In Australia, Christmas and New Year is a time for serious celebration and the affectionately named "Silly Season" kicks off in late November. Being the first time we had been home in four years, we had a LOT of partying to do - lunches with friends and former work colleagues; a few birthdays to enjoy (including my own) and of course our very special family reunion. We dined as some of Perth's newest eateries, including Elizabeth Quay which is the still unfinished mixed use waterfront development in the Perth CBD. The original project plan allowed for 1700 residential apartments, at least 2 hotel complexes, 150K square metres for offices and 39K square metres of retail space as well as an improved ferry terminal, a water playground and a cable car to Kings Park. The economic downturn now being felt in Western Australia due to a depressed mining industry has seen these plans scaled back significantly and "Betty's Jetty" currently boasts minimal foodie options, the water playground and an impressive footbridge.

We caught up with Leanne and Mike (SV Ooroo) whom we'd spent a little time with in the Caribbean and in Panama at the Windsor in South Perth and chatted about ours and their plans for 2017 Pacific Puddle Jumping. We did the revolving C Restaurant with good friends Gus, Frances and Lesley; we picnicked out in the Swan Valley at the beautiful Jane Brook Winery with family; we did our favourite Freo Chilli Mussels at both Ruoccos and at Benny's with various friends. We revisited our beloved Fremantle Sailing Club; we checked out Virsa the Punjab in Attadale; we tried several boardwalk locations along the Rockingham shore; we slurped our way through countless oysters in Mandurah. A particular highlight for me was to lunch with a few girlfriends from primary school - some of whom, whilst I'd been in contact with via social media, I hadn't seen in 40 years! We met up with local boating friends at the Swan and East Fremantle Yacht Clubs and we did coffee catch ups all over the metropolitan area.

We dined at The Mantle, a much hyped casual "Collaber8" eating house located in a former East End warehouse before a great night of entertainment at the Fremantle Arts Centre with Bernard Fanning and his new band The Black Fins. We've loved Bernard since his Powderfinger days and given his long musical pub band pedigree, he delivered a super performance, which showcased both his individual work and some good old Finger faves. We also enjoyed pre-show oysters at the Rodrigues pop up Champagne and Seafood bar in Kings Park before being entertained by the Sugar Man himself.

I share friendships with several Sagittarian girlfriends, and my bestie Betts and I have our birthdays a day apart. This year, we chose to celebrate at our special Rottnest place, Stark Bay. In our life before sailing, we owned a 43' Randell flybridge cruiser and spent all our spare recreational time hanging off our mooring in this bay. Bazz and Betts are still "stink boat" owners and we were really excited to be able to share a few days onboard their gorgeous 40' Caribbean Sea Wolf. We walked along the stunning white sandy beach; we paddle boarded across the cold but crystal clear Indian Ocean, negotiating coral bombies and reef; we fished for whiting and herring; we eat freshly caught Southern Rock Lobster (aka Crayfish to the locals); we watched stunning sunsets whilst sipping chilled French bubbles on the back deck. Our visiting nephew Will, and his partner Caro, joined us for a day trip and it was fun to share Rotto with them both, even if for a short time. We were able to introduce them both to quokkas, the local marsupial for which the island was named (erroneously by the Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh in 1696 as he believed they were giant rats ... rattennest, which morphed into today's name). A very special few days indeed.

Christmas Eve arrived and so did our US relatives - first Franny and Claire who flew in from SFO via Sydney followed by Anne and Les who had opted for a SFO-Singapore-Perth flight. We spent the next few weeks having amazing family fun - 2016 was the first time ever that our American connection had enjoyed a Downunder Christmas and New Year celebration. Loads of fresh seafood, endless BBQ meals and masses of love and laughter interspersed with a few touristy activities. We checked out 20/20 cricket at the WACA; Will and Caro threw together an amazing Tex-Mex night; we did poolside family dining with Les's family; we did good old Aussie fish and chips and the guys all impressed us with their marron catching skills (Will even making the fishing pages of the Sunday Times newspaper). All too soon, the festive season was over and it was time for our Northern Hemisphere fam to depart - but not before we did a once in a lifetime family photo shoot! Best Christmas ever.