Somehow, 2024 has vanished in the blink of an eye. I know they say time goes fast when you’re having fun, and that it goes faster as you get older, but those 366 days whizzed by.

I had great intentions of spending some time during the Christmas period to reflect on the year, look back on what I did, the highs and lows, what I learned etc. That hasn’t happened though – maybe it will later this month as I spend more time focussing on what I want out of the year ahead.

What I have managed to do is wrap up a number of my 2024 challenges. I’m stubborn so when I commit to something I like to see it through, but that doesn’t meant it’s always easy and I’m celebrating the fact that I have seen a number of challenges to completion in 2024.

Keep on walking

I’ve been recording my walking since 2017, initially with a goal of 1,000 miles a year. Last year I missed that target by just 18 miles, which made me even more determined to meet my goal this year. I signed up for the Conqueror 2024 Virtual Challenge where I could set my own goal and, if I met it, I would get a medal. There’s nothing like something shiny to make me want to complete a challenge.

On 27 December I had 18 miles to go and I feared once again I would miss the target. But as I said, I’m stubborn and as I had minimal plans over the betwixmas days I made plans that involved plenty of walking.

I hit the 1,000 miles target as I headed home on 30 December and my medal is on its way! I’ve realised that working from home really made the challenge harder this year – not having to leave the flat every day sometimes made it difficult to find the motivation to do so. It’s a good job when I’m not working or am travelling that I always get lots of steps in to make up for the days where I stayed home all day.

Photo a day

After taking a break in 2023, I took part again in A Year With My Camera’s 365 project – taking and sharing a photo everyday. Deciding that once again this would be on my camera and be shared on Instagram on my ‘proper photography’ account @liveloveldntown meant that I was always looking out for something interesting to capture. Easy enough when I was out and about exploring; harder on those days when I was just waking around my neighbourhood to get steps on for my walking challenge. That said, it was an excellent motivation to get me outside as there were only so many photos I could take at home or stepping out onto the balcony.

You can see all the photos I took over on my photography portfolio website. Most of these photos were taken with my trusty Fuji XT20 and my favourite 56mm 1.2 aperture lens. That lens does make the camera heavy but I love using it, and after years of relying on a zoom lens it really forces some constraints when it comes to what I can capture and framing shots. As far as possible I do minimal cropping too.

What have I learned about my photography through this challenge? That I love photographing people! I would never want to get into portraiture but capturing people on the streets, going about day to day life really fascinates me.

I think I’m going to do the challenge again this year, but I also want to focus more on photographing people more. Thanks to some help from my Instagram followers, these are the best people based photographs I took in 2024.

Capturing day to day life

For eight years now I’ve taken a selfie a day and ensured I have a video each day, both of which I turn into a video as a summary of the year.

I started taking a selfie a day when I was celebrating new year in Amsterdam in 2017 as an attempt to get used to what I look like. It’s become a habit and putting the video together each year is something I always look forward to. Of course I always intend to add to the video as I go through the year, but it frequently becomes a last minute thing, often on new year. I’m pleased to report that this year most of it was done before Christmas, so all I needed to do yesterday was finish it.

I keep saying I’d like to put all the photos from eight years into one video. Will 2025 be the year I finally do that and continue to maintain it?! We’ll see.

100 days of writing

I almost forgot about this, but for the fourth year running I took part in The 100 Day Project and for this year I opted to write everyday for 100 days. Each time I’ve got involved it’s been a personal challenge, but this really took me out of my comfort zone. I enjoy writing but I don’t consider myself a wordsmith. Putting my thoughts out in the world is something I’m also hesitant about doing.

That said, I did it and (mostly) enjoyed it. If you’re so inclined, you can see what I wrote here. At the end of the 100 days I hoped to keep it up, it realised when writing this that I’ve not written and shared anything on this blog since.

Crafting

2024 was also the year I finally cracked crochet! I’ve only made a cowl so far, it after years of trying and failing to use the hook correctly, this felt like major progress. I’d love to made myself a jumper or cardigan but have been on the hunt for the perfect pattern for something I’d like to wear and that is suitable for my skill level.

I also completed the Peppermint Purple Blackwork Stitchalong for the fourth year. I realised, perhaps too late, that the colour I chose – the closest DMC thread to Pantone’s 2024 colour of the year Peach Fuzz – didn’t work that well on the fabric I chose. A lesson to take on board as I plan for this year’s version.

I also upgraded my sewing machine so I can start to properly learn how to use one. Sadly my grandmother’s old Singer that I love is a little too temperamental for this struggling beginner.

Looking forward to 2025

When I set out to write this I didn’t think I would have much to say. I’m also reminded how many things I do get done, so should perhaps stop beating myself up about the projects I don’t get done. There are only so many hours in the day, days in the week etc.

That said these are the things that bring me so much joy and I know I want to do a lot of them again next year. I also want to read more and share more, while scrolling less. Perhaps now is not the time to commit to challenges for this year, but reflecting on these has really given me some food for thought.