2026 Highlights

Walks

• Newport to Whale Beach with Sharon & Lydia (Jan)
• Northbridge Park and Bridge (Jan)
• West Head with Sharon and Lydia (Jan)

Photography outings

• Rose Bay (Jan)
• Dog Memorial in Glebe (Jan)
• The new Sydney Fish Market (Jan)
• Balloon art exhibition (Jan)
• Barangaroo to Circular Quay (Jan)
• Palm Nursery in Terry Hills (Jan)
• Harbour bridge walk and cruise ship (Jan)

Exhibits

• Data Dreams: Art and AI at the Contemporary Art Museum (Jan)
• Mind Games (Jan)
• Ron Mueck exhibition at the NSW Art Gallery (Jan)

Home life

• Possums growing up fast (Jan)
• A possum with two babies nesting on my balcony (Jan)

Friends

• Bronte swim with Gavin (Jan)
• Krissula's birthday lunch (Jan)
• Tania's birthday (Jan)
• Play table tennis with Chris & Xenia (Jan)
• Gavin does his magic with a school in Nepal (Jan)

2025 Highlights

Cape Town, Afrikaburn, Carcoar 3 times

Highlights

• Experiencing Afrikaburn including beautiful people in outlandish costumes, joyous giving, incredible art installations and massive burns in the beautiful surroundings of the Karoo.
• A wonderful 7 weeks in Cape Town especially a night on Table Mountain, Echo Valley hike, Betties Bay, Bo-Kaap, St Georges Cathedral, a swim at Maiden's Cove and Strandfontein birding.
• Some lovely walks I did on my own, including Cremorne Point, Nurragingy Reserve, Taronga Zoo to Balmoral, Bradleys Head, Malabar Headland, Lane Cove National Park, Berowra Blue Gum walk and Uloola Track.
• Doing the Warrumbungles Grand High Tops hike with Gavin, Jack and Ashesh.
• Doing things with Andre from Holland, including a walk from Dee Why to Curl Curl, cycling around Manly Dam and Water Dragon canyon in the Blue Mountains.
• Walking at the Dry Canyon in the Blue Mountains.
• Camping at Brent's Basin and Mount Wilson and Bulcamatta Falls.
• Tina's 91st birthday in Carcoar, a visit in January and Xmas.
• Photography Meetups especially Auburn Botanical Gardens, Nan Tien Temple and Brooklyn (Hakesbury).
• Sydney birding at Tempe Wetlands and Cook River and osprey at Long Reef.
• My own city explorations including Cockatoo Island, Hyde Park Barracks, Museum of Sydney, Australian Museum,  NSW Library,  Chinese Friendship Garden and Sydney Park.
• Doing personal development and meditations at Balls Head with Xenia on Fridays.
• Roger and Jocelyn's visit to Sydney including walk from Darling Harbour to Circular Quay and Watson's Bay.
• The Glebe Bathhouse with Gavin.
• 5 swims at Bronte, often on full moon nights.
• 42 games of tennis with Rajesh.
• Two new housemates: Shraddha (from India) and Maria (from Mexico). 
• 5 movies with Jason.

Less happy moments

• Jason passes away while I am in Cape Town

Favourite movies

• Nosferatu (2024)
• How to Tame Your Dragon (2025)
• Sentimental Value (2025)
• The House Maid (2025)
• F1 (2025)
• The Life of Chuck (2025)
• Weapons (2025)
• One Battle After Another (2025)
• Predator: Badlands (2025)
• Nuremberg (2025)
• Wicked (2024)
• Companion (2025)
• The Brutalist (2025)
• A Complete Unknown (2025)
• The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920)
• Thirteen Lives (2022)
• Sinners (2025)
• The Right Stuff (1983)
• Apollo 13  (1995)
• Materialists (2025)
• United 93 (2006)
• The Long Walk (2025)
• Frankenstein (2025)
• Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)
• Train Dreams (2025)
• I Swear (2025)
• Hans Zimmer Hollywood Rebel (2022)
• Music by John Williams (2024)
• The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)
• Life on our Planet (2023)
• Television series
• The White Lotus S1,2,3
• Adolescence (2025)
• Black Mirror S7
• Andor (2022)
• Pluribus (2025) 
• All favourites

Favourite songs

• Save your Tears
• The songs of Laufey
• Popular (From the movie "Wicked")
• Senorita

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2025 Index of Links

Cape Town  (2 Apr - 20 May)

• Flying to Cape Town
• Highlights of my visit
• Feeling grateful
• Flight home
• All Cape Town 2025 posts

Afrikaburn  (Apr / May)

