24 moments from 2024 - Part four: actual moments

 

And finally, the actual moments that I remember as I look back thorugh my diaries and camera roll...

1. In January we went to Paris. It was freezing cold, Notre Dame was yet to open and our hotel was a little cramped - but it's Paris. And Paris is, as Paris does. We went up the Eiffel Tower (only to the second stage because the top was closed due to high winds - eek). We had a glass of champagne altogether and celebrated being together, starting the year and one of us overcoming a fear of heights (what a brave soldier).

2. Sunrises in Northumberland. Every year, we return to the same spot for the February half-term holidays and each morning, whatever the weather I walk down to the beach at 7am and sit on the same rock and watch the sun rise. I will never stop finding joy in dramatic sunrises and pretty sunsets (and yes, of course some of the mornings in Northumberland are simply dark grey moving to lighter grey!)

3. Ipswich were promoted. And on the 2 April, Jeremy Sarmiento came on as a substitute and scored the most amazing goal in the dying minutes of a game against Southampton. Nothing beats that feeling as a football fan.

4. In July we went to stay with all my good friends that seem to live in the west country. We had a very nice week moving between homes, catching up and relaxing with people I have known for most of my adult years (and in one case, for most of my life). Precious time. The moment that sticks out for me is a grey drizzly day sailing off Falmouth in my friend's Contessa 32. I know this type of boat well, having holidayed on one with my family as a child - but sailing is not something I do nowadays. My daughter took the helm (with initial guidance) and we raced along, with just the sound of the waves and sails, smiles all round.

5. In October we went to Normandy. The stories of the terrible losses that occured on these beautiful beaches sat with me for a long while after. Oh, and I drove in France - which is a massive achievement because I had my one and only panic attack behind the steering wheel on the Boulevard Périphérique around 13 years ago and had sworn off 'wrong-side' driving since then.

6. We spent just over two weeks in hospital when our daughter was struck down with a Strep bacterial infection that was life-threatening at one point. This moment changed us all, but despite the scars and trauma we had some beautiful, gentle times as a three - and we have emerged stronger than when we went in.