2023 – Our Year

So, after many years’ hiatus, this is to replace the Christmas cards we used to send out each year.

We went into 2023 full of hope for an exciting year. Dan and Hannah had just moved into their new house, Matt and Maya were about to head to Europe for 3 weeks of well-earned rest and travel and Hedy and I had 3 overseas trips planned between April and October.

January

We spent the 3 weeks while Matt and Maya were away looking after Graham the Wonder Dog and were still able to make our way up to Murray Bridge to view the flooded Murray. certainly more water than I can remember seeing up that way.

We were also pretty excited to hear that Matt and Maya became engaged while staying in Chamonix in the Alps!

February

The excitement of January unfortunately was lost as February bought us back to earth with a rush. Hedy was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time, once again as a result of a routine mammogram. On a more positive note it was a new and very small cancer in her other breast from before but it certainly brought a number of sadder memories rushing back. The bulk of February was spent dealing with tests and scans, although a number of Fringe shows with friends John and Karen provided some distractions at least.

March

Hedy had (successful) surgery early in March and somehow managed to get through a lovely afternoon and evening at Matt and Maya’s for their engagement party. It was great to catchup with both family and a number of their friends as well, although I have a sneaking feeling that Matt may have used ChatGPT to write his speech!

April

Although we managed a few more Fringe shows later in March, we spent the rest of the month quietly as Hedy recuperated from her surgery in order to find the energy to travel to Bali for 14 days at the start of April. This was originally planned to be 9 days in Sanur, our favourite area, but we went 5 days earlier in the end to celebrate Hannah’s birthday along with her family as well.

As you would expect this involved quite a number of cocktails and lots of great food, although the celebrations were tempered by a reasonably nasty bout of gastro that moved through much of the group. We suspect it was something that Hannah’s 3 year-old nephew bought with him from childcare. Certainly wasn’t the dreaded “Bali Belly”.

Our AirBnB in Seminyak was lovely and Sanur was as picturesque as always, although Bali in generally was unseasonably rainy.

We returned home mid-April just in time for Hedy to start a 4 week course of radiotherapy.

May – Mid-June

Hedy finished radio in time for us to attend the first weekend of the Clare Gourmet Week, although self-drive this year. Saturday finished as it always does at O’Leary Walker Wines which always has great music along with wonderfull views of the Valley.

Late May saw us team up with travel buddies Andy and Seona, Yvonne and Peter and Mary and Mark for a couple of weeks, travelling through Singapore (3 nights), Khao Sok National Park in Thailand (4 nights) and finishing with 7 nights on Koh Samui. Other than a couple of birthday celebrations that were great, my highlight was probably a wonderful evening on the top of Marina Bay Sands followed by a (mandatory) visit to the Apple Store at MBS and popping up in the middle of the harbour. This was followed by some cocktails in the Long Bar at Raffles. Not the cheapest night of drinks but all bucket list things I guess.

Also of special mention was our time at Arts Riverview Lodge in Khao Sok National Park. The accommodation was “authentic” to say the least, extremely affordable and we had a great time. The afternoon spent river tubing was hysterically funny.

Koh Samui disappointed to be honest … and I think it unlikely that we’ll return.

Mid-June, July, August and September

After a hectic first half of 2023 these few months were much quieter … our passports even stayed in the filing cabinet for 14 weeks or so!

Of note during the time was a bit of a drinkers tour of North Terrace including one evening of wine tasting at the Museum and another night in a pop-up gin bar in the Mortlock Library, surely one of the most charming interiors in the city. We also attended a Mollydooker dinner at Shiki restaurant in the Intercontinental Hotel. Friends John and Karen joined us for all these evenings.

We enjoyed a weekend of great sunsets with friends Yvonne and Pete at their house on the beach in Moonta Bay in late August and sadly watched the end of Adelaide’s footy season in a “loss” to Sydney.

September was extremely quiet, although our par 3 golf got underway again after a winter lay-off.

October

Now, where did we put those passports?

Hedy and I spent a great 10 days back in Sanur in Bali, staying this time at our favourite little pool villa “resort” in Nike Villas. We had a wonderfull time doing whatever we felt like doing. Most days started with breakfast in the villa before a long walk of I guess two to three hours each day, plus a stop or two for a Bintang and lunch of course.

Then back to the villa for a few hours reading and swimming before heading out for happy hour cocktails and dinner.

The trip included Hedy’s birthday and a great dinner on the beach for our 32nd anniversary.

November

Much of November was quiet as Hedy’s workload had been building steadily since mid-year. She is fortunately able to work and travel and had great delight in sending her friend Deanne (who heads the consultancy firm she works for) photos of her “office” from the jungle in Thailand and the beach resorts in Bali.

We had a great weekend here in Adelaide with Deanne and her husband Mark with Mark and I going to the Supercars for the Saturday race and then, sadly, attending the final ever Boomers’ gig. It was quite a strange feeling to realise that we would never see them play again after what must be at least 15 to 20 afternoons over the years.

December

And so the year comes to an end. Some constants have existed through most of the year, I’ve played par 3 golf with friends Jeff and Peter on and off throughout the year and we also have a solid group of friends we’ve met through “our” pub, the Earl of Leicester. Our neighbours John and Jenny and friend from a few doors up in Megan have always been ready to help if we’re away … or just to have a drink or two if we’re not!

Christmas Day this year is at Dan and Hannah’s again and will be smaller than last year although, for the first time in years, it seems that both Matt and Maya. will have the day off. Dan’s dad Dean and step-mum Tash will complete the group.

As mentioned above Hedy has worked steadily for the second half of the year, and would average between 10 and 20 hours a week probably. It gives us flexibility to do other things if we want while topping up our travel budget.

Dan continues to work in the energy sector and Hannah is still with the Property Council. Matt is now about half way through the anaesthetics training program, and after the last 6 months at the Women’s and Children’s will be back at the RAH for 2024. Maya continues to work toward her dream of orthopaedic surgery, although will spend the first half of 2024 working in Mount Gambier.

My role as a domestic goddess continues.

We hope you all have a great festive season and a happy start to 2024!