• All posts
• Highlights
• Braai get-together to meet each other  (Apr)
• Practising our Thai green curry on the family (Apr)
• Night at Wolseley Fynbos Farm on the way to Afrikaburn (Apr)
• Drive from Ceres to Afrikaburn  (Apr)
• Our wonderful group  (Apr/May)
• Me in costume (Apr/May)
• Fellow Burners (Apr/May)
• Camps in the desert (Apr/May)
• Mutant vehicles (Apr/May)
• Art installations in the desert (Apr/May)
• The Burns (Apr/May)
• Trip home (May)
• Reunion  (May)
• Create Afrikaburn site and slideshow (May)

Walking

• Dee Why to Curl Curl with Sharon & Andre (Oct)
• Walking from Freshwater to Curl Curl with Shushann (Oct)
• Walk at Bradleys Head (Oct)
• Darling Harbour to Circular Quay with Roger & Jocelyn (Oct)
• Taronga Zoo to Balmoral (Sep)
• Ball's Head (Sep)
• Waverton to St Leonards (Sep)
• Nurragingy Reserve (Aug)
• Berry Island (Aug)
• Berry Island and Gore Cove (Jul)
• Berry Island (Jul)
• Walk Dee Why to Long Reef with Sharon & Lydia (Jul)
• Ball's Head (Jul)
• Stroll in Coogee with Shushann (Jun)
• Balls Head with Aimee (Jun)
• Stroll with Aimee at Balls Head (Jun)
• Cremorne Point (Jun)
• Manly Scenic Walk with Lydia (Jun)
• Constantia Nek to Kirstenbosch (May)
• Park run and market  (Apr)
• Walk in Greenbelt with Russell and Heather (Apr)
• Greenbelt in search of Gymnogene (Apr)
• Watson's Bay with Shushann (Jan)
• Berry Island (Jan)

Hiking

• Water Dragon canyon with Andre (Nov)
• Royal National Park: Wattamolla to Bundeena (Aug)
• Malabar Headland (Jul)
• Lane Cove National Park river walk (Jul)
• Warrumbungles Grand High Tops hike (Jul)
• Berowra Blue Gum walk (Jun)
• Uloola Track (Royal National park) (Jun)
• Night on Table Mountain (May)
• Echo Valley above Kalk Bay (Apr)
• Eagle's Nest (Apr)
• Eagle Rock with Srini & Gavin (Feb)

 

Camping

• Camping in the Blue Mountains with Gavin & Michal (Nov)
• Water Dragon canyon with Andre (Nov)
• Blue Mountains Dry Canyon (Sep)
• Warrumbungles Grand High Tops hut (Jul)
• Mount Wilson (Jun)
• Colo River (Apr)
• Brent's Basin (Feb)

Trips

• Xmas in Carcoar (Dec)
• Tina's 91st birthday in Carcoar (Oct)
• Visit Tina in Carcoar  (Jan)

Cycling

• Cycling around Manly Dam with Andre (Oct)

Photography outings

• New Year's eve fireworks (Dec)
• Photography Meetup Xmas meal (Dec)
• Balmain (Dec)
• Glebe (Nov)
• Town Hall to Glebe (Nov)
• Brighton Sands (Oct)
• Sculptures by the Sea (Oct)
• Circular Quay to Pyrmont hop-on hop-off on the ferry (Oct)
• Watson's Bay (Oct)
• Wildlife Photographer of the Year (Oct)
• Brooklyn (Hakesbury) (Sep)
• Auburn Botanical Gardens (Sep)
• St Leonards (Sep)
• Wynyard (Aug)
• Wynyard and Town Hall (Aug)
• Nurragingy Reserve (Aug)
• Woolloomooloo (Aug)
• Museum of Sydney (Aug)
• Green Square  (Aug)
• Australian Museum (Jul)
• Kings Cross (Jul)
• Tempe Wetlands and Cook River (Jul)
• Bankstown (Jul)
• Hurstville (Jul)
• Cockatoo Island (Jul)
• Osprey at Long Reef (Jul)
• Kogarah (Jul)
• Nan Tien Temple (Jul)
• Queen Victoria Building (Jun)
• Hyde Park Barracks (Jun)
• Centennial Park (Jun)
• Chinese Friendship Garden (Jun)
• Circular Quay and the Rocks in black and white (Jun)
• Hyde Park and surrounds (Jun)
• Sydney Park (Jun)
• Surry Hills (Jun)
• Sydney Vivid Festival (May)
• Amazon building at Riverside (Apr)
• Kirstenbosch (Apr )
• Bo-Kaap (Apr)
• St Georges Cathedral (Apr)
• Cape Town Gardens (Apr)
• Betties Bay (Apr)
• Strandfontein birding (Apr)
• Sea Point at sunset (Apr)
• Sydney Botanical Garden (Feb)
• Surry Hills to Hyde Park (Feb)
• Circular Quay and Botanical Gardens (Jan)
• Newtown  (Jan)
• St Leonards Park (Jan)

