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.

Books, glorious books

July's pile of goodness has been delivered - the North & South Magazine review books for my reading pleasure.

I only have to pick one to read and review but one day I hope to have oodles of time in which I will leisurely read all four books and then decide which one to review. #lifegoals

I won something!

It's a truth universally acknowledged that the Animator is the lucky one in our household. He often wins raffles, competitions and Lotto, including a couple of decent wins over the years. Go anywhere with him where there's a chance of winning something, and he's the one who will take it out. Luck of the Irish, maybe?

I, on the hand, must have annoyed Lady Luck in a previous (or this) life. In my vast number of years on this planet, all I can recall winning is, in no particular order, a hideous knitted toilet roll doll holder thingy (I was about five so...), a subscription to a magazine and a meat pack (of no great use to a non meat muncher).

So no-one was more surprised than I when, at a Victoria University alumni book reading event with five of NZ's leading authors and poets last night, my name was drawn as the winner of the authors' latest books. Admittedly, I'm probably the least deserving of the prize, given that I already get lots of lovely free books each month thanks to my North & South Magazine reviewing gig. But I don't review any NZ books, so last night's unprecedented win was especially sweet.

I also had some other good news yesterday (can't say until its finalised), but a good day all round.