2012 is nearly done and I have to say it was a big year!

When the end of a year comes around I think our first reaction is to gasp at how quickly it all rushed past; but I think if we spend a few minutes thinking about everything we’ve done, we realise that we actually pack a lot into just 365 little days. Here’s some stuff that whizzed by this year:

Filming for South Africa’s Top Billing in Kruger National Park.

I got to meet a lot of you! It was really fantastic to meet so many people in person who have been so supportive. Thanks to everyone who came along to the Noosa International Food and Wine Festival, Johannesburg Good Food and Wine Show, events in Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and of course here in Australia. Thanks also to all of you (more than 125,000!) who have connected on facebook and Twitter from Portugal, Finland, The Netherlands, the US, UK and Latin America. (I hope I haven’t missed anyone!)

Riding a boat on a burning river for the Hakui Matsuri, Ishikawa Prefecture.

I ate a lot of good food (and here are some of the highlights.) Maybe a little too much if I’m to be honest. I think an exercise plan is definitely on the cards. Who’s with me?

I’ve written a lot more this year and really enjoyed it. Spending a lot of time on the road it’s great to have something to do while I’m away from home. I wrote for a bunch of magazines and started Around the Table, my regular column for The Wall Street Journal’s Scene Asia. My first book “Two Asian Kitchens” came out in Dutch, and also in paperback here in Australia. Lots more interesting things to come in 2013, and a new book out later in the year as well – watch this space!

Oysters fresh from the water in Freycinet, Tasmania for Destination Flavour.

I came back to TV! I appeared as a guest judge on both MasterChef Malaysia and MasterChef Australia, plus joined SBS co-hosting the first season of Destination Flavour. I had a ball traveling around and getting to know more about where our food comes from. Destination Flavour was really well received so thank you so much for all your support! It ended up being the highest rating food program on SBS for 2012, and I’ve even been nominated for a TV Week Logie for “Best New Male Talent”, so if you want to vote for me you can do so here. (But I’m up against people like Joel Madden and Seal, so let’s not get our hopes up…)

Singing at the Alannah and Madeline Foundation’s Starry Starry Night ball to raise money for children in violent situations.

I was able to support a lot of organisations that I think are doing really fantastic things in our communities. I played soccer (badly) for UNICEF and got to meet Alessandro Del Piero, played basketball (badly) for the Sydney Kings, and even sang in front of thousands of people for The Alannah and Madeline Foundation! I am very proud to support OzHarvest, Foodbank Victoria, The Cancer Council, The Crows Foundation, Diabetes Australia and many others. If I can ask anything of you for 2013, it would be to spend a little time helping any organisations in your own community that you think are doing good work to help those that need it.

Pulling on the boots for UNICEF.

On the “Year of the Dragon” float in the Sydney Chinese New Year Parade.

It was great being one of Sydney’s Chinese New Year Ambassadors for 2012. Sydney holds the largest Chinese New Year celebrations anywhere in the world outside of mainland China, but best of all I got to ride on a parade float just like Ferris Bueller. I was also an Adelaide Crows ambassador for our great 2012 season (expecting big things for 2013 boys!)

Last but definitely not least, I got married!

2012 was definitely a great year, but 2013 is already looking like a lot of fun. See you next year!

My wedding: Happo-en, Tokyo.