Beach

• Clontarf beach with Elna (Dec)
• Watson's Bay with Roger & Jocelyn (Oct)
• Camps Bay Tidal Pool (May)
• Llandudno for Jo's birthday (May)
• Fish Hoek (May)
• Sundowners at Clifton (Apr)
• Swim at Maiden's Cove (Apr)
• Evening swim at St James (Apr)
• Sunrise swim at St James (Sam's birthday) (Apr)
• Full moon swim at Bronte (Mar)
• Full moon swim at Bronte (Feb)
• Swim at Bronte (Feb)
• Swim at Bronte (Feb)
• Manly with Lydia and Sharon (Feb)
• Watson's Bay with Shushann (Jan)
• Bronte with Dom for a swim (Jan)
• Grilled fish and swim at Balmoral with Xenia and Chris (Jan)

Personal development

• Balls Head with Xenia (Jan)

Birthdays

• My 55th birthday (Sep)
• Shushann's birthday at Balmorral (Aug)
• Xenia's birthday at The Incinerator (Mar)
• Krissula's 77th birthday (Jan)
• Mum's 78th birthday (Feb)

Eating out and food

• Papaya Thai with Marion etc. (Nov)
• Jane's birthday lunch at Kazzi in Manly (Nov)
• Frenchy's with Chris's sister (Oct)
• Fish Bowl spicy salmon (Aug)
• Catching up with friends at Frenchies after returning from Cape Town (May)
• Farewell to Carmen at the Spur (May)
• Sam treats me to lunch to say thanks for my help with her site (May)
• Constantia Uitsig with Jo (May)
• Seafood dinner with Rory, Angela and Russell (May)
• Steak at The Cattle Baron (May)
• St James walk to Pizza Shed (May)
• Boting family dinner in Kalk Bay (Apr)
• Burgers with Pater and Kobus (Apr)
• Constantia Uitsig with Russell and Heather (Apr)
• Nougat delight (Apr / May)
• Breakfast at the Oval with Russell, Carmen and Daniel (Apr)
• Lunch at The Little Snail (Feb)
• Dinner with Chris & John (Jan)
  
• Frenchy's for lunch with Eckhart friends (Jan)

Movies

• Sentimental Value (2025)
• Together (Jul)
• How to Tame Your Dragon (Jun)
• Young Woman and the Sea (Jun)
• 28 Years Later (Jun)

Friends

• Kayaking with Chris round Ball's Head (Dec)
• Lunch with Michael and Sue's friends at The Little Snail (Dec)
• The Glebe Bathhouse with Gavin
• Gavin & Tanya Xmas party (Dec)
• Catching up with Gavin & Srini (Nov)
• Get togethers with Xenia (Nov)
• Jane Goodall memorial with Gav (Nov)
• Gavin on TV (Aug)
• Gavin's book launch (Aug)
• Dinner at Lucy and Michal (Jun)
• Playing Wingspan with Russell, Brandon and Warren (May)
• Get together with Ross after 30 years (May)
• Quiz at Dog Museum (Apr)
• Meeting up with Julian and Juliet (Apr)
• Celebrating St Patrick's Day after tennis (Mar)
• 25th game of tennis with Rajesh (Mar)
• Gavin's book ready for launch (Mar)
• Milson's park lunch with Shushann and Chris (Feb)
• Dinner at Krishna's house in Manly (Feb)
• Stroll in Glebe and Indian dinner (Feb)
• Kayaking with Chris & John (Jan)

Home life

• Possums on my balcony (Sep)
• Regrouting my balcony tiles (Jun)
• Painted rocks on my balcony (Jun)
• Martin helps me find a leak (Feb)
• My Buddha statues

Creating songs

• First spiritual song  (Nov)
• Second spiritual song (Nov)
• Song for Jo (Nov)
• Song for Mum (Nov)
• Song for Helen (Chris's sister)  (Dec)

Family

• Matt and Sam explore Bali (Dec)
• Family early Xmas (Dec)
• Matt exploring Vietnam (Dec)
• Jo and Antony see the gorillas in Rwanda (Dec)
• Sam starts job in Hermanus (Jul)
• Trish and Mike celebrate 50 years together (Jun)
• Boting adventure in Madagascar (Jun)
• Jo's 53rd birthday (May)
• Mother's Day (May)
• Visit to Sam's counselling rooms (May)
• Supporting the Two Oceans (Apr )
• Annelies baby shower and family dinner (Apr)
• Family Research on Myburghs (Apr )
• Photographing mum & Mike's home (Apr)
• Family lunch at Woodside (Apr)
• Putting up curtains for mum (Apr)
• Sam's birthday (Apr)
• Jason passes away (May)
• Bonding with Rosie (Apr / May)
• The Boting Family home (Apr / May)
• Family research

Service

• Creating a slideshow for Pennelope of her art (Jun)
• Helping Chris move his kayaks to Secret Beach (May)
• Managing the timber replacement project (Mar, Apr)
• Helping Antony with his Stratecon home page (May)

