The last few months of 2014 were so event-filled and busy that it was hard to find a moment to sit down and update this blog.

Firstly, happy new year to you all. I hope this year is filled with laughter, fun and fine food.

Before we jump into the unknown waters of 2015, I thought I’d travel back (via photos) to the tail end 2014 to have a look at what I didn’t get a chance to tell you about.

Previously, I told you about the bridal shower I hosted for my cousin’s wedding. You can read more about it here.

Later on in November she got married. It was a small and lovely event, with only family and close friends. The wedding was held at her home but it was so beautifully done, you’d think it were set up elsewhere. All the family contributed something edible and the bride herself was so impressive, she baked her own wedding cake as well as a few of the cakes on the tea table.

The following week (the last weekend of November), a friend of mine got married. For his wedding, I was asked to make mini peppermint puddings for the guests’ dessert. I also made a double layer pavlova for the dessert “bruid’s tafel” – a Cape Malay tradition in which the groom’s family cooks a special meal for the bride and groom to consume at the reception. My mom was tasked with making roast leg of lamb, roast veg and sweet yellow rice for the special table.

Then in early December some of us got together at my aunt’s house for a pot luck family Sunday lunch. On the menu: Pasta and salad; crumbed chicken, frikkadels and roast veg; crayfish curry and bean curry.

Of course, what’s Sunday lunch without tea and cake after. There was orange cake, swiss roll, cream puffs, can peaches and cream, and coconut tart.

I also had some orders ahead of Christmas.

Then there was a day spent babysitting my cousin’s son, Amaad. Such a little joy of a boy. This was a week before he turned one.

Amaad’s mom Salaamah arranged the most delightful sailor-themed party for him. It coincided with the same day our uncle, aunt and cousins arrived for a holiday from Australia.

Three days after the Aussies arrived, we had New Year’s Eve braai at my aunt’s place. It is the first time in many years that all six of my grandparents’ children are together and I can tell the siblings are happier for it. What a great way to end 2014 and start 2015, which has been quite an adventure and we’re only a week into it. But I’ll save all that for another post.