Sitting beside my son while he learned to drive, listening to his playlist and hearing him talk about his life and loves. Getting to know the man he is becoming and feeling safe and inspired in his company.
Getting a new fire in my newly vintage refurbed new flat and sinking into the sofa and feeling warm and safe and comfortable and ready to turn the page and start a new chapter.
Travelling on a bus in Berlin laughing with three good friends who I love. Entranced by a city, which rose from the darkest of times with creativity and joy.
How can I create more heart leap moments in 2024?
Create more space and downtime to do nothing—literally score out time to be by myself, alone and lie in bed with my electric blanket on.
Spending time driving and listening to music with people I love
Sitting by the fire, writing and reading
Paint and draw every day - badly and wildly. (see above)
Write bad poetry.
Read good poetry.
Visit new places, cities, islands, border towns; learn about history and art; meet painters and inspirational people; and go see what they have created.
Visit art galleries and exhibitions: Turner at the Laing Gallery, Hancock museum (do they still have mummies?)
Go in search of Viking gold on the causeway of Holy Island (walk across the flats at low tide)
Go to the Peter Pan museum in Dumfries and commune with the Lost Boys.
Visit Wigtown, the book town of Scotland.
Visit MainStreet Book store in Melrose
Learn and read up about the stars and constellations, and go and sit with a flask of coffee in the dark skies area - take a friend to a top of a hill and star gaze on a clear night.
Plan some new walks and hikes in Northumberland Park. (Create a list and do the research in advance so I have a menu to just get up and go. )
Go on a boat trip to Coquet Island.
Go on two vintage buying days a month for my new vintage stall - find new junk shops and auctions.
What things might you plan to do/be in 2024 which makes your heart leap?
Oh my goodness I love this list Suzy, it will be amazing! My favourite is the stars and constellations one, I've always felt drawn to the night sky, and had an ex boyfriend who used to take me out in the middle of the night to show me stars and galaxies, including to a huge telescope in Pheonix, and a lunar eclipse in Aruba once! Can highly recommend Jodrellbank telescope in Cheshire who do events :-). I'm currently working on my 24 for 24 list and you're making me think of adding this in now! Inspiring as always, thank you!
I forgot about the 24 for 24 - I will. add to my list!!!
It's so lovely to write this list - I feel excited already. Small things to look forward to and a menu to make my heart leap when I'm feeling uninspired and a bit flat.
This list sounds so fulfilling and lovely! I plan to travel to the east coast of Canada with my husband (who has never been) to visit the setting of my favourite childhood novel, Anne of Green Gables. 😊
I would love to get to the Lake District too (I live in Canada) as there is a tarn there named for my family! My parents have been and my dad said it's beautiful there.
I just looked it up - look! There's an enchanted crown.
I will find it and become Queen of Cumberland! 😂
Grisedale Tarn
Nestling high in the mountains at the head of three valleys in a great scoop Grisedale Tarn has an atmospheric setting. Squeezed by the southern guardian of the great Helvellyn ridge - Dollywaggon Pike to its north, and the bulks of Fairfield and Seat Sandal to the south, its outflow treks north east through the long valley of Grisedale to the village of Patterdale.
Our walk cheats a little by starting higher on the other side at Dunmail Raise, where according to history, or is it legend, a great battle was fought in 945AD between the Saxon King Edmund and Celtic King Dunmail. Dunmail was killed and his crown taken up the steep path alongside Grisedale Beck and cast into the tarn lest it fall into Saxon hands, never to be seen again. It was said the crown was enchanted and gave the wearer a right to the Kingdom of Cumberland.
Gorgeous. I love the image of you sitting with your son, it sounds very like my current reality, the playlists, the driving, the growing into a man... and still being a little boy sometimes too... for me it'll be more travel and spreading my wings now he is mostly grown!
My partner and I are planning to visit a variety of little museums throughout the year ... not the big ones that are famous here in San Francisco ... but instead the tinier ones devoted to niche collections of random things. Makes my heart leap.
When I brought up my son in East London, he learned to walk in a quirky museum called The Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. It was full of vintage toys that you could play with. I also love the book History of the World in 100 Objects, written by the curator of the British Museum. I used to read about one object every night - I learned so much.
Oh that book sounds so fun. And the museum of childhood sounds truly magical.
I'm from Tucson and one year when I went back to visit my mom she suggested that we go to a museum of miniatures. I didn't have any particular interest in miniatures and yet this museum devoted to them was so inspiring. More recently, on a trip to Connecticut, she and my sister and I went to a carousel horse museum and a museum of watches and clocks.
Our first one here is actually going to be an aquarium because we were invited by friends ... there's the big fancy aquarium here that everyone goes to but then there's this other small one that is more science focused and that's the one we're going to. We're also going to The Beat Museum on a double date with friends, because I've been to it and love it but my partner and friend have never been.