Nostalgia

• Willow Road
• St Georges Cathedral

Related links

• Spiritual journal 2025

2024 Highlights

Cape Town, Sydney, Iceland, Carcoar twice

Priceless moments

• Escaping a fire after visiting the caves of Kalk Bay.
• Climbing Table Mountain via Dark Gorge with Russell.
• A hike to the sublime pool of Die Hel in Groot Winterhoek with Ivor and Russell.
• Ascending Devil's Peak  with Russell and Brandon.
• 4 nights in Simons Town with mum and Mike, including some wonderful swims.
• Photographing the sublime waterfalls and other scenery of Iceland.
• Photographing beautiful puffins on Grimsey Island in Iceland.
• Abseiling down Serendipity Canyon, Mount Wilson with the boys.
• Camping at Mermaid Falls with Gavin and Rajesh.
• Berry Island walk with Beata .
• Exploring the new Metro with the Photography Meetup.
• Kanangra walk to Marong Falls, including a glorious leap into a pool, with the boys.
• Camping at Garden of Stone with the boys.
• Tina's 90th birthday in Carcoar, especially the amazing live music at her party.
• Resolute Beach (West Head)  and Paradise Pool with Elna.
• 34 outing with my Photography Meeup group, being a tourist in Sydney and making new friends.
• Exploring Elizabeth House in the Eastern Suburbs.
• Exploring Platypus Submarine Base and getting onto a submarine at the Maritime Museum.
• Photographing fish, penguins and sharks at Sea Life Aquarium in Darling Harbour.
• Creating a web site for Sam's new counselling practice and helping her source her first clients with Google Ads.
• Doing personal development with Xenia, getting clear on our values and what we love.
• Watching Sharon's nice perform at Avalon beach.
• A raunchy Burlesque show with Rajesh and Tania.
• Manly Jazz festival with Lydia and with Beata and John.
• Sublime classical music at Conservatorium of Music.
• Incredible Rene Magritte exhibition at NSW Art Gallery.
• Watching The Substance and Dune 2  at the cinema.
• Liz's 50th birthday and tribute video.
• Playing tennis at Rajesh's new flat.

Not so great

• Jilly passes away in May.
• US election doesn't go the way I'd hoped.

Purchases

• iPhone 16 Pro with 5x zoom
• Smart watch for $40
  
  

Favourite movies & TV

• Poor Things (2023)
• Dune: Part 2 (2024)
• Challengers (2024)
• Longlegs (2024)
• The Substance (2024)
• Society of the Snow (2023)
• Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
• Past Lives (2023)
• One Day (2011)
• All of Us Strangers (2023)
• Sanctuary (2022)
• The Idea of You (2024)
• I'm Your Man (2021)
• The Last Stop in Yuma County (2023)
• Rye Lane (2023)
• 500 Days of Summer (2009)
• The Producers (1967)
• Strange Darling (2023)
• Revenge (2017)
• Victoria (2015)
• Remembering Gene Wilde (2023)
• Normal People (2020)
• Sex Education (2019 - 2023)
• Shogun (2024)
• Baby Reindeer (2023)
• The Penguin (2024)
• Silo (2023)

Favourite songs

• Good Luck Babe!
• Sabrina Carpenter

Culinary delights

• Raspberry tart at Harrods, Doha
• Tender beef on Sylvia Earle
• Double thick peanut butter shake (Simons Town)
• Cattle Baron Fillet Madagascar (Cape Town)
• Frozen orange and mango at top of Devils's Peak (thanks Brandon!)
• Kirsten's Kick Ass Icecream: Cherry
• Kalk Bay ice cream: Cinnamon, ginger, cherry
• Salad at Third Rail during fast
• Kolfi with dried fruit (Grace of India)
• Roast chicken meal (Dom in Carcoar)
• Black cherries after tennis
• Plougman's lunch in the Blue Mountains (Thank you Michelle and Petros)
• The Little Snail in Pyrmont: Kanagaroo steak
• Fish Bowl salmon
• Thai Beef Salad at the pub after tennis near St Peters station

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2024 Index of Links

Iceland  (May)

• All Iceland posts
• Iceland diary
• The Seismic Seven
• Landscapes of Iceland
• Glorious Puffins
• Other birds in Iceland
• Singapore team-building on the way to Iceland

Cape Town  (Jan, Feb)

All Cape Town 2023 & 2024 posts

Hikes & Walks

• A walk in the Greenbelt with Russell and Jason
• Park run in the Greenbelt with Russell and Jason
• Kalk Bay caves to Silvermine with Russell and Stephen , escaping a fire
• Die Hel in Groot Winterhoek with Russell and Ivor
• Climbing Table Mountain via Dark Gorge
• Silvermine's "The Bowl" with Jo and the girls
• Devil's Peak with Russell and Brandon

