2024

It was an intense year for us with a lot of highs and lows. We have learned and grown so much as a family. Our challenges have helped us become more open-minded, accepting and tolerant. Even when things seemed out of control, we carried on and found moments of joy and love. For that we are grateful. 

We were lucky to travel collectively quite a bit this year. We found solace in travels and spending time with friends and family. We travelled to Sydney often (6 times). Catherine, my mom and I went back to America for a visit earlier in the year and a short trip to Sydney later in the year. Phil and his best mate went to Tasmania in March and then Phil had another amazing trip to Europe in June. Going to Bali was a highlight for our family, as was The Great Ocean Road. Two new countries made it to our list this year: Ireland and Indonesia. 

So, here’s our video of some enjoyable moments from the past year and The Best Of 2024 list. Wishing everyone love and peace for the new year!

2024 photo montage

Best of 2024

Watch 

Movies 

A Real Pain; The Wild Robot; American Fiction; The Holdovers; Godzilla Minus One; Dune: Part 2; Oppenheimer; Will & Harper

Shows 

Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee; Shaun Micallef's Origin Odyssey; Great Australian Walks; One Piece; Boy Swallows Universe, Bodkin; Heartstopper S3; Only Murders in the Building S4; Australian Taskmaster S2/3; One Pack Wanderers; Have You Been Paying Attention? S12; Thank God You're Here S6; Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend; Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out; Ronny Chieng: Love to Hate It; The Assembly; A Man on the Inside; Beef

Live

Crowded House: Gravity Stairs Tour at The Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sister Act at The Capitol Theatre Sydney, Canberra Comedy Festival: Guy Montgomery, Ray O'Leary and Jenny Tien; Enlighten Up Late: Briggs and Thelma Plum; Bach Matthew Passion, Thomaskirche Leipzig; Leonidas Kavakos Bach Partitas and Sonatas, Nikolaikirche Leipzig

Listen 

Coldplay: Moon Music; Louis Cole: Nothing; Jacob Collier: Djesse Vol. 4; Vampire Weekend: Only God Was Above Us; Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard And Soft; Billy Joel: Turn the Lights Back On; Hozier: Too Sweet

Read 

Susannah Begbie: The Deed; Emily Henry: Funny Story; Trent Dalton: Lola in the Mirror; Shankari Chandran: Safe Haven

Eat 

dada; Koto; Lunetta Trattoria; Chifley's Bar and Grill: seafood platter; Rosa's; The Drunken Tiger; Spit Shack Weston; Lola and Lola's; Yu Cafe; Adobo Filipino Food Truck; Margot Wine & Espresso Bar; Verity Lane Market; Rosa's; Il Mercato Centrale Melbourne; Queen Victoria Market; Norma's Deli, Manly; Thai Dessert Corner, Sydney; Lukas Bakery Leipzig

Play

Cluedo One Piece; Worst Case Scenario; Danger Danger

Go 

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany; Bachfest Leipzig, Germany; Bali, Indonesia; The Great Ocean Road, Victoria; Lindy Lee: Ouroboros, National Gallery of Australia

 

Stay

Villa Mahapala, Bali; Hotel Marc Munich; H2 Hotel Leipzig; Little National Hotel, Sydney; The Capitol Hotel, Sydney; Aspire Melbourne; Hotel Kurrajong, Canberra; Cotter Campground