It's New Year's Eve and I've nothing to do. The two people I rely on for a house party/get together on this evening are either interstate or overseas, so I'm doing some housework, maybe getting a takeaway and watching some telly.
I'll also put down what were some of my favourite things for 2024.
For me, 2024 was not a bad year. I look at it like this:
- I remained gainfully employed
- Lost seven kilos
- Remained healthy
- Managed to save over $25,000
- Spent 90 days away from home, mostly with work
- Stayed mother to a black cat who sort of likes me most of the time
- Got a bit fitter and stronger
- And kept my mental health in check.
- I donated blood/plasma four times - I wish it was more, but I was travelling a lot.
All of these are very good things. And sure, I didn't use my passport, I lost a friend in July and kept a bit too busy for my own good, the good definitely outweighed the bad.
So, I give you now the best bits of 2024.
1) I read 62 books this year.
My secret is that I have an audiobook on as well as reading something on paper at all times.
The best things I've read were:
- When Good was a Rabbit, Still Life and The Year of Marvellous Ways by Sarah Winman. (I love Sarah Winman - fast becoming a favourite author)
- Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran.
- Prima Facie by Suzie Millar
- Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
- Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
- And two out of the three books in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy.
2) I saw 40 films in the cinema.
My picks for this year are:
- Betterman
- All of Us Strangers
- Anyone but You
- The Holdovers
- Wicked Little Letters
- Monkey Man
- Thelma
- Memoir of a Snail
- Saturday Night
- Perfect Days
- Kneecap
- Wicked Part One
I was lucky enough to see some of these at the Deckchair Cinema in Darwin.
3) Of the love music I got to see, Ludovico Einaudi at the Sydney Opera House in January was magic. The Hoodoo Gurus, as well as Angie McMahon at The Forum were great. I really enjoyed The Whitlams at The Corner, as well as the Choir of Man up in Darwin at the Railway Club. Oh yes, The Pixies and Pear Jam at Marvel were great too. The Pixies are still God.
4) When comes to theatre, I was blessed.
Of the wonderful performances I got to see:
- Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf at the Comedy Theatre (The Red Stitch Theatre Company) was superlative.
- Dracula at the Sydney Theatre Company was a treat
- I loved the MTC's musical version of My Brilliant Career
- Macbeth (An Undoing) at the Malthouse was great.
- And I've discovered The Red Stitch Theatre Company. They're amazing. Both Iphigenia in Splott and Your Name Means Dream were excellent.
5) And although I didn't get to use my passport, a weekend trip with a colleague to Mataranka and Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge was amazing. There were also the odd trips to Adelaide and Sydney. I'd like to get some proper travel in next year. A few weeks in Europe is on the cards.
I live a blessed life, and I am grateful for it, but here's to new adventures and fun in 2025.
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