Beach & Lake

• New Year's day swim at Silvermine with the Hurds and Russell
• A swim at St James with Russell, Shane and Kailey
• 4 nights in Simons Town with mum and Mike
• St James with Russell, Carmen and Heather
• Bakhoven with Jo
• Camps Bay with Jo and Allison for a swim, then a walk to Clifton
• Llandudno sundowners with Jo, Ant, Russell and Daniel
• Surf at Muizenberg with Ivor and Russell

Birding

• Rondevlei without water
• Kirstenbosch

Food

• Kirsten's Kick Ass ice cream with Mum & Mike
• Market with Russell, Rob & Dawn, Brandon and Warren
• Tapi Tapi ice cream with Russell, Carmen, the Pater and Kobus
• Dinner with Shirley, Kiera, Jo and Antony
• Cattle Baron with family and Ivor

More

• Watching Wonka at the cinema with Russell
• Matt turns 21: Birthday and party
• Matt in fancy dress
• Playing Mysterium with Russell, Warren and Jo

Hiking

• Paradise Pool, Linden, Blue Mountains with Elna (Dec)
• Kanangra walk to Marong Falls (Nov)
• Garden of Stone with the boys  (Aug)
• Iceland hiking: Coast walk & Climbing volcano (May)
• Evans Lookout to Govett's Leap with the Hiking Gang (May)
• Camping at Mermaid Falls with Gavin & Rajesh (Mar)
• Abseiling down Serendipity Canyon, Mount Wilson with the boys (Mar)
• Devil's Peak with Russell and Brandon  (Feb)
• Silvermine's "The Bowl" with Jo and the girls  (Feb)
• Climbing Table Mountain via Dark Gorge  (Jan)
• Die Hel in Groot Winterhoek with Russell and Ivor  (Jan)
• Kalk Bay caves to Silvermine with Russell and Stephen , escaping a fire  (Jan)

Walking

• Woollahra to Rose Bay (Nov)
• Resolute Beach (West Head) with Elna (Nov)
• Walk around lake in Drummoyne (Sep)
• Manly scenic walk with Lydia and Sharon (Sep)
• Walk from Waverton to Milson's Point (Sep)
• Balmain to Drummoyne (Sep)
• Ball's Head (Sep)
• Katoomba clifftop walk (Aug)
• Berry Island with B (Jul)
• Ball's Head and Berry Island with Shushann (Jul)
• Camps Bay with Jo and Allison for a swim, then a walk to Clifton  (Feb)
• Park run in the Greenbelt with Russell and Jason  (Jan)
• A walk in the Greenbelt with Russell and Jason  (Jan)

Weekends away 

• Tina's 90th birthday in Carcoar (Oct)
• Carcoar  (Apr)

Photography outings in Sydney

• Photography Meetup Xmas party  (Dec)
• Cronulla (Dec)
• Paddy's Market and Darling Harbour  (Dec)
• Wynyard to Town Hall (Nov)
• Woollahra to Rose Bay (Nov)
• Waverton and Wolstonecraft (Nov)
• Avalon Beach (Nov)
• Martin Place (Nov)
• Halloween festival at The Rocks (Nov)
• Sculptures by the Sea (Oct)
• Jacarandas at Milson's Park (Oct)
• Platypus Submarine Base (Oct)
• Classic cars, Wendy's Secret Garden and Luna Park (Oct)
• Green Square (Oct)
• Walk around lake in Drummoyne (Sep)
• Evening city stroll (Sep)
• Town Hall to Wynyard (Sep)
• Sydney Botanical Gardens (Sep)
• Greenwich (Sep)
• Chatswood (Sep)
• The new Metro (Sep)
• Walsch Bay sculpture walk (Aug)
• Edgecliff to Darlinghurst (Aug)
• Italian festival with John and B (Aug)
• Katoomba clifftop walk (Aug)
• City to Surf (Aug)
• Maritime Museum (Aug)
• Elizabeth House (Aug)
• Darling Harbour (Aug)
• Berry Island with B (Jul)
• Sea Life Aquarium (Jul)
• Liverpool (Jul)
• Burwood (Jul)
• Newtown (Jul)
• Maroubra (Jul)
• Waverley Cemetery (Jul)
• North Sydney and Milson's Point (Jul)
• Campsie (Jul)
• Redfern and Chippendale (Mar)
• Glebe (Feb)

Projects: Sam's counselling site

• Photos for Sam's site
• Sam has her 1st official client (Sep)
• Sam's site is ready for launch (Sep)

Service

• Personal development with Xenia (Dec)
• Personal development with Xenia (Dec)
• Helping Shushann with Google ads, then Coogee (Dec)
• Helping Xenia setup her new iphone (Oct)
• Photoshoot for Lydia (Jun)

Shows and concerts

• Watching Sharon's nice perform at Avalon Beach (Nov)
• Burlesque show with Rajesh and Tania (Sep)
• Manly Jazz festival with Lydia (Sep)
• Manly Jazz festival with B and John (Sep)
• Conservatorium of music 2 (Sep)
• Conservatorium of music 1 (Sep)
• Nirvana cover band with Gavin & Rajesh (Apr)
• Comedy Club and Mardis Gras with Gavin and Rajesh (Mar)

