This year just zoomed by! Before I realized it, it was already the last day of 2024. 

This post is written for ‘Celebrate and Reflect Blog Hop’ hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters.

When the prompt was out, I wasn’t too sure about what I’d write. The year went by so fast that I didn’t even get time to sit and reflect on its highlights. When I began to outline the year-end memories for this blog hop, I understood why I was continuously running out of time this year. Be it writing for Blogaberry Dazzle or completing other engagements, I always seemed to be late. Now, I know better.

So, here’s what happened (besides writing).

January:

I was just recovering from a hectic but fun December 2023, when Fun City finally decided to reveal to us, Mombassadors for 2024, the prizes for the coming year. With the excitement of getting free plays all through the year, we were also getting our appointments and visas sorted for our couple’s trip in February.

Also, I was getting ready to start another three seasons of Blogaberry Dazzle with Noor A. Chawla.

February:

We finally got our visas and tried getting ourselves ready (mostly mentally) to leave the kids back home with their grandfather for 10 days. We increased security around the house, spoke to the kids about their duties and responsibilities in our absence and tried to take it easy though we were quite nervous about being away from them for such a long time.

Hubby and I travelled together internationally (just the two of us) for the first time since we got married in 2009. Sorry, we ‘Gulfies’ do not consider the repeated travels between India and Kuwait ‘international’. Hahaha!

Hubby was working during this trip, so I got to be on a three-day soul-o trip for the first time! Barcelona was pretty and I loved walking around it at my own pace.

Here are some interesting places to visit in Barcelona, Spain.

After Barcelona, we headed to Germany for our very first textile-free spa. By the way, I did not carry my laptop on this trip. And, we saw a rainbow in Barcelona! Not connected but still worth mentioning.

March:

As soon as I got back, my daughter was getting ready for her first school exam. Her school does not have exams till grade 5. Grade 6 is when the transition happens. They begin solving worksheets regularly and then have an official test at the end of the year. That was going to begin after my arrival.

We hosted a small Easter get-together at the end of the month. Also, organized a little Easter Egg hunt for the kiddies present. It’s always fun having friends and family over.

April:

School and exams were over, and the holidays began. Within a few days, we were babysitting a toy poodle for ten days. I was happy that the kids did all the doggy-related work themselves (except for the feeding).

The toy poodle attracted a lot of guests (that included kids) who came to see this tiny little dog. So, we had a house full for a couple of days during that weekend.

During this month, we were also getting our kids’ visa formalities done for our Europe trip in May.

Oh! And, I travelled to Goa to meet a friend visiting from the USA.

May:

My mom landed in India after almost 5 years of unwanted stress bestowed upon her by the company that she worked for in Kuwait for more than 30 years. It was sold to a new owner who decided that he did not want to pay deserving indemnities to the long-time employees and did everything in his power to escape from these responsibilities. From arrest warrants to absconding cases, my mom got through it all with God by her side.

Though she did not receive her indemnity yet, she was allowed to finally get out of the country I was born in. Her last day in Kuwait was 3rd May 2024.

My grandmother was patiently waiting for my mother all these years. So, my mommy went to Mumbai while hubby, kids and I went to spend the rest of our holidays in Switzerland and Italy.

June:

My daughter turned 12 in the first week of June. Besides the party we had with our friends that weekend, I spent the rest of the month organizing her sleepovers and play-dates on Sundays and public holidays with various groups of friends.

And then the new school year began this month. Waking up early in the morning is generally torturous anyway.

July:

My son turned 8 at the beginning of July and a play-date was organized for him. He has fewer friends as of now so just one weekend was enough.

A part of our family visited us for a week so that week was fun because it involved a lot of outings!

One round of my daughter’s exams got done this month.

And then, in the last week of the month, when hubby went to Barcelona for work, his laptop bag (consisting of cash, laptops, wallet with all his bank and identity cards, passports and house keys) was stolen while he was waiting for his chauffeur in the airport premises.

Meanwhile, back in Bangalore, I was doing a photoshoot for Ikaksh Jewels – Lab-grown diamonds.

Hubby finally managed to get a new temporary passport from the Indian embassy in Madrid, Spain and reached home (Bangalore, India) on the morning of Sunday, 28th July. The same evening I began feeling the heat of the dengue fever.

August:

I spent the first two weeks mostly in bed with the break-bone fever, though I was able to do a few things around the house for around an hour after swallowing a fever tablet. 

But, during these days, I felt blessed because my platelet count rose without me having to get admitted to the hospital. This was probably due to the healthy food I try to have every day, a dear friend’s chicken soup, hubby’s beef stew and my help’s (since 10 years) papaya leaves juice (from the tree that is grown in my backyard).

It not only helped me get better quickly but also allowed me to enjoy my trip to Mahabalipuram with friends and family on the next long weekend.

September:

This month marked our Crystal anniversary. So, despite all the Dengue, robbery and missing visas, hubby and I managed to land in Greece and have a great time together. The walk from Fira to Oia was a bit difficult with my fatigue kicking in every now and then, but we did it!

This time the kids were back home with their grandfather and grandmother.

Once we got back, my daughter had another round of exams.

October:

I was barely completing the backlog of September when we decided to go on a road-trip to Goa for the Dussehra holidays.

When we reached Goa, some of us adults got hand-foot-mouth disease but were unaware of it. Once we got back home, we seemed to have transferred it to the kids. So, the Dussehra holidays got extended due to this and, of course, the heavy rains.

But, we were blessed that none of us had to be admitted to the hospital.

At the end of the month, we hosted a little ‘Hallowali’ celebration with friends. I organized another treasure hunt for the kids who dressed up for Halloween and later enjoyed lighting firecrackers outside the house on the occasion of Diwali.

November:

My grandmother celebrated her 90th birthday this month. She was happy that most of us, including my mom, could be there with her on this special day. We did not have a huge celebration though we tried to make it as special as possible for her at home.

While we were in Mumbai for this milestone birthday, I met a few other friends and family and had a lot of lassi. Yes! I love lassi. When the malai is put separately.

December:

December is always busy and hectic for us because of birthdays (hubby’s and mine), Christmas and New Year. Added to this the evening of my birthday was followed by us being out for another five evenings after that; either picking up/dropping our kids for birthday parties (and then having dinner outside) or enjoying house get-togethers. We had sushi for three nights straight. We also hosted and met friends visiting from outside India after a long time. We even went to Mysore for a day to meet a friend.

After the birthdays, we continued getting the house decorated for Christmas. My mom tried out a Christmas sweet. Hubby got the outdoor decorations done. The kids and I put up the Christmas tree and other indoor decorations. Catch a glimpse of it here.

We normally watch Christmas movies during this month. But my son did not want to watch those ‘mostly romantic Christmas movies’ this time. He’s a big boy now. He suggested Red One. And boy, did we find a Christmas movie specially made for boys!! Genre: Action/Comedy. Starring Dwayne Johnson.

My mom was here for Christmas after a long time. That was the most special gift I received this year.

Besides all the travel, all through the year, I was watching Dexter (alone) and Monk (with the kids). I haven’t finished either. I was also reading quite a bit every night before I hit the sack. So, all of this together was a lot to do in just 366 days. Now, I’m gearing up for another new year and hoping I manage my time better in 2025! I’ll keep you posted. Till then, see you on the other side!

What was your highlight of 2024? Do share it with us in the comments below!