Where has this year gone? Something that many you are also saying, no doubt. But gone it almost certainly has. For me, this year has been packed full of interesting challenges and the chance to visit many wonderful places: the former have included teaching at university, learning the ukulele (unfortunately this has lapsed on the trip: a causality of too many activities on board), solo kayaking and dipping my toes in a new part-time editing career. If you’ve been able to follow the blog then you will know about some of the ‘wonderful places’. This time last year I was in Western Australia enjoying Christmas with Rick near Ningaloo Reef and this Christmas finds us in Bremer Bay: same state, still on the coast but much cooler and with a different set of waters to explore. As I’m again in WA it is appropriate to reuse Nuytsia floribunda—the Western Australian Christmas Tree—for my Christmas gift and to send greetings to family and friends. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas: fun, festive, quiet, riotous, peaceful, relaxing, extravagant or modest i.e. whatever is required and desired. Merry Christmas my lovelies.
parrygraphs 
Karen
Sounds like you’re having a truly amazing trip, have been following your blog with growing envy!
Just heading off to Yorkshire for the next few days, so lots of Mum time.
All the very best for a happy Christmas and an adventure filled New Year..
With our love,
Kim & Gwynie xx
Merry Christmas to you both as well!
I’m playing catch up with adventures compared to others, like yourselves, who’ve done them on an ongoing basis. I’ll never forget the time that Lee & I caught up with you after we’d climbed Crib Cauch (terrible, can’t remember the spelling). I could barely stand up or sit down my legs were so sore. But you had just been springing up and down several high mountains in a few days. You didn’t look like you’d been anywhere and we were in such pain from 1 walk. So funny!
But it has a been another great 6 months travel, like last year. Very good on many levels – not just seeing new things but the empowerment and flexibility of doing it on your own.
Have a lovely time with your mum. Give her a big hug and kiss from me. I hope she’s doing OK and has adjusted to her new surroundings.
Enjoy the downtime over the festive season and all the best for 2016.
Love Karen
Following your blog for vicarious living when the weather here in NY gets ugly. “Thanks” to global warming this has been a warm and strange winter thus far!
Sounds like UK has also been mild and some parts of Oz are having record breaking hot days. As you say, things are a’ changing.
Good to have you along for the trip. It will end late January when I head back to Adelaide for work. But there’s an archive of 200 blogs across the 2014 & 2015 trips. Collectively, close to a years worth of travel. Way more than you need to see you through a NY winter. I hope you had a lovely Christmas and all the best for 2016. xkx