Art

• Rene Magritte exhibition  (Dec)
• Mary-Anne's amazing art
• Jordan's epic work of art (Jul)

Cinema

• Watching "The Substance" in Newtown (Oct)
• The Bikeriders  (Jul)
• Banff Mountain Festival (May)
• Watching Dune 2 (Mar)
• Watching Wonka at the cinema with Russell (Jan)

Home

• New Buddha 

Eating out

• Lunch at Thai in Crow's Nest with Shushann (Dec)
• Lunch at The Alchemist with Xenia (Dec)
• Frenchy's for lunch (Nov)
• Jane's birthday lunch at Balmoral (Oct)
• Lunch with Xenia at Balmoral (Oct)
• Lunch with B (Oct)
• My birthday (Sep)
• B's birthday lunch and walk (Sep)
• Frenchy's Cafe with Xenia and Jane (Sep)
• Lunch with Michael and Sue's friends (Aug)
• Chris's 70th birthday (Aug)
• Nepalese dinner and pool with the boys (Jul)
• Frenchy's cafe for lunch (Jun)
• Balmorral for fish with Chris (May)
• Balmoral for lunch with Michael (May)
• Flying Bear with Chris (Apr)
• Dinner at Truc and Tony (Apr)
• Birthday lunch with Xenia and co in Manly (Mar)

Birthdays

• Tina's 90th birthday in Carcoar (Oct)
• Nushi's birthday at the park (Oct)
• Christian's 40th birthday (Sep)
• My birthday (Sep)
• Chris's 70th birthday (Aug)
• Gavin's birthday (Aug)
• Shushann's birthday (Aug)
• Liz's 50th birthday and tribute video (Jun)
• Mum's 77th birthday (Feb)
• Matt turns 21: Birthday and party

Jilly visits and her passing

• Visit to Jilly's grave (Jul)
• Jilly passes away (May)
• Visting Jilly in Bowral (Feb)

Milestones

• First e-bike ride (Dec)
• Bye bye dear car (Oct)
• Tina's 90th birthday in Carcoar (Oct)
• Chris's 70th birthday (Aug)
• Visit to Jilly's grave (Jul)
• Jilly passes away (May)
• Rajesh's house warming (Aug)
• Rajesh becomes a citizen (Aug)
• Matt turns 21: Birthday and party

Sydney beaches

• Coogee swim (Dec)
• Balmoral with Chris (Nov)
• Full moon in Coogee with Gavin & Rajesh (Mar)
• Balmoral with Elna (Feb)

Sport and games

• Playing tennis (Dec)
• Playing tennis at Rajesh's new flat (Oct)
• Celebrating Gavin's return with a game of pool (Oct)
• Table tennis with Xenia and Chris (Sep)
• Playing pool with Srini and Rajesh (Feb)

Friends get togethers in Sydney

• Xmas at Shushann (Dec)
• Celebrating Gavin's 7 day fast (Dec)
• Gavin and Tanya's Xmas party (Nov)
• Milson's Park with Xenia (Oct)
• At the park with Shushann and Anush (Sep)
• Nic and his new Tesla (Aug)
• Reunion with Sydney friends after Cape Town trip (Feb)

Friend's lives

• Jordan's epic work of art (Jul)
• Gavin in China (Jun)
• A showreel of Dom's performances (Jun)

Family and me

• My birthday (Sep)
• Mum's 77th birthday (Feb)
• Matt turns 21: Birthday and party
• Jo and the family in 2024

Politics

• US election

Music

• My top songs in 2024

Related link

• Spiritual journal 2024

2023 Highlights

Antarctica & South Georgia, Everest hike & birding in Chitwan, Cape Town, Carcoar

Priceless moments 

• Penguins galore, leopard seals, elephant seal and much more in Antarctica & South Georgia
• Climbing a glacier in Urshaia with Gavin
• Doing the Everest base camp hike in Nepal with Gavin, Russell and co.
• Living it up like Kings at Tiger Tops in Chitwan and getting to photograph a rhino mum and its baby.
• Photographing birds in Sauraha (Chitwan) with a wonderful guide.
• Christmas with the family.
• A wonderful roadtrip with the family to Prince Albert, Swartberg Pass and Ladismith
• A weekend away at Wolseley (Fynbos Farm) with Russell and Heather.
• Reunited with Ivor at Silvermine and then surfing at Muizenberg.
• Boulder hopping and leaps at Riviersonderend Kloofing.
• A trip down memory lane at University of Cape Town and St Georges and Bertram Crescent.
• A beautiful gift after Mack's passing from my beautiful hiking friends.
• A raunchy Burlesque Show with Elna.
• Gardens of Stone, Wolgan Valley with Srini, Rajesh & Krishna 
• Dinosaur Valley with the boys. 
• Mermaid Falls with Rajesh, Ashesh and Krishna, including an awesome leap.
• Camping and kayaking at Kangaroo Valley with the boys.
• Camping and kayaking at Dunn swamp.
• Tina's 89th birthday in Carcoar
• Tiny Home expo with Shushann.
• Frida Kahlo projected light exhibition with Shushann and Lydia.
• Steve McCurry photo exhibition with Shushann.
• Photographing the Pickleball championship for Chris.
• Whirling Dervishes with Shushann and Xenia
• Watching rugby world cup with Chris. How exciting for South Africa to win!
• Tribute video for Shushann and a slideshow for Michael
• Michael's 80th birthday party
• A party at King Street to see in the new year.

