I used to have a cork board in my kitchen. It began each January naked and bare, and acquired its finery as the year wore on, photos, theater tickets, pamphlets, programs, press cuttings, badges and all the bits and pieces from events, celebrations, visits and journeys I’d made during the 12 months. On December 31st I used to take a photo of the board, and the following day I’d strip it ready for new memories. I think perhaps it was a forerunner to this blog, because when I started blogging I didn’t do the cork board so much any more.
Not terribly into philosophizing about the departed year unless it was especially remarkable, and even then there are some things too personal to ramble on about, so I came up with the postcards I might have sent myself from those events, celebrations, visits & journeys. This is the 4th year I’ve done this now.
This year began magnificently, shortly after new year, camping on Alto de Guajara, sleeping in a cave, seeing a billion, billion stars and watching the sun rise from the ocean, casting its glow over Guajara and Mt Teide, the famous shadow of Teide extending over the Atlantic – a never-to-be-forgotten experience. It changed my life in some ways. Gave me confidence and focus I’d lacked, especially coming fairly soon after the abseiling episode. Was the rest of the year ever going to live up to that….frankly, if it didn’t, it was going to be up to me, wasn’t it?
There were some amazing highlights; like the climbing wall in Kendal – something I thought I would never do; sitting overlooking Lake Grasmere with Austin early on a warm and still Spring morning, the mists still hugging the lake; all the fun and foodiness of Camden Market with my sons; my first press pass – something else I’d given up hope on long ago; a some stunning hikes in Tenerife and in England; London in Spring with Guy and a touch of luxury; some wonderful laughs with girlfriends on the island; catching up with some old friends, too seldom seen, in England, and listening to the awesome Steve McCurry speak at the opening of an exhibition of his work here – hasn’t all been hunky dory, but hey, here are the good bits – the laughs and the triumphs, the successes and beauty, the great meals and……..
some sunsets.
