Gallery: a January selection (2024)
Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘It will be happier’
Alfred Lord Tennyson
I don’t know about you, but logic tells me that there is no more reason to make a resolution to do something better / more / less on the first of January than on any other day of the year. And also that there is no more reason to believe we will succeed in sticking to that resolution then rather than on a different date. And yet many of continue to do it. This is the year when we will be fitter, kinder, happier, more productive …
Ah well! We started the year, as we usually do, in Newcastle. January the first was bright and crisp, the one lovely winter’s day in a week of otherwise dull and damp weather. We took advantage of it to enjoy a walk along the Tyne and up the Ouseburn, a walk I’ve already documented here. On another day we had a lovely misty walk on the sea front in Tynemouth and Cullercoats.
Once home from Newcastle we had a relatively quiet month, by which I mean we didn’t travel away from home. But there were films to be seen (Ferrari, One Life and Poor Things, all to be recommended but especially the latter two), meals out and friends to catch up with. We went to an exhibition (Accidentally Wes Anderson, disappointingly nothing to do with one of our favourite film directors), a football match (an away win for Newcastle against Fulham in the FA Cup) and to a fun cooking class day with the team that work for ‘our’ charity, Plan Zheroes. Living in London means that there is always ‘something to do’.
Technical notes
All these shots were taken with my phone or with my compact point and shoot Lumix, and were edited with Photoshop Elements and/or Nik Color Efex.
As always I am linking my selection to Ju-Lyn’s and Brian’s Changing Seasons challenge. Use the arrows to navigate the slideshow if you want to see all the images.
30 Comments
Pingback:
Alison
Nice and relaxing first month Sarah, loved your slide show. Interesting photos, I love a good door knocker!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Alison – yes, I love a good door knocker too 🙂
wetanddustyroads
Lovely photos Sarah! But the two in their swimsuits and the other person wearing a coat in the same photo at Tynemouth is a classic!
Sarah Wilkie
The woman in the coat had the right idea – it was about 5C that day!
Rose
Oh, if only January first meant we’d be, “ fitter, kinder, happier, more productive…”, imagine how fantastic we’d be after all these years… 😊 The Victoria and Albert Museum looks lovely, I especially like the ceiling in the café.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, exactly – I think the fact that we aren’t says all we need to know about the value of New Year resolutions! Yes, the V&A is wonderful – as I said to Meg below, my favourite of the London museums 🙂
grandmisadventures
Beautiful pictures from January. I love those ornate knockers! And the Victoria and Albert Museum looks every bit as lovely as I’ve heard it is 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
The V&A is my favourite London museum these days and we’re lucky it’s only 20 minutes away on the Tube. And like all our major museums, completely free to visit! Plus it has the best museum shop 😀
Amy
I agree with you on NY resolution, Sarah! Two beautiful photos. I love the reflection image. 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Amy 🙂 But you should see far more than two photos. Did the slideshow not work for you?
Amy
Thank you for the link, Sarah!
Heyjude
Brr… how can anyone swim in the North Sea at any time of the year, never mind January and in a swimsuit! My eyes were caught by that moss photo, which won’t surprise you. Living in a city is so very different to living in the countryside. I should and could get out more, but somehow never seem to have the urge, though I really want to visit the Tate St Ives more this year.
Sarah Wilkie
I know, I was astounded when I saw those swimmers! And they strolled out of the water as if it was a lovely warm day, not rushing for towels and clothing as I would have expected 😀 And no, I’m not surprised that moss photo caught your eye, given your recent post!
Pingback:
Monkey's Tale
Haven’t seen any of those movies, so I’ll look for them. I don’t make resolutions. I don’t think I have since high-school. I would love to have that blue door with the door knocker! Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Maggie 🙂 I’d love that door knocker too!
leightontravels
Hey Sarah, I have enjoyed reading about and looking through the snapshots of your recent activities. For the most part I agree with your views on NY resolutions but must say it kinda works for us. Each January we set goals for the year of various sorts and at the end of the year we look back and see how we fared. Last year we had something like a 60%-70% success rate ha ha. Must do better though. Love the door knockers (especially the bee), while you have reminded us that we should pay another visit to the V&A the next time we’re in London. ‘Poor Things’ is among a batch of downloads we have to see us through February, glad you liked it. I once interviewed Yorgos Lanthimos, he is a fascinating (and somewhat unsettling) character.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks for stopping by, Leighton 😀 Oh yes, I never said I didn’t make resolutions, although they tend to be vague and hard to measure! The V&A is always worth a visit and we’re lucky to live very close. And yes, Poor Things is definitely worth watching, I think you’ll like it.
thehungrytravellers.blog
I really don’t know how those cold water swimmers do it, it makes shudder just looking at them! Regarding resolutions, I once made one at new year and I’ve stuck to it rigidly ever since, probably about 15 years or more now. The resolution was to stop kidding myself that I liked going to the gym 😂. And I’ve not set foot in one since that day. Great January you’ve had, now for some serious travel judging by your comment on an earlier post. Enjoy!!
Sarah Wilkie
Haha, yes, I can see that would be an easy resolution to keep! I do like going but only for my aqua aerobics class or a swim – you wouldn’t catch me anywhere near all that equipment! Yes, we’re off to Mexico in a week and have Sardinia lined up for April 🙂
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
I thought I’d seen that sculpture of the man with his phone before, at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, but I’ve checked my photos and it’s similar but not the same. Nice selection.
Sarah Wilkie
That’s interesting Anabel. We were at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park a few years ago but I don’t remember any like this – however we didn’t see everything and also I know they’re continually adding to the collection. The V&A has a few of his pieces, interspersed among the classical statuary.
Anne Sandler
Great images and a great start to 2024!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne, the year is off to a good start and about to get better I believe, as we’re off on our first trip of the year in a week’s time!
bushboy
Love the door knocker, the shadow transition and then a wow macro followed by a happy tree etc……..what a wonderful wrap up Sarah 🥰
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Brian, I’m glad you enjoyed it 😀
satyam rastogi
Beautiful post beautiful writing ✍️
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you
satyam rastogi
Welcome 🌹freinds