2025 Highlights

Walking

• Watson's Bay with Shushann (Jan)
• Berry Island (Jan)

Hiking

• Eagle Rock with Srini & Gavin (Feb)

Camping

• Brent's Basin (Feb)

Trips

• Visit Tina in Carcoar  (Jan)

Photography outings

• Surry Hills to Hyde Park (Feb)
• Circular Quay and Botanical Gardens (Jan)
• Newtown  (Jan)
• St Leonards Park (Jan)

Eating out

• Frenchy's for lunch with Eckhart friends (Jan)

Beach

• Full moon 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)

Friends

• Stroll in Glebe and Indian dinner (Feb)
• Kayaking with Chris & John (Jan)
• Dinner with Chris & John (Jan)
• Krissula's 77th birthday (Jan)

Home life

• Martin helps me find a leak (Feb)
• My Buddha statues

Family

• Family research

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)

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

---

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)

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

---

2023 Index of Links

Cape Town  (Nov, Dec)

• 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)

2022 Highlights

Carcoar twice, The Arctic, Cape Town

Priceless moments

• A weekend away in Alpine with beautiful people.
• Table tennis with Chris.
• Camping at Dunns Swamp with Elna and others.
• Canyoning with Srini and John and conquering my fears when we navigated a knife-edged cliff.
• Conquering my fear of heights again by leaping from a high cliff at Mermaid Falls.
• The Grand Canyon and Centennial Glen after the rain.
• Some great hikes with the boys including Bungonia National Park Red Track, Gardens of Stone, Wolgan Valley, Bonnum Pic trail and Corang Arch in the Buddawang.
• Practicing my new Canon R5 camera at Taronga Zoo and be amazed by its extraordinary eye detection. 
• The experience of a lifetime in the The Arctic (Svalbard). Eye dropping scenery from zodiacs and shore landings.  Close encounters with great white bears and amazing birds.  
• My photos of The Arctic featured in the New York Post.
• Being inspired to get back into bird photography at Barton Park.
• My gratitude expressed to Michael for his generous gift that allowed me to get the Canon R5.
• Lunch with Michael and Sue's friends.
• Jo graduates as a Zoe Project birth companion.
• Hiking to Ystervark Grot at Silvermine with Russell and Brandon and squeezing ourselves through narrow cave passages to reach larger caverns.
• Squeezing through the Wolfberg Cracks in The Cedarberg with Russell to ascend the mountains to spend the night at the spectacular Wolfberg Arch.
• Birding photography at Rondevlei where, to my absolute delight, I got photos of mating malachite kingfisher.
• Thousands of flamingoes at Strandfontein Sewerage Works.
• Getting photos of sunbirds and sugarbirds at Kirstenbosch during two vists.
• Photos of a Paradise flychatcher on its nest in the Greenbelt.
• A stunning hike with Russell and Jo in the mountains in Hout Bay.
• Listening to the Ndlovu Choir and being moved to tears.
• Doing a video tribute for Jo's 50th birthday and for Elna's 50th birthday.
• Planning our Antarctica trip for March 2023 with Aurora.
• Sitting & Being at the park with Mack.
• Visiting Tina in in Carcoar in January and  also spending Xmas with the family.
• A really fun New Year's party at my place, and going off to watch fireworks from a good spot, thanks to me pitching a tent there earlier in the day.

Not so great

• Mike has a heart attack. He recovered but it really took it out of him.
• My Wisdom Trove visitors keep going up, but then plummet in October after Google changes its algorithm.

Culinary delights

• Portuguese Charcoal chicken with Srini after hike
• Messina icecream
• Jo's coffee and rum & raisin icecream
• Thick chocolate milkshake in Cape Town
• Eat Greek prawn wrap after Coastal Track walk
• Cape Town meat & fish: Cattlebaron steak, Ocean Basket, Ribs at market
• Xmas feasts: Ruth: Duck, pork belly, chicken, amazing potato bake Xmas day at Shalow: Lemon curd trifle, turkey

