On our drive down south we chatted about the year we've had. Our silver linings.

 In no particular order, here is what we discussed:


Road trips - Denmark, Dunsborough, Bremer Bay, Exmouth
Best trip - Exmouth, Kojonup/Bremer Bay
Best beach - Sandy Bay, Exmouth
Best day - Out on the whale shark tour
Best pub - Bremer Bay tavern playing kubb, The Local
Best meal - Exmouth seafood, after whale sharks
Best vista - wine and cheese at Singlefile in Denmark
Most "chuffed" moment - Becoming Aunt and Uncle to Harriet, Being Beth's god parents
Best party - our annual Christmas party
Biggest celebration - James and Sofie getting engaged
Most relaxed moment - weekend down south watching Stranger Things with Brad and Nerida
Best audio book - Breath, Tim Winton
Best songs - Kansas City, The New Basement Tapes;  Muchacho, Kings of Leon; Alaska, Maggie Rogers; Traveller, Chris Stapelton
Most listened to - Nick Cave, Kill Devil Hills
Best concert - Gillian Welch, Julien Baker
Best bushwalk - Bluff Knoll with Kent and Claire
Best movie - Sicario
Best tv series - The Night Of
Best drink - Red wine by the fire with Phil
Biggest purchase - Car
Biggest home improvement - Study book shelves, painting the kitchen

Moments to remember from 2016 ...



Lazy summer afternoons in the hammock
Walks down by Attadale Reserve
Annual trip in January to Dunsborough
Brad, Nerida (+ neice!), Todd and dogs walking on the sandbar one morning
Elephant Rocks in Denmark
Conspicuous Cliffs in Denmark
Our local beach, swim with the newly arrived Bradburns
Bethany June was born
Incredible hike up  Bluff Knoll with the Stones
Picking wildflowers on the Crabtree property, Bremer Bay
Checking out the surf with Brett, Todd and Alfie
Soaking up the local beach, bit cold for a dip
Amazing granite formations
Hammock mornings with Rusty butting in
Classic Rusty making us laugh
Renovating the kitchen over the Easter long weekend
Harriet Rose, our niece was born!
Rusty turns one
Lamb season at Phil's new property
Kennedy Ranges - a day of hiking in this incredible range
Whale shark high! What a day!
Soaking up the sunset after a day of whale sharks, turtles, sharks, humpbacks and manta rays
Beach one way, ranges the other. Incedible Exmouth
Sandy Beach, best beach of the year
Private sunsets at deserted beaches
Hike in Shothole Canyon
Bradburns move to Willagee
Girls trip down south
Many, many 30ths celebrated
Brodie and I sharing a laugh over her birthday celebrations
James and Sofie's Western engagement party
Harriet at Christmas time

We spent Christmas Eve celebrating at Mandy and Graeme's with the Rich side. So nice to have Chris back and, as always, we had the most delicious food. Confit duck and pork belly this year - Mandy and Graeme as usual hosting a beautiful spread. Mum's pudding was voted best ever and when the dessert wine comes out we always end up talking fairly deeply .. Beryl and Bill were both topics this year.

A different Christmas this year as we took to the road for celebrations down south. A particularly special Christmas as this year there was a new Stokes member - Harriet. We had Shell and Anthony, Thomas and Sophie joining us as well as Aunty Jude and Uncle Pete. Brad and Nerida welcomed everyone and we sat outside in the shade over another delicious spread. Dessert deserves a special mention with overwhelming choice: pavlova, cheesecake, fruitcake or ice cream.

The days that followed were slow .... lazing on the floor with Harriet, eating left overs, coffees and walks into town, lazing on the grass at town beach and catching up with the Cripps and Bradburn families.

Always grateful for good company and good food come each Christmas season.