2026 Highlights

Zululand

• Journey there  (May)
• Mkuzi  (May)
• Sodwana  (May)
• Hluhluwe–iMfolozi  (May)
• St Lucia (May)
• All posts

Cape Town

• Flight and reunion (Apr)
• Day by day diary
• Poker with the boys (Apr)
• Birthday song for Sam (Apr)
• Sam's birthday breakfast (Apr)
• Compiling Mike's memoirs (Apr)
• Walk in The Greenbelt  (Apr)
• Langebaan weekend  (Apr)
• Photographing Gymnogene  (Apr) 
• St James to Muizenberg walk  (Apr)
• Mother's day (May)
• Steam train in Rondebosch (May)
• Chapman's Peak with Russell (May)
• Myburgh's Ravine with Russell & Brandon (May)
• Jo's 54th birthday
• Rocky Horror Picture Show (May)
• Melkbos with Mary-Anne (May)
• Eagle's Nest with Russell (May)
• Kirstenbosch (and photographing an owl) (May)
• Weekend away near Robertson with my Afrikaburn friends (May)
• Flight home
• All posts

NSW Outback

• Overview & highlights
• Research & planning  (Aug)
• Trip there  (Aug)
• Mildura  (Aug)
• Wentworth  (Aug)
• Menindee Lakes and Kinchega National Park  (Aug, Sep)
• Silverton (Sep)
• Broken Hill  (Sep)
• Mutawintji National Park (Sep)
• Mungo National Park (Sep)
• Hattah-Kulkyne National Park (Sep)
• Camping life (Sep)
• All posts

Trips

• Carcoar (Oct)
• NSW Outback (Aug, Sep)
• Carcoar (Jun)
• Weekend away near Robertson (May)
• Zululand (May)
• Langebaan weekend  (Apr)
• Newcastle trip (Feb)

Hikes

• Engadine into The Royal National Park (Oct)
• Mutawintji National Park hikes (Sep)
• Botany Bay and Cape Baily Lighthouse (Jul)
• Malabar Headland (Jul)
• Robertson hike with Graeme & Lucy (May)
• Myburgh's Ravine with Russell & Brandon (May)
• Bush hike in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi (May)

Walks

• Rainy walk at Dee Why with Sharon & Lydia (Sep)
• Balmoral to Spit Bridge along the water (Sep)
• La Perouse with Shushann (Sep)
• Dee Why with Sharon & Lydia (Sep)
• Walk over the Harbour Bridge (2026)
• Ball's Head as the sun sets (2026)
• Frenchy's to Taronga Zoo (Jul)
• Taronga Zoo to Balmoral with Shushann (Jul)
• Manly Scenic Walk & lighthouse (Jul)
• Waverton to Milsons Point (Jul)
• Manly Scenic Walk with Chris & Rory (Jun)
• Watson's Bay walk with Shushann (Jun)
• Walk to waterfall at Good Hope Farm (May)
• Eagle's Nest with Russell (May)
• Chapman's Peak with Russell (May)
• St James to Muizenberg walk with Jo & Mandy (Apr)
• Walk in The Greenbelt  (Apr)
• Middle Head to Taronga Zoo (Mar)
• Newport to Whale Beach with Sharon & Lydia (Jan)
• Northbridge Park and Bridge (Jan)
• West Head with Sharon and Lydia (Jan)

Canyoning

• Mount Wilson in Blue Mountains (Feb)

Camping

• Camping with the boys (Jul)
• Bent's Basin (Mar)
• Mount Wilson (Feb)

Birding

• St Lucia birds (May)
• Hluhluwe birds  (May)
• Mkuzi birds  (May)
• Photographing Gymnogene  (Apr) 
• Kirstenbosch (and photographing an owl) (May)
• Ospreys at Long Reef (Feb)
• Newcastle trip (Feb)

Sydney outings

• Exploring Sydney's alley ways (Oct)
• Sculptures by the Sea (Oct)
• NSW State library & 2 photo exhibitions (Oct)
• Surry Hills (Aug)
• "Toy camera" experimenting in Newtown (Aug)
• Everleigh Locomotive Works (Aug)
• Darlinghurst and Surry Hills (Aug)
• Pyrmont (Jul)
• Inner-west Greenway (Jul)
• Barangaroo (Jul)
• The Rocks (black & white) (Jun)
• Sydney central (Jun)
• Vivid Festival 2026 (Jun)
• Sydney Harbour Bridge walk (Apr)
• The Rocks (Mar)
• Photographing planes at Sydney Airport (Mar)
• Darlinghurst Gaol and art exhibit (Mar)
• Botanical Gardens and surrounds (Mar)
• Circular Quay to Parramatta on ferry (Mar)
• Middle Head World War 2 coastal defences (Mar)
• Sydney Observatory (Feb)
• Government House (Feb)
• Sze Yup Temple in Glebe (Feb)
• Chinese New Year (Feb)
• Vaucluse House (Feb)
• Coogee sculptured rocks (Feb)
• Rose Bay (Jan)
• Dog Memorial in Glebe (Jan)
• The new Sydney Fish Market (Jan)
• Barangaroo to Circular Quay (Jan)
• Palm Nursery in Terry Hills (Jan)
• Harbour bridge walk and cruise ship (Jan)

