While living in London, I heard about this place and decided I had to visit. The problem is, Eel Pie Island is a private island accessible only via a footbridge, and is only open to visitors a few day throughout the year.  The island got its name from the pies baked using locally caught eels and served by the island’s residents to passing river traders - sounds delicious. Or not. Sounds more like a place invented by a slightly nutty children’s book author who got distracted halfway through lunch.

Another quick and easy tick off the list. One of the things I've missed about living in Australia, is the great Asian food that you can find everywhere. Staying near Clayton, I'd wander up to the library and pass by Banh Mi Bakery and Cafe. There would be a short line. Tradies, students, locals all patiently waiting for one of those orange bags to be filled with lunch. And on four separate occasions, I joined them. The bread roll was crusty, the pate/butter ratio perfect, some carrots and cucumber to add crunch, onion, hoisin, chillies and of course chunks of juicy roast pork along with crackle. Divine. Oh once, I really mixed things up and went the roast chicken, because I can be reckless sometimes.  

This was an easy tick off the list. I'd seen this place pop up on my feed and I happened to be going to Chaddy to buy a new suitcase. Perfect opportunity. Firstly, what is a Japanese Pancake and how is it different to a bog standard pancake? Also known as soufflé pancakes, they're all about the height and fluffiness darling!

Another one of those "lived in Melbourne for ages and never got around to it" things. So when Andrea invited me to spend her birthday with her at the Peninsula Hot Springs in Fingal, I gladly accepted. Our very special dine and bathe package meant swanning around in the adults only Spa Dreaming Centre area. White robes on, white robes off, the robe‑wearing wanderers looked like a cult of extremely cosy ghosts.

Let's have a Ferris Buellers Day off! A fabulous suggestion and a throwback to the time the Old Duck and I decided to take a day off work and go and get some things done from my list. Must have been 9 years ago or so - we were both still at Mercer and we can proudly say we are possibly the only two people in Melbourne who actually got to ride the Melbourne Star (the Ferris wheel of death, not called that because anyone died, but because the poor thing sits there rusting away - one of the less successful tourist attractions the city has ever produced). 

An unexpected tick. 12 months ago I don't think I'd even heard of Yungblud. And if I had, it certainly didn't register. But all of a sudden, his name just kept popping up in my feed and a slightly weird obsession blossomed. The fact that he was in Australia at the same time I was, and wouldn't you know it, playing in Melbourne, fueled that obsession and all of a sudden I hit pay and voila, I was going along to see Yungblud. I needed to see for myself what all the fuss was about.

All those years in Melbourne and I never got around to visiting this place. So with the temperature climbing up above 40 degrees and a couple of hours spare, off I went. The Immigration Museum is basically a look at our history and culture with stories of many of the people who shape who and what Australia is today. 

The 2026 list is taking shape! Big dreams, questionable judgment, and the optimism of someone who still believes in adventures. Time to say yes to new experiences. Except skydiving. Or bungee jumping. Or anything involving a waiver.  Time to do something wild - like going to bed without checking the weather for tomorrow. Pure chaos. Time to learn a new skill or just learn about something new.

It was while reminiscing and looking back 10 years to when I was turning 50 that the 60 before 60 list was born (again). Hitting these milestone birthdays must stir something within my loins (not much stirring there these days). And before long, the 60 before 60 list started to take shape.

Thanks to the cruise that I did in 2024, this one was relatively easy - although it did take that last push in December 2025 to get the last few over the line. 

Having recently visited Buda Castle, couldn't let this little trip go by without visiting Prague Castle now could we?

I tried absinth long ago but had heard the absinth bars in Prague are worth visiting and absinth is sold everywhere. Absinth, without the 'e' is how it's spelt for absinthes produced in Central and Eastern Europe aka  Bohemian style absinthes. So, when in Czech, we'll spell it the Czech way.