Not so great

• Mackie passes away this year, just short of his 19th birthday.
• Graeme Perkes passes away after a battle with cancer. 

Purchases

• Airfryer
• Topaz software (sharpening and noise reduction)
• RF 14 - 35 lens
• RF 100 - 400 lens
• Hiking backpack
• Hiking boots

Favourite movies

• The Fabelmans (2022)
• I Wanna Dance With Somebody (2023)
• The Whale (2023)
• Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
• The Black Phone (2021)
• Barbie (2023)
• Blackberry (2023)
• Living (2022)
• Little Women (2019)
• Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022)
• Ready or Not (2019)
• Lost Illusions (2022)
• Prey (2022)
• Saltburn (2023)
• Cinderella Man (2005)
• El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)
• Wild Tales (2014)
• Finch (2021)
• Wild Rose (2018)
• Beast (2017)
• The Alpinist (2021)

Culinary delights

• Chocolate panacotta & flake from the local grocer
• Banana and mango smoothy
• Mushroom on toast in Orange with Tina and Dom
• Take sushi with Tina, Dom, Shushann (x2)
• Passion Fruit cheesecake (Bamboo Buddha)
• Messina Ice cream (Macadamia Nut Crunch, Lychee & Coconut)
• Steak final night Buenos Airies
• Roast chicken in Airfryer with Martin's seasoning
• Almond nougat (Cape Town)
• Duck, Pork Belly, Steak tapas at Silk (Cape Town)
• Peanut butter smoothie (Nepal & Woodside)
• Lassies in Kathmandu
• Bowral hot donuts
• Prawn dumplings at home

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2023 Index of Links

Cape Town  (Nov, Dec)

• All Cape Town 2023 & 2024 posts
• Farewell dinner in Sydney
• Reunited with Jo at airport
• Portraits of Jo
• Kalk Bay to buy a wetsuit
• Sam's graduation
• University of Cape Town nostalgia walk
• Riviersonderend Kloofing
• Climb up Constantia Nek with Russell
• St James early morning swim with Jo & Russell
• Secret Beach, Boulders, with Jo, Antony and the girls
• St James to Muizenberg walk with Jo and the girls
• Weekend away at Wolseley (Fynbos Farm) with Russell and Heather
• Xmas carols at Woodside
• Roadtrip to Prince Albert, Swartberg Pass and Ladismith with family
• Eagles Nest Lookout walk with Russell
• Silvermine walk with Jo & Ivor
• Antony's 55th birthday
• St Georges and Bertram Crescent
• Dinner with Kobus & The Pater
• Surfing with Ivor at Muizenberg
• Beautiful Jason
• Xmas dinner with the family
• Xmas morning swim at St James with the family
• Chapman's Peak hike
• Boxing day with Russell and Lilly
• Kick ass icecream at Constantia Uitsig with Russell and the Hurds
• Kleinmond with Jo and Mary-Ann
• Alan Committie (comedian) at Theatre on the Bay
• New Year's eve walk at Constantia Nek with Russell and Jason
• New Year's eve braai with Russell and Brandon & family

Nepal  (Sep)

• Training walks in Sydney
• Kathmandu (2 nights)
• Everest base camp hike
• Hiking Day 1: Lukla (2860m) to Phakding (2610m)
• Hiking Day 2: Phakding (2610m) to Namche Bazaar (3445m)
• Hiking Day 3: Acclimatisation day at Namche Bazaar
• Hiking Day 4: Namche Bazaar (3445m) to Tengboche (3850m)
• Hiking Day 5: Tengboche (3850m) to Dingboche (4350m)
• Hiking Day 6: Acclimatisation hike at Dingboche
• Hiking Day 7: Dingboche (4350m) to Lobuche (4950m)
• Hiking Day 8: Lobuche (4950m) to Gorakshep (5160m) and then to Everest Base Camp (5,364m)
• Hiking Day 9: Trek up Kalapathar (5554m) for a view of Mount Everest.
• Hiking Day 10: Pheriche (4371m) back to Namche Bazaar (3445m)
• Hiking Day 11: Namche Bazaar (3445m) to Lukla (2860m)
• Tiger Tops (Chitwan)
• Sauraha (Chitwan)

Antarctica and South Georgia  (Mar)

• Antarctica & South Georgia including Antarctica,  South Georgia, Urshaia and Buenos Airies.

