Okay … so here we are at the final What’s Been On Your Calendar linky for the year. I’ll keep this one relatively quick because:
- We’ve had house guests here for the last couple of weeks (a very good thing – it’s been fun sharing their holiday) and forgot I needed to write this
- There’s a lot to cover
So without further ado, here goes …
Travel
As this goes to print we’ve ducked up to Hervey Bay for the day to mow Sarah’s lawn and check on the house before she gets back.
Our only other travel this month has been also to Hervey Bay – we took the opportunity of her being away to paint a wall we’ve been meaning to get around to painting. Such a difference.
Out and about on the Sunny Coast
Friday lunch date with Grant at Good Slice – a pizza joint tucked away in a laneway Maroochydore. We’d heard good things about this Napolitana-style pizza and after sharing a pizza and salad between us have to agree.
My Kiwi bestie and her hubby have been with us for a couple of weeks now and I’ve done a lot of out-and-abouting with them – with more yet to come. Gotta love other people’s holidays.
There have been plenty of foodie outings (which I’ll tell you more about next week) …
We also did a Christmas Lights Cruise along the river and canals …
And another with Saltwater Eco Tours exploring bush tucker.
We painted snow globes at a sip-and-paint session…
and we spent plenty of time reading by the pool.
Christmas
We cooked a lovely turkey roast for Christmas Eve …
and began Christmas Day with homemade sausage rolls, tattie scones and French bubbles …
before driving into the hinterland to Cooroy for Christmas lunch – another turkey with all the trimmings. I made the glazed ham and the Christmas pudding and Grant took care of the trifle. We sat outside overlooking the valley, but it was ridiculously hot – about 35C.
Christmas Baking
Of course there was Christmas baking … & I’ll have more to say about that in the Seasons Eatings installment of the Kitchen Diaries over on BKD early next week.
What about work?
Who has time for that?
Seriously though, other than the copy edit for the first Whale Bay mystery (tentatively titled New Moon Over Whale Bay) and some random words here and there I haven’t touched my new manuscript since Heather and John arrived. There’ll be plenty of time for that – and getting into a proper authorly work mode – come January.
Over to you …
I’ll be back in a few days with my annual closing ceremony for the year, but for now, what’s been on your calendar this month? Perhaps you’d like to update us on your word of the year or intentions? We’d love to hear about what you’ve been up to…
The linky is below and it’s open for a week…
My co-hosts are:
Deb at Deb’s World
Sue at Women Living Well Over 50
Donna at Retirement Reflections
And Anyways... 
What an absolutely joyous post Jo and I’ve loved seeing your posts on Instagram exploring the Sunny Coast with your guests. You look so happy and relaxed and that is a good thing to see. Thanks for your friendship which I am grateful for and also for being a great baking teacher and co-host. Wishing you, Grant and Sarah a fabulous New Year and 2024. xx
I’m so grateful to have you in my life as well. Happy new year!
What a busy, wonderful holiday season you have had Jo! Making every minute count and so much good food! But the memories of time spent with your bestie is the most precious part. Thanks for hosting. Working on a year-end WOTY WBOYC kind of post.
It’s been really lovely having our friends here – especially when Sarah hasn’t been. Happy new year!
Great friends, great food, great adventures and great weather (okay, that last one may be a bit over the top but it sounds good to me in rainy winter Canada)…that’s what fabulous holidays are made of.
Wishing you a wonderful New Year ahead!! Thank you for cohosting. I am very grateful for our friendship and connection. ❤ ❤ ❤
The heat is really oppressive at the moment – what I wouldn’t give for winter! Thank you for your friendship and support this year. xxx
Hi Jo – so many fun times with your friends – and (or course!) all that fabulous food! I can totally understand why the novel writing was shelved for a short break – that’s one of the joys of self-employment, you’re your own boss and get to set the work schedule 🙂
Have a great last few days of the year and I’ll see you in 2024!
Exactly … I’ll think about all that next year 🙂
Looks like a wonderful month and lots of gorgeous looking food!
SO much eating out … I’ll be glad when things get back to normal from that respect.
I definitely think you write off anything that looks or feel like work in this festive season especially with your friends staying. It’s been a joy looking at the various images from recent times and I do enjoy your morning shots at the beach very much. Sarah is going to have a very interesting reentry with the way the weather is behaving. Enjoy your new year…and thanks for the linky. Grateful I can join in via substack. I have truly wrestled with ‘guiding words for 2024’ and think I am going with…..(to be advised!) Denyse x
Happy new year to you too Denyse!
As usual stunning photos, especially of all the delicious food eaten. It looks like you had an amazing Christmas although I’m sure you were missing your special guest. I have to say this heatwave is beginning wear a bit thin! Looking forward to to seeing and reading all about your adventures in 2024
I’m SO over this heatwave …
We have had no electricity for five days so no fans or AC and no water as we need an electric pump – all rather trying!
Oh my goodness – that’s dreadful!
That looks like such a delicious and fun month!
It’s been a big month to be sure!
What a wonderful December, despite the heat, (which I know something about). I love your snowglobe painting and all the food looks amazing. I am sure your friends filled the void of missing Sarah – just a little. Malcolm baked three Christmas desserts, and I thought that was excessive. Those pale in comparison to your smorgasbord. Cheers to the year that was and the one that will be!
It’s been fun but man, we’ve eaten out SO much over the past few weeks. I’m ready for things to get back to normal and stay at home for a bit. I can, however, honestly say that while we contributed both Christmas desserts I didn’t try either.
What a fun and delicious December! I think you can be excused from your writerly pursuits when you are so obviously enjoying your time away from your laptop. On to 2024!
Exactly … I’ll think about all that next year 🙂
It really looks like you had a great month filled with delicious food and time spent in good company. Have a happy New Year!
Thanks Astrid. Happy new year to you too.
Wow Jo, you are living the life! The food, the weather, the company – you’ve had it all going on this month. I love following along. Thanks for being a great part of my world this year and I’m looking forward to seeing what you achieve in 2024. Happy New Year and hope Sarah had a great trip away xx
How much fun you’ve had during December! And all that food! 😀 It sounds lovely with a Christmas light cruise, never heard about anything like it.
My December has been busy! Work, Christmas prep, training, Christmas parties with different groups, music, etc. A good month, but busy. Happy New Year to you and I hope to be around more for the link-up next year!
Thanks Susanne – and happy new year to you too.
Such wonderful photos. I love your snow globes from the sip-and-paint session!
All the best for 2024!
Looks like a wonderful December! Hope your New Year is a happy and healthy one too!
Looks like you had a wonderful month! And you’re right – your manuscript will still be there after the festivities. Good on you for recognizing that and being able to let go and enjoy life without stressing over your writing (a lesson I need to learn).
Thanks janet. Happy new year to you too.