Sunday Stills Banner 2023
Posted on by Debbie

2022 – Looking in the rear view mirror #SundayStills

How was 2022?

I love a good Q &A session – do you?

Last year and in 2020 I used this great format for an end of year wrap-up post, which I found on Jo’s blog, (she calls it her closing ceremony – thanks again Jo for allowing me to join you). I’ve now made this my preferred way to sum up the year that was – looking in the rear-view mirror so to speak!

I’ve enjoyed answering these questions and feel it’s a great way to help move forward into 2023 and reflect on what went on in 2022.

I know I’ve already shared my final #2022 WOTY Gift post, and I’ve got my 2023 WOTY reveal coming up soon, so I thought I’d better sum up 2022 before the year gets going. We all know how fast the years fly by these days!

So here we go – a look back at 2022

What did you do that you’ve never done before?

I did quite a few new things during 2022 – I’m listing just three of them.

  1. I went up in a hot air balloon for the first time and loved it – a great experience
  2. I caught Covid for the first time – a not so great experience
  3. I went glamping for the first time – a great experience
Official balloon photo
climbing into the balloon
Glamping at Owley Woods
Inside our glamping tent
balloons floating in the sky over Canberra
inside the balloon

How did you spend New Year’s Eve 2021?

The great plan from 2020 was to go on a twilight bike ride with our rail trail riding group, taking some food and drink for a picnic at a lovely spot along the trail and then ride home before it got too dark. We couldn’t do it that year because of heavy rain so we tried again for NYE 2021 and it was a perfect night. We took the bike trailers usually used for taking toddlers for a ride, filled them with food and drink and trundled our way out to Wolseley Park for a fabulous evening.

NYE 2021
NYE 2021
NYE 2021
NYE 2021
NYE2021 - the ride home
NYE2021 – the ride home

What was your word for the year? How did you go with that?

My word for 2022 was Gift and I had a great year finding gifts, sharing gifts, being a gift. I’ve already posted my final wrap-up post and if you’d like to have a read you can find it here: The Gift of Age

Did anyone close to you give birth?

Not this year!

What TV/Netflix shows did you watch?

I watched a few shows like War of the Worlds (on SBS on Demand), Derry Girls, Mystery Road Origin, Where the Crawdads Sing, Ticket to Paradise, Three Pines, Fisk, Hard Quiz – just to name a few.

Who did you miss this year?

I also missed spending time with my sister and brother-in-law in Melbourne. Thankfully we have Zoom and Facetime to help us stay connected and our family photo challenges!

What song was on high rotation this year?

I really enjoyed Lord Huron’s I Lied and along with The Wiggles and Peppa Pig, thanks to my grandchildren, it came up on my Spotify Wrapped as my top song for the year. It’s cool, melodic and I play it whenever I need some quite time or to simply relax.

Did anyone close to you get married?

No weddings this year.

Did anyone close to you pass away?

No family losses thankfully this year.

Where did you travel to in 2022?

We had a few domestic road trips to see family – to Queensland and Canberra. We spent a weekend in Temora at a Rotary Conference and stayed in a converted train carriage which was fun. Our big trip was to England for a month in August – it was fabulous and I wrote about it here, here and here. I did an outfit of the day post on what I wore from my carry-on only luggage and it was a lot of fun!

Saying goodbye is so hard
Afternoon Tea at Dunster
Relaxing at the park
Debbie, Melanie and Dottie
Posing was fun
So much love
Off for a ride
out for a walk with Dottie
Leaving Cheddar

What do you wish you’d done more of?

Been more spontaneous – one thing after being in lockdown, it’s been hard to regain that feeling of spontaneity. Sometimes it’s good to just get up and go!

What do you wish you’d done less of?

Less social media scrolling maybe.

What would you like to have more of next year that you lacked in this one?

Travel, more focus, peace, health and happiness for everyone – no biggie! Also more commitment to my health and well being.

Did you tick anything off your bucket list this year?

Yes, although I don’t really have a bucket list. I went hot-air ballooning over Canberra with my daughter and I’ve always wanted to do that so I think it counts as being on a bucket list. The first time up in a balloon for both of us and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would – so quiet and peaceful, except when the gas was used.

What was the best book you read?

I read a LOT of books in 2022, and can’t pick a book of the year!

It’s been great being part of two bookclubs again this year as I always learn so much from hearing everyone’s different perspectives. Our online bookclub spent most of the year focussing on the works of the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen with our regular zoom meetings and cooking sessions – always a highlight!

