Alrighty, I’m still in Sydney, and as this goes to press tomorrow morning, we’ll be on the way home – hopefully a few hours into the twelve-hour drive.
We have another busy visiting people day so I’ll keep this short – but will be back in a few days with my annual closing ceremony.
Travel
The beginning of December saw us in Auckland for a long weekend to celebrate the wedding of two special people. While they’d done the formal part of the wedding thing in Texas earlier in the year, this weekend was the opportunity for Kiwi and Aussie friends and family to celebrate.
My bestie provided this amazing cheese cake to stand in for the wedding cake. It consisted of three wheels of cheese and tasted as good as it looked.
We visited the Chelsea Sugar Factory – the home of Kiwi baking …
and checked out a couple of markets on Sunday morning before heading home.
Christmas Movie Update
The Festival of Festive Flicks is complete, and the reviews are in. If you follow my author Instagram (@joanne_tracey_author) or Facebook (@joannetraceywriter) you will have seen them.
As well as these, this year’s festive viewing included some Christmas specials – most notably…
I’m beyond myself with excitement for the Gavin & Stacey finale that was broadcast in the UK on Christmas Day.
Temperature Blanket Update
I’ve been out of three colours to finish my temperature blanket. The only supplier of that cotton brand is waiting on a delivery at the beginning of the year so the blanket won’t be finished until January.
Christmas
We drove the 1000+ kms to spend Christmas with my parents and some of my siblings. It’s the first time since we left Sydney almost 8 years ago that we’ve been able to do this so I’m beyond grateful.
While in Sydney we satisfied cravings for yum cha and dumplings at a couple of old haunts and caught up with friends.
Over to you …
Alrighty, that’s enough from me … what’s been on your calendar in December? 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 …
Dates for next year are below:
January 23/24
February 27/28
March 27/28
April 24/25
May 29/30
June 27/28
July 31/01
August 28/29
September 26/27
October 30/31
November 27/28
January 1/2
My co-hosts are:
Deb at Deb’s World
Sue at Women Living Well Over 50
Donna at Retirement Reflections
And Anyways... 
I will take down your dates for the link-ups for next year but I always write my sentence a day posts through the last day of the month and they go live a few days into the new month. I never can time it where I make the WBOYC link up.
So glad you enjoyed time ‘back home’ with your mom and siblings. Your mama is a cutie. Love the photo of you with your bestie, too.
The wares at the sugar factory look positively sinful. YUM. I could eat that whole display case. And your photos from Auckland are travel poster worthy.
Anxious to join you gals in the coming year!!
Looks like a great end to the year! Thanks for hosting #WBOYC each month.
Hi Jo, your smile with your bestie is a glowing one and made me smile too! I love the shot of Sarah with your mother, I’m sure you all had a great time catching up. A lovely post with your December highlights and I’m keen to see what you do in 2025. Thanks for being a great co-host, we really do make a stunning team!! Happy New Year. xx
Jo, Looks like a wonderful end to the year being with the people you love. Thank you for hosting #WBOYC. Wishing you a safe trip home and a healthy and happy New Year.
The Christmas road trip…yes I am very familiar with that! But it’s do worth it to have time with your parents and extra special that Sarah could come. Your photos of NZ make me want to go back!
You should go back!
Oh and thanks for hosting!
Although you had many wonderful times in December, Jo, I’m sure your highlight was spending Christmas with your Mum and Dad. Thank you for your friendship and support during 2024 and I look forward to doing it all again with you in 2025. I’m so proud of you and your writing this year. go you! xx
Wow! Look at all those Christmas movies. I hope you had safe travels home.
Thanks Joanne, we did.
Hi, Jo – I am delighted to read that you were able to celebrate Christmas with your parents this year — that’s a long drive — with a priceless reward!
Wishing you very safe travels. I look forward to catching up soon.
BTW – The photos of your dimsum are absolutely mouth watering!
First off Jo, the opening photo of the pohutakawa is stunning. I’m glad a visited your blog if only to see that. Also, the “cheese cake” is a fantastic idea…so creative. It sounds like you had a busy and fabulous December surrounded by loved ones. I’m happy for you.
Happy New Year, Christie…