with the locals, we were on the move again. Another place neither of us had been to. And I am still not sure I had heard of Carcassonne until recently. For those of you more familiar with it you will know how beautiful the castle and the old fortified cité is. The medieval fortress dates back to Gallo-Roman times and was restored in 1853.

Both evenings in Carcassonne were spent exploring the old city and the castle, roaming amongst the ramparts and strolling the narrow alleyways. Looking for the regional dish I discovered the cassoulet. A dish of duck confit and Toulouse sausage. It is delicious, and very popular.

I am a bit of a geek when it comes to the Camino de Santiago, and one day I know I will do a pilgrimage of my own. I was thrilled to learn that one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela, where all the walks conclude in the cathedral there, actually starts right here, in Carcassonne.

Another capital of wine?

But today, I wasn’t walking. We were dropping the Fiat 500 at Carcassonne train station, and we were destined for the wine capital of France, Bordeaux. Has anybody spotted a theme of our tour through France?

Bordeaux wines are known the world over. It was the Romans that introduced the first vines and Bordeaux has been synonymous with wine ever since. Wanting to promote French wine to the world, Napoleon III insisted on a classification at the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris. A classification that has remained in place since. Ranking the wines according to a chateau’s reputation, in order of “cru”, first through to fifth. 

Visiting the Medoc wine region

This, and many other interesting facts about the Bordeaux wine industry we learned on our wine tour to the Medoc region. A region that only produces red wine, we spent a half day exploring both the Château Marquis de Terme and Château Siran. The amount of rules and regulations that wine growers in Bordeaux need to adhere to are mind boggling. We learnt that vineyards are not allowed to irrigate the vines. With a dry summer like we have just had I do wonder how the vintage will turn out.

Falling in love with Bordeaux

Bordeaux is another of those cities that caught me completely by surprise. I fell in love with it. Such a beautiful river front, lined with grand mansions. Another city firmly on the Camino de Santiago. And a nightlife that seems to go for the whole day. Stumbling across square after square, all packed with people enjoying coffee, beer, wine, and plenty of great food. Our three days passed by so quick that I just wanted to press the pause button.

Time to say Au Revoir

However, in life, there is no pause button. We were heading out in the morning. And changing countries. Since leaving Australia, we now had country number eight in our sights. This would be the 28th new bed since we left Perth. I know. It is exhausting. But, I wouldn’t change a thing. 

We head to Spain tomorrow, and somewhere I have wanted to go long before I saw Anthony Bourdain visit. Without a car, or a train ticket, we were taking our first bus ride. Four hours and we will be in San Sebastian, in the Basque country is our next stop.

Au revoir, and hola!

Do we really have to go home?

The Philippines were supposed to be our last stop. A final holiday before heading back to reality. And yet, that phrase, “back to reality” always gets me thinking. What is “reality” anyway? Was the last 10 months not reality? The many ups, and few downs of life on the road. A life of uncertainty. Not knowing where you will be tomorrow. How you will get there. And where you will sleep when you get there. Is this not “reality”? I contend that it is.

Bali bound

With this in mind, our current reality was going to continue for some time yet. From Manila we had ourselves booked onto a flight to the small Indonesian island of Bali. A place we hadn’t visited for over 6 years. One of the draws of living in Perth was to be regular trips to Bali. The pandemic had something to say about that and we didn’t get to leave the country for the 2 years that we previously lived in West Australia. 

The pandemic was not going to stop us this time, and late in the evening we queued with hundreds of other travellers at the airport, all waiting to get our “visa on arrival”, despite already having an electronic version. By the time we had cleared immigration, then customs, and finally found a taxi, (Grab were very inconspicuous this time of the evening), we rocked up at our hotel in Seminyak well after midnight.

That first day in Seminyak was how we spent the next six days. Coffee in bed with a view of the early morning sun glimmering off the swimming pool. Followed by the included breakfast and a morning stroll before getting settled on a sun bed around the pool, reading. And occasionally drinking cold Bintang beers at the swim up pool bar. This was the Bali we remembered. 

Searching out the best Balinese food in Seminyak

It was our first visit to the Seminyak area. An area bustling with tourists, cafes, and lots of restaurants. What I love about Bali is that the local food is delicious. Who can resist a steaming plate of either Nasi or Mie Goreng. As I love both rice and noodles I found it hard to veer from these dishes.  That said, being a holiday destination, every taste is catered for, and I did appreciate getting a big burger one evening. Looking across at Victoria’s plate I did get a bit of food envy. A steak that looked very good. How long is it since I last had a steak?

One afternoon, over a cold beer, Victoria had that look on her face. I knew that look. She had something cooking in her mind.

“I just wondered if you fancied a week in Nusa Dua?”

That is all she had to say. Once she had opened that door, I was charging through. It turns out she had received an email with a deal on a luxury hotel in the Nusa Dua district of Bali. 

“Let’s do it”, I immediately said. “Life is short. But first, let me go and get one of those $10 haircuts we saw advertised. I don’t want to be strolling around a 5 star hotel looking like a yeti with a failed man bun.”

