Observing colleagues going through transitions such as retirement or redundancy, I’ve noticed that it helps to have a rich life outside of work. I seem to have taken this advice to heart!

It has been a busy time in the lead up to changing university and beyond (and having older children certainly helps). Here’s a snapshot of what I have been up to in wintery Sydney. (Worth making explicit: this post is not sponsored in any way).

• Eating out

Most notably at Colombo Social, a restaurant described as soulful Sri Lankan. It’s hard to pick a favourite dish! Perhaps the beetroot bhajis? Or kingfish ceviche? Maybe saganaki with kithul treacle? As well as serving delicious food, it’s a social enterprise that provides employment opportunities, practical experience, and training for people seeking asylum. You can read more about Plating it Forward.

Next on our list: Kyiv Social.

• CInema

So far this year we have enjoyed Anatomy of a Fall, Wicked Little Letters, and Late Night with the Devil. But Sydney’s winter cinema options don’t seem to be particularly great, so Furiosa has been it recently. For context, my favourite films in recent years have included Good Luck to You Leo Grande, Poor Things, Saltburn and Talk to Me. Although it is at odds with getting out and about, I might need to resort to streaming on the small screen. Catherine Newman, author of my recent favourite book Sandwich, recommended Ripley for “the same kind of black comedy and aristocratic aspiration as Saltburn … although Ripley has none of Saltburn’s emphasis on bodily fluids, which so disturbed my adult children and left me and my husband shrugging and largely undisgusted.” Squeamish adult kids made me laugh!

• Live music

May and June have involved more live music than usual. Peter Hook and The Light (playing Joy Division and New Order), Tinariwen (desert blues from the Sahara), and Fever Ray (Swedish electronica). Very hard to pick a favourite as they were three very different shows.

• Theatre

We enjoyed the various stages of the Theatresports schools challenge (teenage improvisation is so funny and insightful). Coming up: Gaslight!

• Museums and galleries

We usually see more exhibitions than we have of late, but I couldn’t let pass the opportunity to mention the suburban Reimagine Art Prize exhibition. Our favourites included works by Claire Letitia Reynolds, Lachlan Warner, Blake Griffiths and Dave Laslett.

This was one of our monthly family outings, which are going so well I have added some new challenges: host a dinner party at least once a month and visit a restaurant in a different suburb at least once a quarter (ideally somewhere we haven’t been before!)