2017: My Year in Review

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The end of another year is upon us! Does anyone else get totally freaked out by how quickly time seems to pass?

Well, this year has gone pretty quickly for me. I cannot believe this time last year, I was getting ready to fly to Australia. I had just quit my job and was due to start a new job in February. But I had planned to spend a month in Australia in between.

Most of us get to the end of a year and think only about the goals we failed to achieve and the resolutions we ditched after only one month. But in reality, it is so much better to focus on what you did achieve. Because I bet there is a ton of stuff worth shouting about.

Yes, I didn’t eat as healthily as I would’ve liked, I didn’t use my road bike as much as I should’ve and I didn’t learn French. But, I did go to some awesome places. I did start a new job that I love. And I did have a fantastic time!

So, in a spirit of celebration, here is my 2017 in review. I hope you’ll celebrate with me and let me know in the comments what 2017 looked like for you.

January

As mentioned, I spent the entire month of January travelling around Australia. Flying out of London on New Years’ Eve was surreal and I remember wondering what the next month had in store for me. From the moment I landed in Sydney, I hit the ground running. With only four weeks in Australia, I managed to fit in A LOT, with one week in Sydney, five days in Cairns, six days driving a campervan from Cairns to Sydney, and a few days in Melbourne and Adelaide. It remains one of my best trips to date, with some serious bucket list moments (snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef and driving the East Coast, guys)!

February

Coming back from Australia, I started a new job in February that I absolutely love! Working with amazing people and doing something I truly enjoy has been such a blessing. I didn’t travel in February at all. I needed to let my bank balance recover from a month off work and settle into my new job, but I was soon back in the air…

March

I can never stay put for long. And the fact that my sister was living in Fuerteventura at the time was the perfect excuse for a short trip. So I hopped on over to see her while my hubby was away snowboarding and had a wonderful few days. I’d never wanted to visit the Canary Islands because of their ‘Brits behaving badly’ reputation, but when you look past the touristy surface, you can find some beautiful places. I’m off there again in a few days with some friends and am looking forward to the relaxing break and some much-needed sunshine.

May

May in England is one of my favourite times of the year. We often have fantastic weather and with spring in full bloom, the UK is the perfect place to be. We live on the beautiful Jurassic Coast and definitely don’t spend enough time exploring our own backyard. So, during the month of May, we enjoyed some long hikes and spent plenty of time outdoors.

June

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll know that we spend a week in Corfu every June. Corfu is a stunning island just off the west coast of Northern Greece. While I don’t usually return to the same place over and over, Corfu is different. It was one of the first places my husband and I visited after we got married and we completely fell in love with the hospitable, friendly people, jaw-dropping scenery and crystal clear blue waters. I can’t recommend Corfu enough. But if you do go, you should 100% stay in Paleokastritsa. It’s the best place on the island.

July

In July, we spent the day hiking on Dartmoor with friends and stayed overnight on a campsite in nearby Dawlish. While I wouldn’t make an effort to visit Dawlish again, I will definitely be returning to Dartmoor. In fact, one of my goals for next year is to hike across Dartmoor in three days and camp along the way (wild camping is legal on Dartmoor).

August

I don’t usually travel in August due to the school summer holidays bumping the prices up. However, this year was different. First of all, we spent an amazing day on Lundy Island as an anniversary gift from my parents. Guys…if you haven’t been to Lundy Island, get there now! It’s seriously stunning and completely unspoiled.

We also spent three days in the quaint Belgian city of Bruges for our anniversary trip. Wow! What a beautiful place! And to make it even better, I used my British Airways Executive Club Avios points to secure free flights on the bank holiday weekend.

October

October rolled around and so did our mum and daughter girls trip to Paris. Paris is one of my all-time favourite cities and I have to make an annual pilgrimage to stock up on pastries and satisfy my inner Francophile. We spent four fabulous nights in Paris, walking the length and breadth of the city! We really did walk our feet off! My mum had never been to Paris so it was such a joy to show her around my spirit city.

November

November saw us taking a very last-minute trip to Milan. I spotted some rock-bottom cheap flights and promptly booked them along with a super-cute Airbnb apartment for three nights. Milan is a very stylish and elegant city at its core and we really enjoyed our spontaneous trip. We also stopped at the quaint city of Bergamo during our trip and I’d wholeheartedly recommend a visit.

December

And now we’re almost at the end of December and planning to see out the year in Fuerteventura with friends. I love spending the new year in a different country as it spells an exciting adventure that makes me feel like anything is possible. What a better way to start a new year?

Spending the entire month of January in Australia means I haven’t travelled as much as I usually do this year. But even so, 2017 has been full of inspiring cities, stunning beach breaks and valuable time spent with friends. And I wouldn’t change a thing.

I’d love to hear about the amazing places you’ve seen this year. What stood out the most in 2017? And where should I go in 2018? Let me know in the comments.