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.
Islandmomma 
January 1, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Happy New Year, Linda. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many photos in one blog post!
January 1, 2013 at 1:09 pm
And the same to you!!!!
LOL! I didn’t count, and this time last year I resolved to have the post in draft and keeping adding to it during the year, but of course I didn’t! Still, it was nice to sit down one night & run through it all & savor the memories :=)
January 1, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Thanks for sharing your experiences in words and pics. Love the idea of the postcards — some amazing photos! Happy New Year, Linda!
January 1, 2013 at 9:45 pm
Same to you, Cathy. Wonder if 2013 might be the year we get to meet up?? Glad you liked it. It was a good exercise for me. I thought my year was a bit “blah” but I can see it wasn’t that bad!
January 2, 2013 at 10:05 am
How nice to share your year. Some of the photos we’ve seen along the way, some new. One of Lytham Green! Is the elderly lady having some pub grub someone I know? wondering if it is Dot although I truly can’t see that it is.
All the best for 2013 and another action packed year.
January 2, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Guessing when you say Lytham Green you mean the one taken on the promenade alongside, yes? That’s my goddaughter’s husband and little boy. Everyone else was bundled up that day – James is tough! :=) Yes, that’s Auntie Dot. She’s very frail now, but we still have lunch and a glass of wine in the pub when I go. At least we did in Autumn. In Spring she wasn’t well enough, so I was delighted we could resume our habit in October! One of the blessings of last year was that she recovered, and was so much better in the six months between my visits.
Wishing you and yours a lovely 2013, full of everything you wish yourselves.
January 2, 2013 at 2:16 pm
What a lovely idea, Linda! I didn’t manage to catch all of your activities throughout the year, but looking back at the photos did provide many, “Oh, yeah! I remember that!” moments. Fun for you and for us! 🙂
January 2, 2013 at 3:20 pm
:=) ……. and as in the previous year there are some photos missing, and I was conscious of that, and you know which ones! Some of these photos are just nice, personal memories, like the lunch with my auntie or a breakfast with Maria, not always stuff I wrote about. It’s always fun for me each year to go look back over previous years too. Doubt I would do that with a written post.
Hoping we have some moments to share this year too!!!!!
January 7, 2013 at 2:18 am
I really like your cork board idea but this was a great way to remember and share your year! Really a fun idea.
January 12, 2013 at 10:42 am
Thank you! I can’t remember how I came to begin it now. I wonder, with all the pix on FB if I need to, but still feel the blog is more personal than FB!
February 2, 2013 at 6:40 pm
I like the idea of these virtual postcards to yourself. Some gorgeous sunsets among them, too 🙂
February 2, 2013 at 10:56 pm
Thank you. I’ve been doing it for a few years now. Sometimes I think I should begin the post, like, now, and just keep adding to it through the year, but truth is it’s also fun going through the year’s snaps and remembering. It takes a bit of work, but I’ve always found it worth it so far!