Where I was 2011

2011 was an epic year for us, an astonishing year, a year of challenges and achievements.

In April I did something I never thought I would; I got engaged.  In August, I did the other thing I never thought I would, and got married.  Both things happened in one of my favourite places, the South-West of France. 



I wondered whether to wear my favourite Birkenstocks on my wedding day...



...but in the end I wore pretty white ballet flats, and showed off my Birkenstock tan marks

On both trips down to France I went on a good number of long walks - often in extremely hot temperatures.  There was a MASSIVE snake on one of my walks in April.  Five French spring walks here: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.  And a dawn walk à deux, a few days before we got married in August.

Walking through lush, spring grass in France in April

Orchids were everywhere when we were down in Tarn-et-Garonne in April

O ready for a walk, August

With O on St Cecile plage in Normandy, on our way home

I also did a great deal of walking with Miss Moss Stitch in the first half of the year as we walked the length of the Thames in central London, and visited a few markets too.  You can find our first ten weekday walks, covering most of our river walks, here.

Treasure from the river

Estuary mud - at Silvertown in February

Self portrait at Bankside, on one of our river walks

Mudlarking again, on the Isle of Dogs

One of the biggest things that happened to our family this year was Graham's Ironman race, which he did in Nottingham in July.  In many ways it was a bigger event than our wedding, because it took much more preparation!  I was so incredibly proud of him when he finished, and came home a whole half-hour faster than he had hoped for.

I watched the marathon part of the race, lounging on G's quilt in the sunshine



Ironman training - muddy, bloody legs after a 3 hour run in Epping Forest in March


I was also very proud when C did his first ever triathlon, in July too.  He put in so much effort; and like his father, he trained properly and consistently leading up to it.  July was a month of snickers bars, bike grease and dirty trainers.

C's tired legs, after his triathlon

C's new trainers, and an award from Park Run

At other points during the year we camped with friends, I made G an autumn leaf quilt for his 40th birthday, C started secondary school, I went to Kew Gardens regularly with family and with friends, I baked pies, I did a great deal of knitting, I found a new friend and I made a great deal of jam.

Graham's 40th birthday quilt

First day at secondary school

Coming home from Kew - at Stratford station - May

In the school playground - June

C's big nearly-teenage feet, and cousin L's little baby feet

Knitting in the sunshine, while C sailed on Fairlop Water - June

Jam stash

It has been a very good year indeed.  Sending you all my very best wishes for a good year to come in 2012.

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You can also see where I was in 2010, in 2009, in 2008 and in 2007.  I have been blogging for nearly five years!