The Nusa Dua Hotel and Spa

And on checking out of our week in Seminyak, we jumped in a Grab taxi and headed 30 minutes down to Nusa Dua. For a final splurge in a 5 star hotel. With lots of inclusions such as free drinks, lunch and dinners, and four Balinese massages. A great way to end our 10 month travel sabbatical. 

The Nusa Dua Hotel & Spa is situated in the gated area of Nusa Dua, hugging the beach along with its neighbouring hotel complexes. If life in Seminyak was chilled, we had taken it to a new level. No longer having to negotiate the death trap pavements of most Balinese towns, our walks for the week were along the beach. Peace and serenity prevailed. Pausing on the hill to watch the novice surfers crash in the small waves. 

We started each day with a fabulous breakfast and a walk along the beach. Lunch saw us circulating amongst the restaurants of the hotel. Food was included and we only had drinks to pay for. The bar drinks were all inclusive between 3pm and 6pm. And we could often be found around the pool with a Bintang. 

Cocktails and canapes

Keeping an eye on the time we then had to time it so that we didn’t miss the “evening cocktails”. Another inclusion in our package that ran from 5.30pm to 7pm. Who can resist canapes and free drinks? A perfect way to start an evening. Twice whilst we were there we had an included “themed” dinner and got to watch some very traditional Balinese dancing. The week was good. So good in fact we still didn’t want to come home. You can probably guess what was coming next…

Ubud, the spiritual heart of Bali

Our final, final week on the road would still be in Bali, but we moved to the spiritual heart of the island. Five nights in Ubud, and bed number 93, would be a great end to an amazing trip. Ubud is popular. Crazily so. The traffic has to be seen to be believed. Whatever hour, day and night, the road through the centre is gridlocked as cars, vans, and scooters vie for a piece of the road. With the pavements being in such bad repair, we had to contend with the traffic ourselves many times.

In fact, the pavements were so bad that in a moment of absent mindedness, Victoria smashed her big toe on a broken paving stone, ripping off the nail. Welcome to Ubud! A very kind man nearby immediately ran over and offered to take her to the nearest clinic. With blood pouring from her toe we very gratefully accepted. I stood there, still in a little shock myself, watching as she disappeared into the distance on the back of a stranger’s scooter. Will I ever see her again?

I did see her again, and the nurses at the clinic were very good, patching Victoria up, giving her a tetanus jab and sending her on her way with some antibiotics and a bill for the work. Thankfully, this being Bali, the prices were very reasonable. We almost made it through the whole 10 months without any injuries.

Escaping the crowds in Ubud

Hobbling along, we did our best to escape the traffic and the terrible pavements. Wandering down an alleyway, we soon came face to face with the greenery I always associate with Ubud. Rice paddie fields as far as the eye can see. Now, you get a sense of what Bali was like before overseas tourists started descending on this small island. It is paradise. Which is why it draws so many people here.

The infrastructure that has been developed to support all these visitors includes some of the best villas you will ever stay in. Luxury hotels. Spas offering traditional massages at rock bottom prices. Fabulous clothing shops. And some of the best restaurants and bars you will come across in Southeast Asia. It is easy to see why Ubud is a mecca for digital nomads, flocking to the very modern, very flash co-working spaces dotted throughout the town. If it wasn’t easier to get a rental in Perth, and jobs to pay for it, by actually being in Perth, it would have been cheaper for us to remain in Bali.

Our last trip to the airport for some time

It wasn’t to be. Sunday rolled around and we were off to an airport for the very last time on this trip. An afternoon flight would get us to Perth in just under 3 and a half hours. And back to real life, whatever that is.

End of Year Reflections

Another year around the sun. Another Xmas. Another time to pause and reflect. The year end, and the marking of another birthday being the perfect circuit breaker to reflect on the year gone, and set my intentions for the year ahead. 

It is also a good time to catch up on some reading. And there are some people I read about that continue to live long in the imagination. So long that I can only assume they lived very long lives. And what seems to always surprise me is how short some of these lives were. That their lives were full, rather than long. Given the choice I would opt for a long, and full life. If I had to pick one, it would be the latter. Better to live one day as a lion, than a thousand days as a sheep.

One of the books I am currently reading is about Napoleon Bonaparte. The General, and one time Emperor of France. Having now outlived Napoleon, I find it hard to fathom how he fit so much into his short 51 years. Hailing from the island of Corsica, and not even speaking French, Napoleon rose through the ranks, and created a legacy that lives on, even today.

Heading back to Margaret River

I may not have conquered countries, but I have had the great fortune to visit many. For us, 2023 started in Tokyo, Japan, and for the first four months of the year we explored much of South East Asia. The year ended in Australia, in Byron Bay on the east coast. Before then we had my birthday celebrations and Xmas break in Margaret River. You may have heard me talk of Margaret River previously.