Oh my goodness I love this list Suzy, it will be amazing! My favourite is the stars and constellations one, I've always felt drawn to the night sky, and had an ex boyfriend who used to take me out in the middle of the night to show me stars and galaxies, including to a huge telescope in Pheonix, and a lunar eclipse in Aruba once! Can highly recommend Jodrellbank telescope in Cheshire who do events :-). I'm currently working on my 24 for 24 list and you're making me think of adding this in now! Inspiring as always, thank you!
I forgot about the 24 for 24 - I will. add to my list!!!
It's so lovely to write this list - I feel excited already. Small things to look forward to and a menu to make my heart leap when I'm feeling uninspired and a bit flat.
I would love to stargaze with you! Also the Coquet boat ride is very fun...
I would love to stargaze with you. Where shall we go? Where is really dark? I was thinking Simonside?? We can meet the fairy queen!
Great! Also the beaches are good for northern lights and general night time magic x
Which beach is the darkest?
Sorry been away at a family funeral. Howick? I could do a weekend night if you fancy it x
This list sounds so fulfilling and lovely! I plan to travel to the east coast of Canada with my husband (who has never been) to visit the setting of my favourite childhood novel, Anne of Green Gables. 😊
Wow, I love that idea - visiting the setting of a favourite book. That's such a glorious idea.
I live near(ish) to the LakeDistrict in the Uk- I might try and find the lake where Swallows and Amazons was filmed.
I would love to get to the Lake District too (I live in Canada) as there is a tarn there named for my family! My parents have been and my dad said it's beautiful there.
What's the tarn called? It could be one of my adventures and I could send you pictures?
Oh, that would be lovely!! It's called Grisedale Tarn.
Ok, I have made a note of this and taken a photo of this exchange so I will put it on my list for this year.
I just looked it up - look! There's an enchanted crown.
I will find it and become Queen of Cumberland! 😂
Grisedale Tarn
Nestling high in the mountains at the head of three valleys in a great scoop Grisedale Tarn has an atmospheric setting. Squeezed by the southern guardian of the great Helvellyn ridge - Dollywaggon Pike to its north, and the bulks of Fairfield and Seat Sandal to the south, its outflow treks north east through the long valley of Grisedale to the village of Patterdale.
Our walk cheats a little by starting higher on the other side at Dunmail Raise, where according to history, or is it legend, a great battle was fought in 945AD between the Saxon King Edmund and Celtic King Dunmail. Dunmail was killed and his crown taken up the steep path alongside Grisedale Beck and cast into the tarn lest it fall into Saxon hands, never to be seen again. It was said the crown was enchanted and gave the wearer a right to the Kingdom of Cumberland.
Oh it's so beautiful there, and the Sculpture Trail nearby too - I'm not too far away and it's a real favourite 🌟
Inspiring .. Thankyou ❤️⭐️
Can’t wait to give this question a go! Still yet to write much about my new year intentions 🙃
It's such a lovely exercise. Just plant in your brain and leave for a couple of days to germinate. ah, bliss!
Gorgeous. I love the image of you sitting with your son, it sounds very like my current reality, the playlists, the driving, the growing into a man... and still being a little boy sometimes too... for me it'll be more travel and spreading my wings now he is mostly grown!
If you decide to visit the book town of Wales - Hay-on-Wye - let me know!
I love Hay - maybe I can come for the festival? Is that where you live? Wow! great place!
The festival is great! I don’t live in Hay but near-ish 😊
My partner and I are planning to visit a variety of little museums throughout the year ... not the big ones that are famous here in San Francisco ... but instead the tinier ones devoted to niche collections of random things. Makes my heart leap.
Niche collections of random things - I love it!
When I brought up my son in East London, he learned to walk in a quirky museum called The Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. It was full of vintage toys that you could play with. I also love the book History of the World in 100 Objects, written by the curator of the British Museum. I used to read about one object every night - I learned so much.
What's your first museum going to be?
Oh that book sounds so fun. And the museum of childhood sounds truly magical.
I'm from Tucson and one year when I went back to visit my mom she suggested that we go to a museum of miniatures. I didn't have any particular interest in miniatures and yet this museum devoted to them was so inspiring. More recently, on a trip to Connecticut, she and my sister and I went to a carousel horse museum and a museum of watches and clocks.
Our first one here is actually going to be an aquarium because we were invited by friends ... there's the big fancy aquarium here that everyone goes to but then there's this other small one that is more science focused and that's the one we're going to. We're also going to The Beat Museum on a double date with friends, because I've been to it and love it but my partner and friend have never been.
Not sure what else is on the list yet.
I’ve got the night sky almanac for Christmas and we can see the constellations from our back doorstep. ✨ 💫
So I can come round to yours then? 😂
Literally come round - 10 mins down the road!!
LOVE your paintings! What a fun list. ✨✨💖✨✨
I love. painting- it'sjust such fun! xxx