Ciao 2016

wimbledon-leaves

I spent a pleasant Boxing Day at one of my favourite walking spots in London: Wimbledon Common which is like a little forest haven hidden away in the corner of South London. Weather was on the mild side, made even more agreeable by the sun peeking out on numerous occasions.

wimbledon-walk
No, that’s not a squire on his country estate. It’s Wimbledon Common

Wimbledon Village is ‘quaint’: not only does it boast the Common, but there are boutique shops including Comptoir des Cotonniers, Cath Kidston, Jigsaw and Hobbs; restaurants and cafes; and smart pubs. I wasn’t alone in heading for this green space as there were quite a few families enjoying the Monday-that-felt-like-a-Sunday Boxing Day walkabout. But I didn’t mind. Here I could still disappear in private solitude and reflect on wherever my thoughts flew, including plans for the coming year. To quote William Wordsworth:

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills…

Travel highlights of 2016 were Beirut, Lebanon; Amman, Jordan; and Zadar, Croatia. On my wish list for 2017 are Asia and Asia Pacific.

delicious-sea-bass-and-chips-in-beirut
Delicious sea bass fish and chips @ the Radisson Blu, Beirut

Music I’ve enjoyed this year (not necessarily produced in 2016):

Love+War (album) by Kwabs – I’m a bit late to the party on this one, but who cares?

Making Time and Mirrorwriting (albums) by Jamie Woon.

The Best of Earl Klugh – laid back lounge jazz and I love it.

Feel So Close (single) by Calvin Harris

Breaking the Rules (single) by Jack Savoretti – appeals to my adventurous side.

Rodrigo: Concerto de Aranjuez by Xuefei Yang

In Christ Alone (album) by Keith and Kristyn Getty

2016 Anthem – Fighter by Christina Aguilera

I’ve been reading a few books on writing this year and these included On Writing Well by William Zinsser; and Writing Tools by Roy Peter Clarke.

Published by Mail

International communications consultant

Vanessa Curney
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