We also continued our monthly What’s on your Bookshelf Challenge linkup on the 3rd Friday of the month, and you are more than welcome to join us again this year. I mentioned my books with the ‘most’ for 2022 in my last WOYBS post.

What's on your bookshelf co-host badge
What’s on your bookshelf co-hostbadge

What did you learn this year?

That Covid isn’t over.

Did you suffer illness or injury?

I caught Covid for the first time in December 2022 – just in time for my birthday! I also had a weird eye condition flare up just before we left on our overseas trip but it seems to have cleared up now after a few visits to the emergency department and ophthalmologists.

How did you spend Christmas 2022?

We booked an amazing house near Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland for our family Christmas and it was fantastic, especially the pool. We had most of our family join us over the course of the week, apart from Melanie, Craig & Dottie in England. I’ll catch up with my mother, sister and brother in the next week.

Pool fun
Pool fun 2022
Patrick and Eliza in the pool
Sarah, Ben, Emilia and Zach Christmas 2022
Pool shot

It was chaotic, hectic, noisy, tiring, but a whole load of fun. We FaceTimed my daughter and her family in England so got to see them celebrating – where would we be without technology!?

The Gift of Age – Deb’s World
Christmas 2022
Koalas at Australia Zoo
Bike ride to Currimundi lake
Currimundi Lake
three little ones at window
Main bedroom in Airbnb
grandkids in the bike trailer

We also caught up with other family we haven’t seen for a while, which is always good to do. It was great to have Jo from And Anyways…and Grant visit us bearing gifts of food for our lunch together. The two Grants finally got to meet each other too. With all our noisy family together they probably wondered what they’d walked into!

Catch up with Jo and Grant

Where did your money go this year?

Our biggest expense this year was travelling to England and then our trip to Queensland for Christmas. I don’t mind spending money on travel – it’s been a while since we could go anywhere so we’ve saved up!

What kept you sane this year?

Much the same as last year – reading, blogging, riding, walking, photography, exercising with friends, family – all have helped me enormously. I have a great network of friends locally and online and I appreciate them all.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Taking only carry-on luggage for a month long trip to England!

My bags
My bags
Leaving Sydney
Leaving Sydney

Compared to this time last year, are you:

Happier or sadder? Happier

Thinner or fatter? Let’s just say I’m a work in progress 🙂

Richer or poorer? Richer

How did you spend your birthday in 2022 and how old were you?

I turned 62 in December – with Covid as an uninvited guest – and of course I blogged about it!

Birthday girl turning 62 with Covid
Birthday girl turning 62 with Covid

What has 2023 got in store for you…so far?

Lots of things to explore! A two-month trip to England in May has been booked and the countdown has begun. Our eldest daughter turns 40 so it’s a great time to visit, although I really can’t believe she’s turning 40 or maybe more to the point that I’m old enough to have a 40 yr old! Hopefully some other trips within Australia will happen as well.

Sunday Stills in 2023

Terri is back with her Sunday Stills photo challenge for 2023 and to get the year started the first prompt is ‘in your rear-view mirror’. I’ve combined my Q&A for the year with #SundayStills as i did last year. You can read Terri’s post here.

All my Sunday Stills posts can be found here – I’ve been doing these for quite some time now!

What about you?

What is one thing you can relate in this post? How would you answer some of these questions?

Thanks again to you my delightful readers, for your support and encouragement during another challenging year. Here’s to a fabulous year ahead for all of us.

Deb x

Latest posts on Deb’s World:

You can also find Deb’s World in lots of other places – stay in touch by clicking any of the buttons below.

Debbie - mother of a 40 year old

Everyone has a story to tell! Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. She never imagined being Granny Debs would bring so much joy to her life! You can read more of Deb’s story here

Copyright © 2022 debs-world.com – All rights reserved

48 Replies to “2022 – Looking in the rear view mirror #SundayStills”

  1. Hi Deb – a lovely look back over your year with lots of family and fun to keep the Debbie smile glowing. It’s so great that you got to go to the UK and see that part of your family and to be going back again in May is fantastic. Looking forward to your 2023 #WOTY – mine is all set to go tomorrow morning. Happy New Year (again!) x

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  2. First of all I LOVE your opening image, Debbie! I think this shot defines you–outdoorsy, fun and a bit mysterious! A great format for cataloging your year. You enjoyed a lot–love the hot air balloon experience! Your deep connection to your family and friends, as well as your community, makes you a happy, healthy woman, and you are truly blessed. Thank you for your loyal contributions to Sunday Stills and I look forward to more of both of our blog challenges in 2023. Happy New Year and may peace and contentment rule your year!

