2018: A Year in Review

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My #Best9 of 2018 on Instagram

2018 has been a mixed year. There’s been a few personal and professional changes, some of which were not as positive as I would have liked and I’ve allowed myself to wallow in a funk on more than a few occasions, at one point even contemplating giving up blogging altogether. However, when I looked through my Bullet Journal and the photographs on my phone in preparation for this post, I was reminded that this year has actually been full of more incredible experiences than almost of any other. 

Here’s just some of the highlights…

The Bloke won a camera for a squirrel picture. That squirrel picture was more popular than our wedding photos. 

Hitting one million views on the blog. This had been something I made a passing comment about in the very early stages of my blogging journey after I had started to receive views on my posts (‘can you imagine if I end up with a million views?’), and in March that’s exactly what happened.

Going on a writers retreat with some of my blogging friends in Southwold.

An amazing week in Scotland – we got to see a Loch for the first time, we got lost in the Cairngorms and revisited the castle where The Bloke proposed two-and-a-half years ago. 

The Bloke taking pictures at Loch Lee

Attending the Annual Bloggers Bash in London, and exploring Chiswick House gardens.

Participating in the Escape Rooms Live experience and the Nirvana Room for my friend’s hen party, and then attending her beautiful wedding a few weeks later.

Giving workshop at a local school about social media and blogging.

Changing our eating habits and treating ourselves to cheat days once a week. Food never tasted so good.

An EPIC week in New York – an absolutely fabulous trip during which I experienced the hottest temperature I have ever felt as we were walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. 

A writers retreat in Southwold, and proof that I manage to look like a plonker without even trying…
The Annual Bloggers Bash 2018
The Bloke’s winning squirrel pic
The Bloke and I – NYC
Serendipity III Cafe, NYC
Brooklyn Bridge, NYC

Wandering round Chatsworth for the first time. The Bloke grew up not far from there, and after talking about it for years we finally took a trip up there… stunning. 

Our first wedding anniversary.

Annoying Paddy, the bunny who hates me. 

For the first time in years, an incredibly hot summer. 

The Bloke’s 50th birthday extravaganza – feeding giraffes at West Midland Safari Park and presenting him with a Lego Millenium Falcon, then travelling down to London a week later, staying at our first AirBnB, watching Wicked on the West End, and the grand finale – the Harry Potter Studios Tour. The expression on his face when he first walked into the Grand Hall made my year.

Some lovely food experiences in and around Birmingham. 

Amazing cinema and theatre experiences – Kinky Boots on Broadway (probably one of the best things I’ve ever seen), Wicked in London, Matilda, Stomp and Rock of Ages in Birmingham, Black Panther, Avengers Infinity Wars, Deadpool 2, Aquaman, Creed II… 

Puggy-sitting Dougal, my sister’s pug, for the week. 

Decluttering and getting rid of lots of stuff at a car boot sale. 

Going to the Toy Fair at the NEC.

The numerous experiences during trips to London during the year, including Notting Hill and Portobello Road Market, Peggy Porschen Cakes Bakery and the Dominique Ansel Bakery, going on a street-art tour with of Shoreditch with Tiffany and staying with Donna in East Croydon, during which we visited Crystal Palace Park.

Street art tour of Shoreditch, London
Meeting up with Tiffany (A Girl and Her Passport)
The Peggy Porschen Bakery, London
The Boating lake, Crystal Palace Park
Staying with Donna
Getting re-acquainted with Dougal, the pug with no boundaries

Being shortlisted as a finalist for Blogger of the Year at the Birmingham Awards, and attending the event at Edgbaston Stadium with The Bloke serving some James Bond realness.

Meeting friends for food and drinks throughout the year. 

Surprising my friend at her first art exhibition.

Visiting Dippy the Dinousaur at Birmingham Museum.

My mum coming to stay for the weekend of her birthday at the beginning of December.

And of course, my boys. The Bloke – my partner in crime – who has been with me through everything and making me laugh, and The Cat, who (despite the fact that he cost us a months rent in vet bills to be told that he is ‘hypersensitive’ and has taken to singing the songs of his ancestors at 4.00am) has been my little friend when times have been tough.

Here’s to an even better 2019!

What about you guys? What has been your favourite moments of the year?

Want to connect on social media? You can find me on any of my social media pages: on Twitter @suzie81blog, my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/suzie81speaks, my Pinterest page http://www.pinterest.com/suzie81speaks and my Instagram page http://www.instagram.com/suzie81speaks

40 thoughts on “2018: A Year in Review”

  1. The years been full of ups and downs, you’re right there!!!
    It’s been full of stress for me.
    I don’t thing I found my way in many ways on my blog… I pootled along, but found more core members of my Blogily!
    But here’s to 2019 – a year full of hope and dreams I’m going to try and realise!
    Happy new year Suzie!!!

  3. I’m just pleased to have made it to the end of 2018! Too many stays in hospital this year and in October I didn’t think I would make this Christmas. But I have and I’m feeling better than I since September. So, onward and upward. For 2019, I have lots of goals to achieve. I have sorely neglected my own blog and I must get back to that. I want to work more on my FB group supporting local people affected by cancer. But my biggest challenge is going to be a complete lifestyle and diet overhaul. Less eating unhealthy food and more walking the dog! So, pass me that bowl of Kale and let’s get on with it. (Also need to find a green juice that I can swallow without throwing up…..)

    Highpoints have been lots of laughter. Finding a most beautiful little dog in need of a home, who has enriched our lives in the last 6 months. Meeting new people and realising that there are far more good people out there than nasty ones. The best summer EVER and the best Christmas I’ve had in a long, long time.

    Keep blogging Susie. I love reading them. Happy New Year to you and The Bloke.

    Gill x

    • I’m so pleased to hear about the positive, Gill, and the positive outlook you have on life too! I really like the goals you’ve set yourself too… alter best for the new year – keep me updated!

  4. Wow. You had quite an interesting year! I love the squirrel pictures. We have a lot of them here in reading but my lenses aren’t long enough for a close up.

  5. I would miss you very much if you stopped blogging Suzie! I thought about throwing in the towel too recently as Instagram is more enjoyable, my photos receive far more exposure there too. Best wishes for you guys in 2019!! 😎🇬🇧

  7. It sounds like you had some amazing experiences in 2018! I hope that 2019 brings nothing but good things to you!

  11. It’s always interesting to look back and see where we over – and under-achieved in our goals, and to then look forward and say “here’s to what I will do next year!”

  12. 2018 was pretty good, although I’m struggling a bit right now. I’m just about at 25 000 views on my blog–1 million is a long way off but that’s OK–maybe one day!

  14. Similar feelings here, lots of amazing moments, along with moments of doubt and disappointment. That’s life! Keep moving forward 🙂 Here’s to a great 2019.

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