Well, that was the year that was.
It started poorly with medical issues — first with my foot problems and then, swiftly following, Karen’s back surgery. It ended on more of a high in Florida but with Karen now nursing her hip problem prior to having it replaced next year. And in between all that, there were many trips — each one providing memories for a lifetime.
Seventy-three nights away, thirteen flights, and far too many miles covered for me to even attempt adding up. This year we’ve been in or on ferries, a cruise ship, planes, buses, ferries, taxis, Ubers, trains, tubes, cars, bikes, monorails, bikes and Segways. If I were clever enough, I’d work out how many miles we’ve covered on foot as well.
At least once every trip we say to ourselves that we can’t believe how lucky we are to be able to do all we do. Another favourite saying is: “We do some things.” In our opinion, life is too short not to. We don’t want to look back and think we wish we’d done that.
This year we have been to the Caribbean, Dublin, Lanzarote, on a road trip through the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Great Smoky Mountains, plus Yorkshire, Finland, the Algarve and Florida. Not bad for a council house boy and as I like to say a girl who originates from the Woodcock Road estate.
The lowlight of our travels was, sadly, the pain Karen was in whilst we were in Fort Lauderdale — something she never wants to go through again, and something I never want to see anyone endure again. As for the highlight, that would be like picking your favourite child (which Barry and Neil would both say is now Ellie rather than the usual each other). I justify that by saying she’s the only one who is always pleased to see me and gives me a hug every time. Anyhow, walking over the Arctic Circle hand in hand with Karen would easily be in the top 5 highlights for the year along with finally getting to the Great Smokey Mountains.
Next year’s trips are almost already completely booked and being fitted around Karen’s planned operation, recuperation, and of course the society wedding of the year in September. Indeed, we even have already some plans in place for 2027, and will start booking those shortly.
This totally irrelevant, silly and unimportant blog serves, for me, as a way of recalling what we’ve done and when. It allows me to record some of the smaller things we would otherwise forget and also how I felt at any given time. I am always careful not to deliberately offend anyone in it. Even Karen grudgingly admits that I mostly manage to tread that line — especially when I mention her. If I have inadvertently offended anyone reading this – I apologise.
Karen and I sometimes squabble over some of life’s small things, but we both agree that the most important things in life are our health, each other and our family friends It’s true what they say about you never stopping worrying about your children — and we still don’t. I still want to take away all their problems, but I’ve learnt that most of the time I have to stand back and wait to be asked for help. The boys are fully grown men of who we remain immensely proud and are both very capable. Ellie likewise is an independent, fine woman who continues transformed our little group. The time we all spend together is still the most precious to me.
We feel blessed also with our wider family and friendship groups with whom we have shared so many happy experiences during 2025, and long may that continue.
Despite counting our blessings, it would still be lovely if our lottery numbers came up so we could spread the cheer wider — and do even more.
Thanks for reading and your continued support, and seasons greetings and all that. Here’s to 2026.
