Our little blue planet is almost finished it’s trip around the sun. As humans we like to get excited about the birth of a new year as if it holds some magic elixir that we are going to become fitter, healthier, wealthier overnight. Yet the energy and excitement of the new year does create a certain kind of magic. But I like to rewind the year and for me, this year has really been a year of travel.

I traveled in a motorcycle side car on a lovely trip out in the country. A steam train adventure from a city to a small arty town, made us dirty and satisfied. I took my sister on the national train to visit my dad in Port Elizabeth. We flew back and took a series of car trips to different races as well as some rather sad trips to visit my husband’s ailing parents. Some more flights and then I journeyed to the UK and Paris to celebrate my half a century of solar revolutions. The trip of my life had begun.

I trained on a super fast machine down to the very bottom of France to begin a 800km journey across Spain on foot. Up and down the Pyrenees, past beautiful views, quaint villages on foot then I jumped on a taxi, bus and train all the while marvelling at life in Europe.

More trains, buses, and planes shuttles eventually spat me out back on my red patch of earth. It was great to be able to drive my ‘smartie’ to local shops and everything back home seemed different yet familiar.

I took a tumble on home ground splitting my knee and ego and I sulked while it healed only to ‘trip’ again five weeks later. My rib took the brunt of it as I began to marvel at the human body and to the extent that I have pushed it this past year. I became aware that more self gratitude is needed. To be grateful for my health, my support team, my family, my life is really quite easy. I want to do more of this.

Thank you-me, and oh- happy New Year