Over the last few years I have added a ‘Memories & Highlights’ double page into my Bullet Journal. This serves as a reminder at the end of the year of all the positive things that I’ve been lucky enough to experience over the last twelve months, and is extremely helpful during times when things are tough. 

Perhaps the most challenging part was at the start of the year when we moved house, and what followed was MONTHS of individual battles with various companies including SCS and So Energy (that went on for nine months until I lost my temper and started leaving negative reviews – amazing how a 1* review on Trust Pilot suddenly makes a company pay attention). We quickly realised that neither the landlord and the property management company weren’t interested in helping too, which hasn’t been great.

However, 2024 (despite all the challenges and annoyances we’ve faced this year), has in fact been pretty great for the most part. 

The Bloke and I have again been extremely lucky to watch numerous shows at the theatre. My favourites? Book of Mormon, &Juliet, Hamilton, I Should Be So Lucky, Here & Now and Dear Evan Hansen – many of which were on my bucket list. Additionally, I got the opportunity to meet STEPS at their press launch, and I don’t think I blogged about it at the time, but I met Pete Waterman TWICE. I won’t go into detail now as this post is already going to be a lengthy one, but I was so overwhelmed by meeting him that I cried when I got home. 

I’ve spent A LOT of time down in London this year for work, and in between client projects I have tried to see or do at least one fun thing for myself while I was there. I went to Frameless, saw the Elysian Arcs Art Installation, got a cupcake from Peggy Porschen and a massive sausage roll from Fortitude Bakery and I FINALLY got to see God’s Own Junkyard. I also celebrated my friend Helen’s birthday at a Silent Disco at The Natural History Museum, The Bloke and I have also have a few impromptu days out in the city, including a day out in Camden, and a random trip that began as a conversation on the bus and ended with The Bloke sitting on a tiny pink chair in a cafe near Victoria Station so I could try Japanese Pancakes at CA.

I’ve had some wonderful experiences with friends and family. In November I was at MCM Comic-Con with Sacha and Helen, I went to Birmingham Pride, my Mum and I have seen multiple shows including The Rat Pack tribute and An Evening with Ben Fogle, I spent the weekend at my sister’s house (during which her pug decided I was temporarily his favourite person) and I enjoyed the (no exaggeration) GREATEST meal I’ve ever eaten in my entire life at Tropea in Harborne with my friend Marika.

As always, food has been a highlight. I had breakfast at the new EL&N cafe that opened in Birmingham, brunch at Medicine Bakery in the Mailbox, ate my favourite pastry at Arome, pistachio french toast at Tamu, tapas at Bar Estillo, biscuits from The Biscuiteers, street food at Digbeth Dining Club when it visited Lightwoods Park, pancakes at The Ivy in Birmingham and Bao and Dumplings at Old Spitalfields Market.

No wonder I can’t fit into any of my clothes.

And perhaps the highlight of the year was our trip to Scotland. I got to see my favourite place in the world – Dunnottar Castle – along with a waterfall and The Kelpies and more castles and Dunnottar Woods and The Shell House and more castles, and we ate the nicest fish I’ve ever eaten in my life.

And, of course, The Bloke has been right there with me through all of it. We recently celebrated out seven year wedding anniversary, and it just keeps getting better and better.

Happy New Year to you all. I hope 2025 is a fabulous one – thank you for sticking with me x