The Year That Was – 2014.

Sitting down to write this I’ve realised I’m a little late to the game, somehow I’ve already made it through the first working week of 2015. This year is already beginning to creep past and I want to make sure I don’t miss a minute of it! So much can happen in a year, this time last January I was preparing myself for the adventure of a lifetime, now one year later I have seen and done far much more than I expected! I’m so excited for the year ahead and finding out what it has in store me but I also see the benefit of reflecting on the year that has past.

Twenty Fourteen has without a doubt been one of the wildest, exciting, terrifying and fulfilling years of my life (so far!). Not only did I move out of home for the first time, I also moved completely across the world to a country I had never even visited (I’m not one to do things by halves). Some tell me I’m brave for doing this, but I think there has to be a bit of stupidity involved too! Throwing myself out of comfort zone was a risk, but it was a risk I despretely needed and thankfully it paid off. There were definitely plenty of hard times; I’ve never been so broke in my life, I’m miles away from family and friends and I’ve had to adapt to a new lifestyle and way of living. But of course the good has outweighed any of that, I worked hard and am living my dream.

I dedicated myself to travelling this year, to seeing the world and experiencing as much as I could. Looking forward to the year ahead I can only hope for the same but below are some of my favourite travel moments from 2014!

Nepal & India | January – March 2014

Well I did say there was some stupidity involved… Whilst planning my move to London it was decided India would be my stop off along the way. At this point the furtherest I had travelled was Australia, so I was really diving into the deep end here! Being the stubborn soul that I am once the idea was in my head it was only a matter of time before it became reality and sure enough come 31, January 2014 I was boarding my flight, alone and on route for Kathmandu, Nepal! I can’t say I will ever forget that flight, my beautiful friend has made me a mixed tape and as soon as play was hit the tears began to flow. Landing in Kathmandu and stepping off the plane into the madness was all it took to remind me why I was here and from that moment the travel bug had well and truly taken hold.

Both Nepal and India blew me away with their beauty, customs and kind citizens! I travelled with a fantastic tour group and was so happy I decided to go that way, it took the stress away that would have more than likely taken over had I been on my own and it meant meeting some of the most wonderful people that I am so glad I now get to call friends!

I’m already dreaming and plotting my return to both of these amazing countries!

Paris, France | April 2014

It wasn’t long after arriving in London before Paris began was calling my name, when I realised it was Easter weekend I spontaneously booked a train ticket… leaving the next day! This trip is a particularly special memory for me because it was the first time I had actually travelled completely solo, I had a beautiful week exploring the streets of Paris alone and proved to myself that I was capable of doing anything I wanted on my own. I’m hoping for a reunion with the wonderful Paris soon, it is only a train ride away after all!

Copenhagen, Denmark | November 2014

In November my favourite London ladies and I went on a girls weekend to Copenhagen. I couldn’t have asked for better friends to explore this city with, it was four days filled with coffee, good food, endless wandering, beautiful conversation and plenty of laughter. We all fell head over heels in love with Copenhagen and I can’t wait to head back to Denmark to discover the rest of this country soon! Keep an eye out for an upcoming post this week about this wonderful adventure.

Scotland | December 2014

My most recent adventure was back to the ancestral homeland, Scotland! I was actually really thrown by how much I loved Scotland, I knew it would be beautiful but it was beyond anything I expected. I spent a few magical days mentally moving myself to Edinburgh (still seriously considering this!) before heading off up into the ridiculously stunning Highlands. Plenty more coming about what I got up to in a post soon!

London | 2014

Now of course this post wouldn’t be complete without mentioning my true love and amazing adopted home for most of 2014, London! Moving here wasn’t easy but it was my dream and something I had been planning for many years, when I finally made it here it was all quite surreal. I took to this city immediately and feel like the universe somehow made everything fall into place for me and London. It’s not the easiest place to call home but millions of people choose to do just that, London has a pull about it and once it has you it can be very difficult to give up.

Twenty Fifteen & beyond

To be honest, I really have no idea what 2015 will hold for me. I’m not sure if it will see me staying in London, moving somewhere else in the UK (Edinburgh, I’m looking at you…), or maybe even further afield for a new (and somewhat crazy) plan I have brewing. All I know is that it’s going to be another year full of adventures, I want to keep exploring this wonderful world of ours because right now I can’t imagine any other way of living.

I have lots of goals in place and lots of dream chasing to do. Work hard, be kind and always be grateful is the motto I had going to for 2014 and that’s how I plan to move forward with 2015! So, let’s take this one step at a time and see where I end up.

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