As the year comes to a close, Melissa and I have been reflecting on the journey that was 2026. We do so with a sense of gratitude and feeling fortunate. We were not gifted silver spoons but we made a few decent choices a few sacrifices and this year felt like a culmination of many good things, including living in Australia.
To those that inspired and believed -thanks. These are some of our favourite moments — good meals, meaningful places, firsts worth saying yes to, and learning how to sit comfortably with this life.
Our Best Restaurants & Meals of 2025
Some meals were memorable not just for the food, but for the experience, the place, the moment. Standouts this year included Kirby’s in Albany, Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River, Ocean Restaurant in Singapore, and Royal China at the Raffles Resort, Sentosa Island, Singapore.
World class food and drink grown in the Southern Forests Region of Western Australia
2026 was also a year of learning about the world-class food and drinks of the Southern Forests, and the dedication of the people whose work allows this region to compete on a global stage.
Our Best Movies of 2025
A few films we really enjoyed this year…here are the 2025 highlights.
One Battle After Another and Sinners stood out for very different reasons. We also had to add KPop Demon Hunters. A good fun flick for the young at heart.
And F1 did something rare—it pushed us from watching to planning. It inspired us to arrange our first Formula 1 race in 2026.
Our Best Books of 2025
Reading slowed the year down in the best possible way. Highlights included:
James – By Percival Everett (Arthur – Thanks for the tip Brian), Fourth Wing – By Rebecca Yarros (Arthur), The Jaipur Trilogy – Alka Joshi (Melissa), If Tomorrow Comes – Sydney Sheldon (Melissa)
The Jaipur Trilogy
Different genres, different moods—all good reads!
Our Favourite Local Moments of 2025
The year was anchored by people and place. Including the time shared with family and friends – this time mattered the most. We had Perth visits from Jarred, Jordan and Cinda, Val and Julius, and Brian. And visited family and friends – including “The Bunch” when we visited Perth.
We also had many memorable moments that included the many acts of kindness from the people of Pemberton, Windy Harbour and Manjimup.
We moved into the Pemberton home…and also the Applecross apartment for when we visit Perth. These properties and others we simply call The Wilson Estate.
And one small but meaningful marker of the year was the painting we call the Pemberton Sunrise. To us…it means the optimism of each morning…
Other highlights included going to some great local events (the Cherry Festival, Avocado Festival), getting hand made sweets from the Southern Forests Chocolate Factory, chatting with the neighbors and locals…its a wonderful community.
Our Favourite International Moments of 2025
There were a few “firsts” this year that were worth saying yes to.
Our first Rolls-Royce chauffeured service.
Our first cruise—a nine-day journey on the Silver Moon from Singapore to Perth, thanks to Naturalist Travel in Busselton.
And a little unplanned indulgence shopping at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
Beyond the bucket list territory…wonderful experiences, enjoyed properly.
Our Biggest Challenge of 2025
This year brought many joys, but also stark reminders of our mortality—fractures (we both had bone fractures this year), strained family ties, the sobering realization that we’ve worked more years than we have left on this earth. It makes time too precious for anything that doesn’t matter. Yet we keep moving forward, cherishing each moment that does.The biggest challenge wasn’t travel or logistics—it was internal.
Exploring retirement. Learning how to make the most of these “Golden Years”.
How to best manage the 5 acres at Pemberton (I hear my farming friends laugh as some have hundreds of acres…)
Setting new personal and professional boundaries, and strengthening the ones that matter.
That work continues in 2026.
⸻
Being Arthur 