Hikes

• Chapman's Peak hike (Dec)
• Riviersonderend Kloofing (Dec)
• Royal National Park Figure of Eight Pools (Nov)
• Everest base camp hike (Sep)
• Gardens of Stone, Wolgan Valley, with Srini, Rajesh & Krishna (Aug)
• Narrow Neck Viewpoint to Mount Solitary with Srini & Rajesh  (Aug)
• Hiking at Centennial Glen with the hiking gang (Jul)
• Pierce's Pass with Srini, Rajesh, Michael and Lucy (Jun)
• Dinosaur Valley with the boys  (Jun)
• Lockley's Pylon, Blue Mountains with the boys  (May)
• Glacier in Urshaia with Gavin (Apr)
• Mermaid Falls (Rajesh, Ashesh, Krishna)  (Jan) 

Walks

• New Year's eve walk at Constantia Nek with Russell and Jason (Dec)
• Silvermine walk with Ivor (Dec)
• Eagles Nest Lookout walk with Russell (Dec)
• Climb up Constantia Nek with Russell  (Dec)
• St James to Muizenberg walk (Dec)
• Bondi to Coogee (Nov)
• Dee Why to Collaroy with Shushann and Lydia (Jul)
• Manly Scenic walk with Lydia (Jul)
• Bobbin Head walk with Srini, Rajesh, Michael & Lucy (May)
• Ball's Head with Sharon, Lydia, Shushann (Apr)
• Walk in the city (Feb)

Camping

• Dinosaur Valley  (Jun)
• Camping and kayaking at Kangaroo Valley  (Mar)
• Dunn swamp camping and kayaking (Jan)

Trips

• Tina's 89th birthday in Carcoar (Sep)

Outings Sydney

• Balmoral Beach with Elna (Oct)
• Coogee with Tina (Jul)
• Balmorral with Elna (Jul)
• Drone show with the boys (Jun)
• Vivid 2023  (Jun)
• Tiny Home expo  (May)
• Massage and stop in Coogee (Feb)
• Bamboo Buddha lunch and sound healing (Jan)

Bowral visits to Jilly

• Visit Jilly with Xenia (Nov)
• Visiting Jilly and Mandy in Bowral (Aug)
• Visit Jilly in Bowral with Mack  (May)
• Bowral to visit Jilly for her birthday (Feb)

Photography

• Steve McCurry photo exhibition (May)
• Brennan Park (Feb)
• Pickleball championship  (Jan)

Movies

• Watching Oppenheimer with the boys (Jul)
• Watching Barbie with Elna (Jul)
• Walking to cinema in Glebe to watch Hypnotic (May)
• Dumplings and Brother Grimsby  (Feb)

Shows

• Whirling Dervishes with Shushann and Xenia (Jul)
• Burlesque Show with Elna (Jun)
• Heavy Metal gig with the boys (May)
• Frida Kahlo projected light exhibition  (Jan)

Eating out Sydney

• Nepalese dinner in the city (Nov)
• Lunch at Xenia's new flat (Nov)
• Take Sushi with Tina, Dom, Shushann and Chris (Jul)
• Dinner with Gavin and Tania (Jul)
• Lunch with Michael and Sue's friends (Jul)
• Dinner with Anusha and Ashesh (Jun)
• Meeting Dot for lunch (May)
• Lydia's birthday lunch (May)
• Lane Cove picnic with friends  (Feb)
• Evening with Upschool (Feb)
• Coogee lunch and stroll with Lydia and Shushann  (Jan)
• Bamboo Buddha lunch and sound healing (Jan)

Milestones

• Inducted into the Sydney Bush Basher's club  (Aug)
• Graeme passes away (Aug)
• Srini gets his citizenship (Aug)
• Michael's 80th birthday party  (Apr)

Tribute videos

• Tribute video for Shushann (Aug)
• Slideshow for Michael (Jul)

Sport

• Kayaking with Chris at the private beach  (Apr)
• Table tennis with Chris, Shushann and Tina (Jul)
• Ten pin bowling (Feb)

Friends get togethers

• Watching rugby world cup with Chris (Oct)
• Sitting by the fire with Shushann (Jun)
• Seeing in the new year (party at King Street)

Family

• A beautiful gift after Mack's passing (Aug)
• Mackie passes away (Aug)
• Final photos of Mack (Aug)
• Mike's 85th birthday (Jul)
• Mackie photos taken by Liza
• Mackie (Feb)
• Jo and the family in 2023
• Ally's 50th birthday  (Jan)
• Matt turns 20  (Jan)

Related

• Spiritual journey (2023)