Matt turns 20

Message from Jo

Happy 20th birthday to my incredible son. I love your sense of humor, your knowledge of the world, your zest for life and your love of travelling and experiencing all that life has to offer you.    You make dad and I proud every day💗💗💗

 

Non fiction books read (2023)

Idealism

• Dreamed Up Reality: Diving into the Mind to Uncover the Astonishing Hidden Tale of Nature  (Bernardo Kastrup)

Metaphysics

• Reality + (David Chalmers)

Challenges (2023)

 

General

• Xenia upset not going to Frida
• Lost my iPhone to trade in. At door all along!
• Computer malfunction at Pickleball + wrong lens
• Fran not pay rent (did).
• Mum buy Sam a house.

Brick wall crack

• Email from Ed
• Realise overhanging
• Horrendous night & day
• Overwhelm

Nepal 

• High pulse in Kathmandu: terrible night of worry.
• Tiger Tops lost wallet
• Forget Life Straw
• T-shirt’s too small
• Dirty boots: Wash at airport in Kathmandu & Sydney. Worry on plane → Dex
• Chaos at Kathmandu airport

100 - 500 lens scratches

• Spider web
• Hardly visible straight on
• Not effect telephoto

Health

• Pulse at 116 on oxymeter. Do or die. 
• Pulse mean end of dex?  
• Bad cold
• Skin cancer lesion on shoulder
• Sight blurred
• Face xma

Finances

• Money scarcity
• Regret didn't invest cash
• Body corp special payment for garage leak > $20000
• Body corp special levy and levy increase
• Tax % on home: Delay find out
• Tax worries: Pay a lot ($4500)
• Inflation, feel should increase rent but no confidence
• Car oil x 3: Still coming.  Need another car?
• Mum buys Sam a house.

Mack

• Stairs
• Grief at passing
• Feeling constrained with all looking after, no travel
• Blow up with Liza
• Getting home in time for Mack (Bowling, Dunn Swamp)
• Take on Liza stress (Antarctica)
• Urge to lash out at Liza

Dex & Cosgrove

• Chesters not give me dex. Get hold of dr. Get at Blooms.
• Worried Cosgrove can see what is prescribed. Day of worry.
• Cosgrove appointment without dex. His concern re extra 1 month dex.
• Worried re regulator, need to minimise dex. Worried about extra dex for Antarctica.
• Brintillix visibility
• Red Bull icky high

Antarctica

• May have to do video. Indian guys not get visa. Richard not coming due to daughter. 
• Get ATO tax SMS
• Day of buying hard drive. 
• Marcus, Tanya, Renata and slideshow
• Psyche on fire at night. Walk ship. Lack of sleep. Sense of hell. Being tortured by demon. Imagine jump in ocean. 
• Admit to Gavin I am depressed. Not do slideshow. 
• Self consciousness in talkative group.
• Happy when landings not happen. 
• Regrets: Chinstraps not leaping.  King penguins not with iPhone and not low down x 2.  Not spend more time on deck.
• Gavin want us to do video interview.
• Tanya photo of albatross and sunset and iceberg.
• Extreme air headedness. Lose room key over and over. 
• Extreme stress of photography zodiac. Think lost iPhone. Steal life jacket under watch. 
• Hanna upset with me re close to seal.

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 happy

• 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)

Seeing in the New Year (2023)

A wonderful, spontaneous New Year's party at my place.  My home really is in the perfect location for New Year in Sydney.  We met up here for a lovely dinner. Then, we ambled to Larkin Street where I had pitched a tent earlier and so we had some space and a lovely view to enjoy the 9 pm fireworks. We returned to my place for Elna's delicious trifle and dancing.  Then back to the fireworks for a spectacular midnight display.  A very special way to see in 2023.

 

Kitchen rave

Nice to be a kid again!

A frolic of a time with Xenia, Shushann and Lydia at the Milson's Point Park after some lunch.

 

An evening swim at Bronte

Xmas with Tina and the Stones

I had a really amazing Xmas with Tina, Ruth, Dom and "Larry". Such beautiful people; they made me feel like I was part of the family. 

Highlights

• A Xmas feast on the evening of the 23rd which included duck, pork belly, chicken and Ruth's gorgeous, cheesey potato bake.
• Some lovely heart to hearts with Tina.
• Some beautiful dips in Ruth's wonderful plunge pool.
• A fun game of bool down the bottom of the garden.
• Getting to spend time with Ruth's friend, Luke, who is an absolute scream.
• Xmas lunch with Nick & Frans's family in the grounds of Shalom, a beautiful monastery. Our Xmas feast included succulent turkey and Ruth's amazing lemon curd trifle.
• Feeling the calmness and peacefulness of Carcoar osmosing into my being almost from the moment I got there.  It operates to a different rhythm from Sydney.

Very special to see wonderful Tina again

Playing bool at the bottom of the garden

Xmas day

Having a refreshing dip in Ruth's plunge pool

Beautiful doggies

Xmas lunch at Shalom

Beautiful art in Ruth's home