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    1. Thanks Terri, I made the header from a recent photo recreation challenge I did with my daughter over the holidays and thought I’d love to keep using it so my Sunday Stills header has been updated! I am grateful for all that I have and I manage to try to make the most of opportunities, so thanks for your lovely insights, they’re much appreciated. Happy 2023 to you, you deserve a good year!

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  8. Happy New Year Deb. As always a bright, cheerful blog post full of beautiful photos sharing so many happy memories of your year. I look forward to seeing what 2023 will bring you.

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the re-cap Janis, it took a while to compile but I’m glad I persevered. All the best for 2023 and I look forward to reading more of your creative posts.

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  10. Hi, Deb – Thank you for this very uplifting and inspring Wrap-Up Post (except for the damned COVID part). Thanks also for introducing me to the Lord Huron song. Living under a rock as I often do I hadn’t heard it before.
    Wishing you a wonderful 2023 ahead!

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    1. Hi Donna, it took me a while to get this post done but I enjoyed the reflecting exercise of it all and sorting out what I did last year. I hope you like the song, it’s very mellow isn’t it?
      Looking forward to lots of interaction with you in 2023, you’re one of my favourite people!

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  13. Spot on that I need more spontaneity and less social media scrolling. I knew Covid wasn’t over and like you I caught Covid. Love your year end round up and might just do something similar. Take care and Happy New Year. Bernie

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    1. I’m with you Bernie! The end of year wrap-up is always a good way to get the year into perspective and I love sharing photos so it’s a win/win for me 🙂 Feel free to use the idea.

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    1. Thanks Kirstin, it’s a good way to wrap-up the year. I know what you mean, so many books to choose just one or two! Happy New Year, hope 2023 is a good one.

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  15. A great wrap up Deb and your 2022 was certainly better than the previous couple of years. It’s a wonderful idea to look back at what we’ve done during the year. It is easy to forget so I like this practice of remembering the good times but also reflecting on the not so good times. Mike and I have become fans of Hard Quiz. I don’t really listen to music that often these days. My son turned 40 so now I have both of my children in their 40s! Lots of other changes like selling our apartment and moving house. We are planning an overseas trip for 2023 so that will be exciting. Thanks for always brightening my day with your posts. Thank you for your friendship which I treasure and wishing you every happiness in 2023. xx

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    1. I agree it was a much better year than recent ones Sue and I’m happy with my re-cap post. I always like using Jo’s prompts but also liked your question in your post – What robbed you of Joy – and thought of this as I answered a few of the questions. In my case I think it was lack of spontaneity as plans had to be flexible but sometimes they couldn’t happen despite all the flexibility in the world. You are an inspiration in so many ways and having 2 over 40 year olds is hard to believe when I look at you and know what you do!! Thanks for your friendship and support too, it’s been a fabulous year of co-hosting and blogging with you, with many more to come I hope!

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  17. Pingback: WQ #1: RESOLUTIONS v WORD OF THE YEAR/LOGO REVEAL – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write

  18. What a busy year and you did a couple of things I’d love to do, a hot air balloon trio and glamping. You’re right about spontaneity but I love planning and organising so it’s not something I’m very good at. Thanks for linking

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  19. A great wrap-up post, Debbie. We share similar hobbies (reading, blogging, riding, walking, photography, exercising…). Thank you for your weekend coffee share. Wishing you a wonderful 2023!

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  20. Gift, that is a great word for 2022. My word for that year was success. This year’s word for me is laughter. Perhaps it’s a strange word for the year, but I need more of it and more of its magical powers. I would like to enjoy it and bring it to others. Nice post, thank you for sharing.

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  21. What a great wrap up of 2022 Deb.
    I’m still working so that took up much of my year, but my story blogging went much better than I expected or hoped. The two prompt projects I joined were fabulous ways to learn more about telling stories and my inventory is much bigger and better organized now.
    Wishing you and yours an even better 2023.

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    1. Thanks Gary, it was a good way of sorting out what happened throughout the year. Luckily I no longer work but am busy with many other volunteering commitments. Your writing went well during the year and hope you continue with it when you can. All the best for 2023.

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  23. That’s so cool about the hot air balloon experience! I’ve seen hot air balloons in passing thinking how fun it looks but thinking about how to get up in the air kind of scares me.

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