Purchases

• Canon R5 with 100 - 500 lens.
• Air Fryer
• iPhone 14
• Air tags

Favourite movies

• Top Gun Maverick  (2022) (*)
• King Richard  (2022)  (*)
• The Menu (2022)  (*)
• Ennio, The Maestro (2022)   (*)
• The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
• CODA (2021)
• Thoroughbreds (2017)
• The Descent (2005)
• Palm Springs (2020)
• Fall (2010)
• The Platform (2019)
• Mr Nobody (2009)
• Easy A (2010)
• Booksmart (2019)
• The Perfection (2018)
• The Banshees Of Inisherin (2022)
• Triangle of Sadness (2022)
• Ozark
• Better Call Saul

---

2022 Index of Links

Cape Town   (Oct)     All posts 

Arrival

• Flight to South Africa
• Reunion with the family

Hikes & Walks

• Hout Bay hike   (Jo and Russell)
• Silvermine hiking to Muizenberg peak   (Jo)
• Llandudno rock hopping   (Russell)
• Hike in the mist at Silvermine   (Jo)
• Hike to Ystervark Grot at Silvermine  (Russell)
• Wolfberg Cracks and Arch in The Cedarberg  (Russell)
• Greenbelt walk   (Jo and Sam)
• Walk at Groot Constantia  (Jo)
• Constantia Nek to Kirstenbosch  (Jo)
• Walk in The Hel  (Russell)
• Walk Muzenberg to St James  (Jo)
• Eagle's Nest (Russell)
• St James to Muizenberg to Kalk Bay  (Jo)

Birding

• Constantia Nek to Kirstenbosch  (Jo)
• Rondevlei
• Kirstenbosch revisted
• Mating malachite kingfishers at Rondevlei
• Flychatcher in The Greenbelt
• Intaka Island
• Strandfontein Sewerage Works

Outings

• Camps Bay 
• Ndlovu Choir

Get togethers

• Llandudno sundowners (Russell)
• Get together with hardcore hiking club
• Pub Quiz
• Learning to paint rocks
• Constantia market with Russell and Heather

Meals

• Fishhoek and Simons Town for lunch  (Jo, Mum, Mike)
• Dinner at Woodside
• Cattle Baron with family
• Ocean Basket
• Lunch in the garden with the family

Arctic trip   (Jul)    Overview     All posts       Video

Getting ready

• Researching content for our Arctic lessons
• Getting my photography juices flowing for the Arctic
• Arctic farewell picnic

Getting there

• Building team spirit in Singapore on the way to the Arctic
• Singapore to Oslo
• Arriving in Longyearbyen, gateway to the Arctic

In the Arctic

• Introducing the star of our Arctic expedition: The Greg Mortimer
• Exploring the Arctic by zodiac
• Exploring the Arctic through landings on shore
• Arctic scenery that took our breath away
• A wonder world of sea ice just 1100 km from the north pole
• Close encounters with great white bears
• Other animals we saw in the Arctic
• Birds we saw in the Arctic
• Creating video lessons on location in The Arctic

Getting home

• A long and very winding road

Home

• Our Arctic trip in the news
• Planning our Antarctica trip for March 2023 with Aurora

Journals

• Journal of our Arctic adventure (written by Tanya)
• Journal of our Arctic adventure (written by Aurora Expeditions)

 

Weekend away

• Visit Tina in Carcoar for a family Xmas (Dec)
• Weekend away in Alpine  (Mar)
• Camping at Dunns Swamp (Jan)
• Visit Tina in Carcoar (Jan)

 

Hiking     (23 hikes)

• Silvermine hiking to Muizenberg peak   (Oct)
• Llandudno rock hopping   (Oct)
• Hike in the mist at Silvermine   (Oct)
• Hike to Ystervark Grot at Silvermine  (Oct)
• Wolfberg Cracks and Arch in The Cedarberg  (Oct)
• Hout Bay hike   (Jo and Russell)
• Another Colo River hike with Srini and Rajesh (Sep)
• Colo River hike with Srini and Rajesh (Sep)
• 2 hikes in The Arctic
• Nattai outlook hike  (Jun)
• Gardens of Stone, Wolgan Valley (May)
• Nattai river hike (May)
• Corang Arch, Buddawang (May)
• Pierce's Pass  (May)
• Bonnum Pic trail (Apr)
• Berowra to Hornsby (Mar)
• Royal National Park Garie Beach to Eagle Rock (Mar)
• The Grand Canyon and Centennial Glen after the rain (Mar)
• Uloola Track  (Feb)
• Bungonia National Park Red Track (Feb)
• Mermaid Falls leaping  (Feb)
• Canyoning with Srini and John (Jan)