Sydney lighthouse project

• Three Vaucluse lighthouses (and Greycliffe House) (Aug)
• Fort Dennison from the Harbour Bridge (Aug)
• Bradley's Head Lighthouse (Jul)
• Grotto Point Lighthouse (Jul)
• Parriwi Head Lighthouse (Jul)
• Cape Baily Lighthouse (Botany Bay) (Jul)
• Wollongong lighthouses (Jul)
• Beach and Barrenjoey Lighthouse (Apr)
• Hornsby and Macquarie Lighthouses with Elna (Feb)
• Nobby Lighthouse & Breakwater (Newcastle)  (Jan) 

Exhibits

• Lorrie Graham at State Library of NSW (Oct)
• Max Dupain photograph at State Library of NSW (Oct)
• Vishnu exhibition at NSW Art Gallery (Jul)
• Banksy exhibition at The Rocks (Jul)
• Carriageworks art show (Jul)
• Worldpress Photography Exhibition (Jul)
• Balloon art exhibition (Jan)
• 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

• Final photos of possums (Mar)
• The possum saga (Feb)
• Possums growing up fast (Jan)
• A possum with two babies nesting on my balcony (Jan)

Purchases

• Asus ProArt 6K screen

Projects

• Celebrating dad through stories (Oct)
• Stories from my life (Mar)
• Conscious aging document (Feb)

Service

• Helping Jane share her art with the world (Oct)
• Help Chris fix his internet (Oct)
• Help Lydia with her Living Aware site
• Help Shushann with her "Dangerous Old Woman" presentation  (Sep)
• Help Shushann with her conscious aging presentation (Jun)
• Conscious aging document (Feb)

Songs

• Birthday song for Sam (Apr)
• Song for Xenia (Mar)
• Song for Dennis (Mar)

Memoirs

• Mike  (May)
• Tina  (Jun)
• Trish  (Oct)

Family

• Celebrating dad through stories (Sep & Oct)
• Matt becomes a firefighter (Oct)
• Jo does her 1st half marathon (Oct)
• Family spend a few days in Hermanus (Sep)
• My 56th birthday (Sep)
• Jo, Antony & Matt do the Pondo Hike in Transkei (Jul)
• Trish and Mike 50th wedding anniversary (Jun)
• Jo & Antony go skydiving (Jun)
• Birthday song for Sam (Apr)
• Sam's birthday breakfast (Apr)
• Mother's day (May)
• Jo's 54th birthday (May)
• Compiling Mike's memoirs (Apr)
• Matt graduates from university (Mar)
• Matt arrives back from SE Asia (Feb)
• Sheila passes away (Jan)

Friends

• Zupano cafe with Hiking gang and walk to Botanic Garden (Oct)
• Going to the gym with Gavin (Oct)
• Dinner at The Spice Room in Circular Quay with Elna, Hanlie & Maria (Oct)
• Cumberland Forest with Xenia (Oct)
• Anusha and Ashesh get married all over again (Sep)
• Clontarf with Xenia for lunch (Sep)
• Stroll with Xenia (Jul)
• Dee Why with Chris (Jun)
• Breakfast in Clontarf with Xenia and Jane (Jun)
• Table tennis with Chris & Rory (Jun)
• Poker with the boys (Apr)
• Melkbos with Mary-Anne (May)
• Looking after Nushi (Mar)
• Balmoral with Chris (Mar)
• Middle Head cafe with Xenia (Mar)
• Table tennis with Chris and John (Mar)
• Pub meal with Gavin and Michael (Mar)
• Mardis Gras with Gavin & Rajesh (Feb)
• Wylies Bath with Shushann (Feb)
• Bronte swim with Gavin & Jack (Feb)
• Butter chicken dinner at Tania & Gavin (Feb)
• Gavin's book launch (Feb)
• Jessica (Brandon's daughter) passes away (Jan)
• Bronte swim with Gavin (Jan)
• Play table tennis with Chris & Xenia (Jan)
• Gavin does his magic with a school in Nepal (Jan)

Friends birthdays

• Tina's 92nd birthday (Oct)
• Jane's birthday breakfast at Frenchy's (Oct)
• My 56th birthday (Sep)
• Shushann's birthday lunch at Frenchy's (Jul)
• Xenia's birthday at Frenchy's (Mar)
• Krissula's birthday lunch (Jan)
• Tania's birthday (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 (in the Hawkesbury).
• 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 & TV

• 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)
• 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
• Diary 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
• Diary 2024