Year in Review 2022

Life kicked back into gear early in 2022 after all the lockdowns ended and the worst of Covid and its impacts on daily life seemed to have finally passed us. Masks had mostly disappeared, and we were still working from home in the early months but increasingly started going back into offices.

After working from the dining table with its bentwood chairs for the entirety of the lockdowns, I at last decided to add a desk and chair to the spare room. The delay had largely been for aesthetic reasons but keeping it as a guest room meant for two years meant it was basically a nice space to hang laundry so it now serves more purpose. That made working from home a lot more comfortable which I did two days a week until the pressure to go back to the agency heightened so it's less often these days. 

Work ticked along okay. Frustratingly not a strong year commercially for our little Experience team but always busy mostly on wider agency projects. While the leadership team is supportive, I've been there 4 years now so ready for a change this coming year I think.

With travel back on the cards, Mum and I rescheduled our trip to Palm Cove and spent a lovely few days there over Easter. Walking through Mossman Gorge on the edge of the Daintree was a highlight.

Travelling for work was encouraged and I had two last minute week-long trips arise. One to LA with Google for a small group of us, and one to Singapore for my colleague Joel and I to help out on a pitch project. 

Justin and I had two long weekends away. One to Phillip Island and the other to Bright which we both really enjoyed. Bright was the prettier of the two, but The Five Acres accomm at Phillip Island really set the bar high which is unfortunate for anywhere else we stay now! I popped up to Toowoomba for a long weekend in March. 

The absolute highlight of the year was certainly our 8 week trip to Menorca and London with the chance to work remotely from London for half of it. We had a great time exploring a new spot in the Med together (tearing myself away from the Greek Isles). And for me the time spent with friends in London and enjoying day-to-day life back in the city was precious.

My pilates studio shut down half way through the year so I had six months of that (yet to find a new one) and otherwise exercise has been my daily walks to and from the office through the Botanic Gardens (a brilliant way to start and end the day), and walks / runs around the Tan on the weekend. 

A lot of focus this year was on the renovation of Justin's kitchen and bathroom, now complete. Every now and then I popped back to Sandringham or we had the weekend there which always feels like a break away for me despite it being a suburb 30 mins away.

Stuart and Kristina came to Melbourne in April and November so we got to hang out together then which was fantastic - saw them 3 times this year. Belinda came down from Qld to stay which was a great excuse to try the Peninsula Hot Springs and have a day trip to the St Erth Gardens and Kyneton. 

Otherwise weekends were generally spent at the South Melbourne markets, picnicking at the Botanic Gardens, BBQing and gardening at Justin's mum's house, tending to my crop in the vege-pod, checking out neighbourhoods I've yet to explore, and having near-weekly Sunday pub lunches. Other than pubs - Builder's Arms is still the best - we didn't eat out at too many restaurants. Supernormal was one of the best meals. I saw as many exhibitions that came to the NGV as I could to get my dose of culture. 

I hang out with Pauline, Jane and Jayde when we can get together. We've had a few meals out together and Jane and I ferried to Portarlington to check out Jayde's new hood.

During the week we mostly cook at home. I also started a pottery class on Wednesday night and started doing some driving lessons as a refresher before I get back behind the wheel after 15 years (!).

Wrapping up the year at Noosa for the Christmas & NY break has been an absolute delight. I really love being here. It's so relaxing and the best way to wind down. Plus I have time with Mum, Rob and my friends who are Qld-based.