Farewell 2017

This year has just about dragged its butt across the finish line so it's time to do the usual re-cap. Yes I've been a bad blogger this year, with Instagram swallowing most of my social media oxygen. But I promise to try harder next year.  

Here are a few highlights from the past 364-1/2 days.

Things I loved: Travel (see below), new friends, new experiences, the chance to write the shizzle out of lots of interesting things, my two boys.

Things I didn't love: The usual suspects - morons who insist on abusing animals, more people than the poor, fragile planet can handle and the general craziness that the world was plunged into this year. Not to mention NZ's nutso election and the general fallout from that - MMP, you have a lot to answer for.   

Stamps I added to my passport: It was a  bonza year on the travel front, with media trips to Taiwan, the UK, Australia (x2), Philippines, New Caledonia, Bali and Laos. As well as domestic travel to Napier, Gisborne and Dunedin. Here's to more adventures in 2018.

What my money went on: The government (you're welcome, Mr Tax Man), saving for an investment property.

The soundtrack to my year: Rhianna, The City and Colour, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars.

Unmissable tee-vee: Silicon Valley, Black Mirror, Homeland, The Crown, Better Call Saul, The Handmaid's Tale, This is Us, The Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce, Scandal, Orange is the New Black, Transparent, Alias Grace, Ten Days in the Valley, Top of the Lake: China Girl. The Good Doctor and Alias Grace.

Movies I loved: TV really is the new movie in our house - although a standout film was Okja, with Victoria and Abdul coming a close second.  

Books I rested my eyes upon:  Too many to mention - the N&S Magazine reviewing gig continues to rock.

What 2018 has in store: Hopefully lots more lovely travel for work, another investment property and more interesting, engaging work that not only pays the bills but also doesn't make me want to stab myself.

Wherever you are, and whatever you're doing, have a great New Year's Eve - and an even better 2018.

Lovely Laos

Have just started writing two stories from this media trip so hunted out a few pics (don't worry, the Animator took far better ones for actual publication purposes!)

We flew into Vientiane where we spent a few days exploring this compact and friendly city, before an early morning flight south to Pakse and a two hour drive to the 4000 islands, some of the most unblemished real estate left on the planet. It was a magical trip. Now I just have to write the stories - arghhh!

           

Gorgeous Gizzy

A few months back, I flew to Gisborne, the first city in the world to see the new day, for a story about the region's sustainable wine industry. And I drank and ate far too much, but had a wonderful time.

That story is in the December issue of Kia Ora Magazine, Air NZ's inflight magazine (click here to read).

Magical Manila

My story about this frenetic city, from a media trip earlier this year, is published in the December issue of the Australian Woman's Weekly (click here to read).

 (Pic credit: Google Images) 

And we're back....

And playing catch up. While dealing with an avalanche of work. And a horrid cold (thanks long haul flights). War, homelessness, poverty and stupidity aside, is there anything worse than having a cold in the middle of summer? Arghhhh....

But Laos was fabulous and pics will be forthcoming. In the meantime, for your reading pleasure, here's one of two stories I have in the latest Renovate Magazine (click here to read).

 

  

Laos

Tonight I fly from Wellington to Canberra and then onto Singapore with the gorgeous @singaporeair. And then after an eight hour wait in Singers (thank you to the god of airline lounges) I will be on my way to Laos for a couple of stories.

See you on the other side.

(Pic credit: Google Images)