192. Snapshot
2024 in twelve pictures and 366 words.
In which Rebecca turns to look back from the gate of the year.
January
Celebrating the Seville orange season, finding out why pigeons don’t get lost, exploring hidden stories in old books, encountering stormy weather and portmanteau baked goods. Cruffin + custard = cruffstard. Yum!
February
Following the invisible string which ties me to Jim, playing with a tame jackdaw, wondering about polar bears in braces, and gratitude for the delights of a winter garden.
March
A trip to the museum and a striking height difference, judging that coastal erosion is bad enough without the additional efforts of graffiti ‘artists’, and the story of a stowaway snail.
April
Lowering my news consumption in favour of real reading, diving into lists from 5,000 miles away, and determining that the asparagus season is just the best time of the year.
May
Finding a campsite shower with no stooping required, how losing my pocket notebook sent me on a chase for an electronic tag, and dealing with the daunt of a new sketchbook.
June
Looking back at my musical(s) history, tying myself up with words under Terry Freedman’s expert tutelage, a letter from eleven-year-old Jim, and making a mess with strawberry juice.
July
Clickbaity advertising claims, improbable records, exploring multiple ways of (not) getting lost, revisiting the fruit bowl in the name of crazy creativity, and playing rock, paper, scissors on a shingle beach.
August
Exploring both solitary and collaborative writing, investigating the idiosyncracies of the international snacktionary, downsizing my adventures, looking back at my pick-your-own experiences, and getting purple fingers in the name of art.
September
Scribbly pebbles and a flyaway kite, reflecting on daily reading for pleasure, a rediscovery of the library, and mapping my own very local world by drawing barefoot in the garden.
October
An alarming encounter with vintage navigation training, how a review of my energetic reading list became an account of a six-month slowdown, and remembering the calm supplied by a discarded teabag.
November
Reflecting on fifty years in an analysis of the letter L, celebrating the colours of autumn, and an examination of the silly things which other people cook in their kettles.
December
Reminiscing on creative projects and the artistic fuel of the craftermath and, in a daring seasonal rebranding of ‘festive’ to ‘restive’, some thinking about finding the balance between hibernation and overwhelm.
Thank you so much for your support throughout 2024. There will be plenty more writing and arting coming to ‘Dear Reader, I’m lost’ in 2025, when my posts will be appearing in a more relaxed pattern than I have been using up to now.
My exchange of letters with longtime correspondent of is set to continue in the new year. Our collaboration brings me such joy, and I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts on the idiosyncrasies of British life with him further in 2025!
I’m sending love from my world to yours. Happy new year!
Very interesting. I'd thought of writing a similar retrospective myself, not sure if I will. Thanks for linking to my writing with constraints course 😃. Happy new year, innit.
I am choosing one day this week to go back and re-read ALL OF THESE! Your quick monthly synopsis was like a visit with old friends. I remember them all and look forward to a complete Rebecca Redux! The art samples here are just a delight. If I saw ten paintings on a table, I would know immediately which ones were yours. Such a light, clear style. I look forward to seeing what is on your mind this coming year, my friend.