Still in the recovery stage of her mastectomy, Dr Cat gives an update on her breast cancer journey, reflections on 2021 and her outlook for the new year.

It’s been a tough month of lockdown but Dr Cat has had some great wins, including a TV appearance, new team member and even high-tech air-purification systems for TFP!

Cat headed up to Aitutaki for a couple of days of kiting, to get her skills back up before summer. She arrived back in Auckland just before the Level 4 announcement – then celebrated her birthday in lockdown style!

If you were already keeping an eye out on my social media, you probably will have seen that I had an upper eyelid blepharoplasty (skin removal surgery) with Paul Rosser this month. It’s only been three weeks, but I am already thrilled with the results.

The shortest day and Matariki (the Māori New Year) should traditionally mark a quieter time of year for us, but this year June has been super-busy with lots of training, media exposure, baby announcements, and wonderful new team members!

Wow, how are we halfway through the year already? I’ve had a busy month of media interviews, team trainings and a fun trip to Rotorua.

This has been another wonderful month of fun and celebration for me – on ANZAC weekend I went to NZ Spirit Festival, had a wonderful time celebrating in a corporate box at the historic Six60 concert at Eden Park, and then got up super-early for Dawn Parade at the Auckland Museum Cenotaph.

It’s been a wonderful month of celebration, watching ETNZ win the America’s Cup on home waters, my first Splore festival, and a family festive gathering in Russell for Easter. On the work front, we had an incredibly fun brand photoshoot (only delayed by a year, thanks Covid)!

As we navigate our way through lockdown 4.0, I’m left wondering – how it is March again already? This time last year I was recovering from breast cancer surgery (lumpectomy and lymph node removal), and wow, what a year it has been!

I’ve been thoroughly enjoying all the America’s Cup action (again, we are so lucky to be in NZ right now!), and Auckland has such a buzzy vibe right now as the big boats fight it out to determine who will challenge Emirates Team NZ for the cup.

I feel so incredibly grateful to be living an ‘almost normal’ life in NZ while the rest of the world crashes back into further lockdowns. While 2021 brings the promise and new energy of a new year, I’m reminded to not take things for granted.