Goodbye 2024, Hello 2025

January 01, 2025

I hope that 2024 has been kind to you and you were able to fulfil some of your dreams. I started the year in Morocco, hiking the Atlas Mountains and sleeping in the wild. I didn’t realise that Africa could be that cold! Thank goodness for thermal underwear. A yoga retreat and hammam warmed me up and both experiences energised me for the year ahead.

  

In May I set off for Greece for more adventures in my campervan, the beloved Bertha, together with two of my “Glamoraks” hiking friends. With me at the wheel, we drove through France and into Switzerland, down to the south of Italy and onwards on a ferry on the Adriatic Sea to the Peloponnese Mountains to hike the challenging 6 day Melanon Trail.

  

I had a tangle with a Mountain Shepherd Dog, which has left its mark … but fortunately, also my leg! A week’s drive back through Europe, including the Austrian Tyrol and German Black Forest our return leg, was fabulous.

I started the year knowing that Devon still had hold of my heart so made the decision to return. I created a Sussex bucket list and had the most wonderful time catching up with friends, visiting historic houses, nature reserves and of course, hiking the South Downs and Weald, my favourite walk being the Cuckmere Pilgrims Path. Sunrise sea swims and sunset campfire dinners with friends were the start and end to my days where possible.

  

I moved to Devon with the full moon in Mars in October, bringing with it, the energy for adventures new.  Perfect timing. Before I left, we sadly said goodbye to Miranda the hen, who died of old age, and Nancy, who got taken by a fox. A new feathered family of three joined us to help Jen the Hen with her mourning and I named them after famous Sussex women: Virginia, Vanessa and Vita, the Bloomsbury girls.

And before I left the Southeast, I headed over to the USA for a whirlwind, coast to coast live art tour. Most of my business is with America and I continue to create art for best-selling product ranges in university and college campus stores, creating a new piece of art virtually every day.

  

 

Once settled, a new cat, Venus, a sparkly Bengal, has now joined our family and we love our new life in the beautiful coastal town of Dartmouth, Devon, where the sea, Southwest Coast Path and more beckon. My former partner, Andrew sadly passed away after a short battle with cancer on the Winter Solstice. The darkest of days. Unbearable sadness.  My year ended with mourning for his loss but with gratitude that he was a significant part of my life and with that, changed me for the better.  2025 starts quietly. A storm is raging outside my door but inside is peace, quiet and reflection. Wishing you all health, happiness and healing in 2025. Julia x

---

Also in Julia's News