My 2017

I started the year in the sunshine of Tucson, AZ and I’m ending it with an annoying cold. I’m hoping for a New Year miracle where I wake up on January 1 feeling all fit and healthy. That could happen, right?

Overall, I’ve had a fantastic year. I’ve spent time in 12 countries, including visiting Canada, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia for the first time. I retraced the steps of my aunt and uncle’s honeymoon, visited my adopted grandmother’s hometown and finally tried snowboarding.

I took epic train journeys and spent plenty of time messing around on boats. I saw lots of sunshine and spent more time than I would have liked hobbling around with a sprained ankle – how did I manage to fall down a single step?!?

I’ve been to Disney World (twice) and Disneyland Paris and Universal Studios Hollywood, thus cementing my reputation as theme park girl. I went on the trail of the Winter Olympics in Whistler and again in Innsbruck. I visited castles, cathedrals and museums galore.

But the best time of the year was in July when I saw Cursed Child AND went to Wimbledon in the same week. The first was amazing but the second was a lifelong dream! So what if it rained? There were still strawberries.

My plans for 2018 are fairly fluid. I have certain events and celebrations to work around but I am definitely not settling down yet. My first trip will take me in search of sunshine, just as soon as I summon up the energy to leave the couch.