So the other day, I was thinking, Hot DAMN!  What did I even do in 2004? What made that year awesome? So as the years slip by, I want to remind myself of all the things that made that year special and amazing. Maybe there’s something on my list that might pique your interest?

Here’s what made my 2022 joyful, bearable, and wondrous:

1. “Qanon and On” by Van Badham. Alarmed and downright sickened over unchecked Facebook postings like 10,000 kids held hostage under Melbourne for nefarious purposes? Yah, this book will give the back story over rubbish claims like this and also provide strategies for calling it out / helping loved ones who may believe this nonsense to think more critically.

2. Amyl and the Sniffers concert. First, live concert out of lockdown made me feel like I’d had a spiritual resurrection. I don’t believe in God, but this is CHURCH to me.

3. The Wombats concert. A joy-filled concert with banger after banger. The Wombats were so thrilled to be playing again, and that infectious energy washed over the entire crowd.

4. Watching the highly underrated Dune under the stars at Hunters Hill

5. Obeying my thirst for a hot chocolate and caramel slice at Dark Arts Coffs Harbour. The fit-out is delightfully dark and gothic.

6. The Sampa the Great Concert. Allround brilliant – special mention to her dancers, that were so good you could hardly believe your eyes at the complex shapes they were making – but by the time she got to Final Form, the crowd had lifted the roof off The Sydney Opera House.

7. I’m so lucky to have so many trips to NYC. But there was none better than spending time with Ren and G, eating our way around the Big Apple.

8. The Edward Hopper exhibition at The Whitney. My favourite painter in my favourite city.

9. I’d never been before, but I got such a kick out of the New York City Museum and really learning more about this city that I return to again and again.

10. I commandeered ALL of Cate’s time in Washington. I’m not sorry about that.

11. I’d never done the memorials before, and Roosevelt’s got me all choked up, especially seeing Eleanor and his beloved dog. Leadership man….you need a solid crew holding you to account!

12. The Phillips Museum AND OH MY GOD ROTHKO!!!! Proved why he is the GOAT.

13. Walks, talks and snacks with this fella.

14. I’d never done a multi-day walk, and The 3 Capes will take some beating with views that leave you speechless.

15. I’d been given the 50th birthday gift of a trip to Muse from the Divas. Hands down, one of the best meals of my life, and I’ve eaten at a LOT of Sizzler restaurants.

16. Turned 51, so the fella took me to Cafe Sydney. ANOTHER stand-out meal, and the view was unbeatable.

17. Screw sitting down; let’s get in the mosh with the kids. Hilltop Hoods did a ball-tearer of a concert. I’m still bouncing up and down.

18. These legends run the best bar In Melbourne, the Brooklyn Cocktail Bar.

19. Thursday night became my art night!  I painted this still life while learning from the fabulous Lisa Carrett.

20. I’d always been a casual listener of Gorillaz, but this year after seeing them live in concert, I became a FAN.

21. I LOVE my new lounge that we designed from Crafted

22. Want to be 100% cooler and down with the kids? Subscribe to Ngaio Parr’s newsletter. I also bought her Grief Companion deck, and it’s a warm hug when your shizzle is on the fizelle.

23. Need some kindness and gentle humour, and good tunes sprinkled through your life?  You won’t do better than subscribing to Alex’s newsletter. She’s releasing a new book this year (SHE GOT A BOOK DEAL!!), and I’m gagging for it.

24.  This painting

25. I did another art class and painted this landscape of a sunrise over the Lane Cove River. It represents a very significant point in my life, and I’m so glad I was there in the boat amongst some very special people to witness it.

26. When you mix humour, vulnerability, sass and hear, you get a Gang of Youths concert. There was so much love for them in the Arena.

27. LADYHAWKE!!!  And she opened with my favourite song of hers. I DIE!!