clog blog: 2025: The Year in Review

2025 started with a great sadness. Our precious bunny Milo passed away on 30 December 2024 after a short illness at just 5 years old. He passed peacefully in our arms at the vet, it really was best case scenario, but it was still a shock and left us devastated.

It was one year since Milo passed on 30 Dec 2025. We still miss you precious boy, you will live in our hearts for always. Binky free and eat all the carrots! All our love always. Until we meet again xxx

Usually we don't travel over the Lunar New Year holiday of Tet since it is very difficult to get a pet sitter. But with Milo's sudden passing, we were free to travel and decided to tag on a week in India onto Justin's work trip which conveniently ended at the beginning of Tet. With only a week at our disposal, we decided on the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra and squeezed Ranthambore National Park in too where we were blessed with some incredible tiger sightings.

Justin had a two week trip to India including Mumbai and several other places.

In Mumbai, his one colleague took him for a full day of sight seeing one Sunday.

The Elephanta Caves was one of the stops.

Bron had 3 days on her own in Delhi which was somewhat nerve wracking lol, but all was fine. She organised a number of group tours like this 'free' walking tour in Old Delhi.

Tiger spotting in Ranthambore NP

Boibs at the Patrika Gate in Jaipur

Early morning at the Taj Mahal in Agra

In April Justin had a work trip to Hai Phong which coincided with a public holiday. Together with another colleague, we made a long weekend out of it and went to Yen Tu Mountain. The trip included a day trip to Halong Bay for Bronwen and Maarten, a 1000 m climb of Yen Tu as a practice hike for Nepal, and some chilling.

Practice hike: 1000 m climb over 7 km up Yen Tu Mountain

Later in April was our long awaited Nepal trip. What a hectic, intense and rewarding hike and experience! Thank you Nepal, maybe see you again soon. Watch this space.

The rest of the year is somewhat of a blur with several month long long events and A LOT of work travels for Justin.

In July, Justin had a two week work trip to Sri Lanka and arrived back after Bron's twin Michelle arrived in HCMC 🤩 We were so very happy and excited to have them. Activities included: a day at the Amazing Bay waterpark, 5 days at the beach in Mui Ne, Click Clack Lego cafe, Capybara cafe, tile mosaic cafe, climbing wall, sushi lunch, pho and banh mi for lunch, long swims in our beautiful pool, colouring in and crafting, card games, a 1000 piece puzzle, visits to the nail bar, craft beer dates, and much more.

Justin with a colleague in Sri Lanka.

They also managed some sight seeing at Sigiriya Rock and snorkeling in Trincomalee.

Thank you for the tea you brought home for me.

One of many swims in our pool

Nail bar!

Capybara cafe

Amazing Bay Waterpark

Lunch date for local VN food

Sushi dinner date

Boys beer date

Nou gaan ons braai!

Lego cafe creations

Beach days in Mui Ne

Before the Finnemore's left, Justin left for a conference in Adelaide where he was invited to be the key note speaker. His presentation was very well received. Well done Lovey, what a privilege and honour for you.

River walk in Adelaide

Adelaide Convention Centre

And then suddenly the house was empty after a wonderful 4 weeks of the Finnemore's. Thank you for coming all this way and using your summer break to come and see us, it was very special and we appreciate it so very much 🩷

A week after the Finnemore 4 left, Bron flew to South Africa. She had a few days in Cape Town catching up with friends before Justin joined her. We enjoyed a week in Hermanus with Justin's parents, a few days with Bron's Mom before Justin left via Bron's brother in Johannesburg. Bron stayed on with her Mom for a bit longer and then also flew out via her brother and uncle in Jo'burg. Thank you for a wonderful and special trip everyone! And thank you for the fab weather, we only had 1.5 days of rain in the middle of rainy season. See you again in 2026 SA peeps!

With Justin's parents and uncle in Hermanus

Rugby and braai day!

Lunch date in J Bay with Bron's Mom

Another braai, just because we can.

Looking back, you got lots of braais in last year Lovey.

Tea date with our wonderful niece Micaela

Farm life: the most beautiful Nguni cattle and cheeky peacocks

While Bron was still in SA, Justin had a work trip to Samoa, the 4th or 5th (we lost count lol) and final trip for this project. There was no opportunity for any sightseeing this time but it was a good wrap up and handover of the project.

Samoa vibes

Another trip to India and the Philippines for Justin to wrap up a very busy season of work travels. And then fortunately he had a reprieve from work trips for a few months.

In October life changed rather dramatically for us when we became emergency short term foster parents and welcomed a 5 month old baby girl into our home. We named her Eve and she is the sweetest happiest little girl. It was a very hectic and intense time for us being our first baby ever lol. But we managed and we all became very attached to each other quite quickly. She was only with us for a short 5 weeks and then we took her to a long term foster home. It was heartbreaking when she left, but her new family are so lovely and kind and wonderful and we have a lot of peace. She has a sweet, gentle, and loving dog bestie and continues to be happy and thrive. We are thrilled for her and have so much peace about it all. What a privilege it was to provide some stability for you when you needed it Eve, you will forever have a very special place in our hearts.

The night Eve arrived, her first 15 min in our home.

First family outing for a first birthday party and first family photo.

And then suddenly it was the end of the year with many Thanksgiving and Christmas events including a very fun Christmas party at the orphanage Bron has volunteered with for many years. What a blessing these children are to us, thank you Minh Tu that you allow us to visit each week.