To start the new year, I'm recapping on the previous one, and talking about some of my favourite moments, things and insights from 2024. I have plenty of art projects planned for 2025, as well as an ever-growing stack of books and a shortlist of travel destinations, but more on those later!
My favourite book of 2024 All the Wide Border - Wales, England and the Places In Between, Mike Parker
"The passage of that boundary washed away from his mind all the preoccupations of the last seven months..."
Following the boundary of Wales and England, Mike Parker explores what it means to be English, Welsh, and every strange concoction of the two. It's a delightfully charming and wonderous journey into my country's history, both good and bad, and is a great book for reflecting on your place in the world. I read this while - coincidentally - riding a National Express coach across the border from England to visit my sister in Wales, so I could almost follow my journey through the chapters of the book, looking out for the landmarks and quirky towns from the window as I read about them.
My favourite nature spot of 2024
Bradgate Park, Leicester, England
I miss open spaces, greenery and nature, and this protected deer park in the Midlands, less than an hour from my home town, offers all of the nature therapy I could ask for. The deer roam freely and calmly, offering the chance for some truly mesmerising encounters with these beautiful animals. Plus, the rocks you walk on are some of the oldest on earth.
My favourite painting of 2024
Skies Between Us, from the Closer to Home collection
A deeply introspective and personal painting, this beautiful scene is of the Lichfield Cathedral and it's surrounding trees and lake. But it's so much more than an idyllic scene. It's a memory and a moment fixed in time.
My favourite album of 2024
Wild God, Nick Cave
The more you listen, the more you hear. An album that can at first be difficult to make heads or tails of, Wild God slowly reveals itself in a splendor of romantic, heartfelt lyrics, honesty, spiritual pleas and hope in dark times. It's also just beautiful music. Listen to "Frogs" and you'll never look at a rainy day the same again. Special mention also goes to Final Rescue Attempt. If you're looking for an album to rescue you out of despair or melancholy, then Wild God hits the spot.
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