Walking

• Stroll at Coogee with Shushann & Lydia  (Dec)
• Walk to Balmoral with Sharon, Elwin, Stewart, Lydia, Shushann  (Dec)
• Berry Island and Balls Head with Shushann  (Nov)
• Greenbelt walk   (Oct)
• Walk at Groot Constantia  (Oct)
• Constantia Nek to Kirstenbosch  (Oct)
• Walk in The Hel  (Oct)
• Walk Muzenberg to St James  (Oct)
• Eagle's Nest (Oct)
• St James to Muizenberg to Kalk Bay  (Oct)
• Fishhoek and Simons Town for lunch  (Oct)
• Newport to Whale Beach with Sharon, Shushann and Lydia (Apr)
• Walk with Srini along the coast near Cronulla (Apr)
• Le Perouse walk with Elna and the boys (Apr)
• Malabar Headland with Shushann (Jan)

Photography outings

• Sculptures by the Sea (Nov)
• Taronga zoo practicing for Arctic with new camera  (Jun)
• Vivid  (Jun)
• Redfern   (Feb)

Birding outings

• Strandfontein Sewerage Works (Oct)
• Kirstenbosch (Oct)
• Rondevlei  (Oct)
• Flychatcher in The Greenbelt (Oct)
• Kirstenbosch revisted (Oct)
• Mating malachite kingfishers at Rondevlei (Oct)
• Intaka Island (Oct)
• Barton Park (Sep)
• The Arctic (Jul)

Spiritual

• Sit & Be at the park with Mackie (Nov, Dec)
• Yoga day with Elwin and Sharon (Apr)

Shows and concerts

• Ndlovu Choir (Oct)
• Music festival at Marickville with Elna  (Nov)

Cinema

• Top Gun Maverick  (May)

Visits to Jilly

• Visit Jilly in Bowral (Nov)
• Bowral to visit Jilly (May)
• Bowral to visit Jilly (Apr)

Birthdays

• Mack turns 18  (Nov)
• Chris birthday at The Botanica (Sep)
• My 52nd birthday (Sep)
• Elna's 50th birthday Indian dinner (Aug)
• Birthday tribute video for Elna (Aug)
• Jo's 50th birthday including my tribute video (May)
• Anusha's birthday party (May)
• Mum's 75th birthday (Feb)
• Krissula's birthday lunch  (Jan)

Parties

• A really fun New Year's party at my place  (Dec)
• Annual Xmas party at Gavin & Tanya (Dec)

Eating out

• Elna's 50th birthday Indian dinner (Aug)
• Lunch with Michael and Sue's friends  (Nov)
• The Flying Bear with Chris (Sep)
• Lunch with Chris at Thelma & Louise (Mar)
• Dinner at Gavin and Tanya (Mar)
• Krissula's birthday lunch  (Jan)

Being active

• A swim at Bronte with Gavin & Tanya (Dec)
• Being a kid again at the park (Dec)
• Yoga day with Elwin and Sharon (Apr)
• Table tennis with Chris (Feb)

Catch ups with friends

• Ball's Head with Xenia  (Dec)
• Manly with Elna (Aug)
• Catch up with Roger (Mar)

Family

• Dinner at Woodside (Oct)
• Cattle Baron with family (Oct)
• Lunch in the garden with the family  (Oct)
• Mack turns 18  (Nov)
• My 52nd birthday (Sep)
• Jo's 50th birthday including my tribute video (May)
• Jo graduates as a Zoe Project birth companion (May)
• Jo delivering babies (Mar)
• Mum's 75th birthday (Feb)
• Matt gets 5 A's for matric (Jan)
• Jo and the family in 2022

Related

• My spiritual journey (2022)