Yes, for three days over Xmas we were back in our happy place. Revisiting Injidup Spa Retreat near Yallingup. Waking on Xmas Day to views of the Pacific Ocean, and wide expanses of empty sandy beaches. Truly blessed. Being rather isolated, we had to bring three days food and drink supply with us. A couple of eskies full, we had enough food and alcohol to last. We hoped.

Birthday breakast overlooking the ocean

As has become a birthday tradition we cooked up a full English breakfast on the BBQ and cracked open the Sparkling Shiraz that we had been saving for this very occasion. Later, as we had a dip in the plunge pool, we reflected on the year that we have had. We completed our big overseas adventure, finally getting to do our almost year long travel sabbatical. Upon our return to Australia we found a rental in Perth, and proceeded to readjust to life in one place. The best we could.

One plus to being located in Perth is being so close to the Margaret River region. Picking up the hire car on Christmas Eve, we were pulling up for a vineyard lunch less than three hours later. Rustico at Hay Shed Hill is a long time favourite, usually opting for this excellent degusation menu. Who can look past that crispy pork belly? However, in keeping with the time of year, this time we had the Xmas Feast. And what a feast it was. Victoria had to roll me out once we had finished our Mango and Raspberry Pavlova.

And I rolled all the way back to the plunge pool at the villa. A glass of champagne in hand, we toasted another great day. We didn’t move much for the rest of the day, bouncing between the pool and the sun loungers. As the sun set my thoughts turned to Xmas morning and how long it would take me to open all the birthday presents under the small Xmas tree we had brought with us.

Life is all about Swings and Roundabouts

Boxing Day saw us having lunch at Swings and Roundabouts, a restaurant and cellar door very close to where we were staying. We had pondered on whether it would be busy. Trying to find a space to park in the over flow car park answered that question for us. Victoria had the foresight to reserve a table for us and for a couple of hours we had a very good lunch, decamping onto the lawn with a glass of wine afterwards to soak up the atmosphere of the live music.

Life can be pretty good at times. And this was definitely one of those times. 

Byron Bay Bound

Another of those times was just two days later as we boarded an early flight to Brisbane. Our summer holiday was about to start in earnest. We had a four and half hour flight to Brisbane where we collected a hire car and Victoria drove us the two hours south, across the border into New South Wales, and into Byron Bay.

The last time we were in Byron was about six years ago. Each time we visit we have a great time, and this time was no exception.

Australia’s Most Easterly Point

Five days went by in a blur of excellent food, margaritas, and long beach walks. We walked up to the lighthouse, the most easterly point in Australia, watching large pods of dolphins frolic in the sea alongside us. Taking advantage of the free bikes from the hotel, we cycled out of town to visit Stone & Wood brewery. This visit was even better than the one six years ago as they are now in a bigger location and have a small range of food options. A paddle of beer and chicken wings made for a good afternoon.

Before cycling back to town we went a little further afield and called in at “The Farm”. A large working farm that houses the Three Blue Ducks restaurant. No food for us this time, just a walk around the farm and amongst the sunflowers.

As a reward for a very high step count we ended most days laid around the hotel pool, ordering margaritas from the (too) convenient QR codes that now appear to be absolutely everywhere. Very easy to use, and very easy to lose track of exactly how much money you are spending. Ah well, as we say, “life is short, live it well.”

Over the border to Queensland

Which we intended to do by relaxing and making the most of the break we had. Wednesday morning saw us checking out of the hotel, jumping in the hire car, and heading back over the border to Queensland. We called in at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast to stretch our legs. This area is constantly changing and part of me feels a little sad to be seeing all the original small apartment buildings being demolished for shiny new apartment towers that a lot of people will not be able to afford.

Some people will call it progress. Thankfully in Australia some things never change. One of these is the love of the humble meat pie. My lunch was a very good one with ketchup before driving the final hour into Brisbane, a city we last visited in 2022, our jumping off point for leaving Australia when we commenced our long travel sabbatical. 

Howard Street Wharves

On our last visit we stayed in Fortitude Valley and this time opted for the hotspot of Howard Street Wharves. An area that has been revitalised with new restaurants, bars, and a huge brewery called Felons, serving an excellent hazy pale ale. Our hotel, the CrystalBrook Vincent, was in a prime location, at the end of the Story Bridge. Australia’s second favourite bridge looked quite a pretty sight, festooned in bright green and red lights in the evening.

What is a holiday without a degustation dinner? Ours was at Rogue Bistro, in nearby Newstead, where we enjoyed the 5 course “summer dego” menu. Every morsel was delicious and with the matching wines, we had a gorgeous meal that almost stretched to three hours.

Final Reflections

As we entered the festive period we planned to completely down tools and switch off for a couple of weeks. And this is exactly what we did. I flew through the excellent new biography of Elon Musk. Victoria managed to read the books she had received for her birthday in November. 

I write this as we enjoy the final weekend before most of Australia returns to work after what always feels like a nationwide summer holiday. I’m left wondering what the new year will bring. What new places will we visit? Which new restaurants will we get to experience? What I do know is that the year will be full of both as this is what we will make happen. It will manifest.

What will you make happen this year?