December is the time for remembering the past and reaching toward the future
Ralph Waldo Emerson
When I was (much) younger I used to marvel at older people saying how quickly time passed, but now I see that they were right! It’s hard to believe that another year is over, when it seems as if it’s barely begun!
And I only realised when my husband pointed it out yesterday that we are already a quarter of the way through the century. Is it really twenty five years since we all spent New Year’s Eve wondering if planes would fall out of the sky as the world’s computer systems crashed, unable to handle the concept of a date not starting with ‘19’?
December continued November’s rather dull weather patterns but was at least mild with no hint of snow to disrupt any plans. Just as well, as it has been a busy and sociable month, as so often in the run-up to Christmas. There were festive meals out with my photography group, and with Virtual Tourist friends visiting from Yorkshire and the US. I also spent a rainy but fun day out in London with the Yorkshire friends, visiting the Museum of the Home (more photos of that to follow in due course) and Spitalfields. A friend from Antigua spent a weekend with us and we had a lovely meal out with her. We invited neighbours for Christmas drinks, and had a blogger meet-up with the Hungry Travellers, aka Phil and Michaela.
Christmas festivities
On Christmas Eve we had a bumper Plan Zheroes surplus food collection at Borough Market, ahead of its Christmas closure. Christmas Day itself was peaceful and quiet, with just the two of us, and Boxing Day much livelier with a second Christmas dinner and presents exchange with family, hosted at my nephew’s house. It was his daughter’s very first Christmas!
The end of the month saw us marking New Year’s Eve in Newcastle, as usual. And with lots to look forward to in January, and our next big trip planned for February and March, things aren’t about to get much quieter – and that’s how I like it!
Technical notes
Most of this month’s photos were taken with my phone, although I used my compact Panasonic Lumix on my day out in Spitalfields and for the shots in Tynemouth. Most have been at least a little edited with Photoshop Elements and some more heavily edited with 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.
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equinoxio21
I remember -or seem to- that memorial. Close to St-Paul on the way down to the river?
Sarah Wilkie
The war memorial in the first shot in the slideshow? No, it’s in Southwark on the south side of the river, quite near London Bridge station (if walking away from the river) and near the entrance to Borough Market.
equinoxio21
Yes, that’s the one. London bridge. Not ‘that’ close to St-Paul, just that on that particular day we’d walked from St-Paul to London bridge…
Alison
Love all the murals, especially the polar bear. Your great niece has a wonderful head of hair for a toddler, amazing.
Happy New Year to you. I have been entertaining since 23 December and still a week to go. Quite full on with my son’s wedding and a houseful of guests.
Sarah Wilkie
Happy New Year Alison! It sounds as if you have your hands full 😀 Everyone comments on my great niece’s hair, it’s really striking for her age (just over three months at Christmas!)
Amy
What a photo gallery for December 2024, Sarah! The polar bear mural is my favorite. And, you found time to bake!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Amy 🙂 I don’t do much baking but I do always make my own Christmas cake!
Natalie
Looks like a great December, Sarah. The murals in your slide shows are great. I also love the snowberries in your header photo. Happy New Year!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Natalie, I’m pleased you like the murals 🙂 Shoreditch is a fantastic area for street art!
Monkey's Tale
Love the street art. At first I thought you went to Churchill, Manitoba to see polar bears. Then I read the text. Happy 2025 Sarah, Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Maggie 😀 I would love to see polar bears in the wild but so far haven’t done so. I’m keen on the idea of a trip to Svarlbard but haven’t yet enthused Chris with that idea!
Monkey's Tale
I noticed that this comment needed approval. I did it through the email link. Next time, I’ll go through Reader and see if it still happens. That way I’ll know which method to avoid. Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
For some reason that I’ve never been able to understand, your comments ALWAYS need approval even though with my settings (approval needed only the first time someone comments) they should be fine! So please don’t ever think a comment hasn’t worked as it almost certainly has 🙂
Monkey's Tale
Oh, I thought you said that sometimes you have to approve and sometimes you don’t. I visit from either email or Reader, and from my phone or lap top depending on where I am so I thought maybe it had different results. Frustrating!
Rose
Your great-niece looks like such a precious doll! I too remember when the older folks used to talk about time flying, but now I understand. It seems to have gone especially fast, once we had grandbabies… We must remember to live the life we love while we’re here to live it. ❤️ Onward to new adventures!
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, she’s a real sweetie! And you’re so right, we must make the most of the time we have for sure 😀
the eternal traveller
I love the street art. And my, your new little great niece has a good head of hair. What a cutie.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 😀 Everyone comments on her hair, unsurprisingly!
grandmisadventures
Great pictures from around London. The cake you made look really lovely! 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Meg 🙂 I have to say that cake tastes pretty good too!
thehungrytravellers.blog
Tonali beer….the drink of choice in illegal gambling dens? (Sorry, cheap jibe, just had to). I spent quite a while studying the Pret shot, I like it!
Sarah Wilkie
Very cheap! Hopefully he’s put that behind him. Newcastle fans are certainly happy to believe that’s the case, and have been super supportive throughout his suspension. He’s definitely making a great impression in the team now 🙂 Glad you like the Pret shot – it caught my eye when we stopped off for a quick drink on the way to Borough Market (it’s the branch by London Bridge).
Anne Sandler
Looks like you had a busy and wonderful holiday Sarah. Your pictures are great. I especially like the murals. I’m very apprehensive about this year with “he who shall not be named” in the Presidency. One thing, it won’t be boring. I look forward to seeing more of your adventures.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne 🙂 I share your apprehension, as the impact will be felt far wider than just the US. I think much of the world is almost holding its breath, waiting to see what will happen …,
ThingsHelenLoves
Another great set of pictures, Museum of the Home looks interesting!
Sarah Wilkie
The museum was fascinating Helen, although a little disconcerting to see objects I remember clearly from my childhood or even more recently now displayed as history!
bushboy
You did have a busy month and found some great street art and scenes.
I wonder if time goes faster when you are busy and not having to go to work?
I like the slide-show to view the month as well
Thanks for joining in The Changing Seasons Sarah 😀
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Brian 😊 I’ve read that our perception of passing time is related to how long we have lived to date. A year is a relatively small proportion of a sixty year old’s life compared to what it is for a twenty year old, for example.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Sarah didn’t we all, marvel at older people saying how quickly time passed, but now I see that they were right! It’s hard to believe that another year is over, when it seems as if it’s barely begun! There is not enough time to do anything but get older 😀
Sarah Wilkie
Yes – I think we’re all discovering that several things that we used to scoff at when said by ‘old’ people, are now things we regularly say ourselves!
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
You had a great month! My favourite picture is the polar bear mural. Hope 2025 is treating you well so far.
Sarah Wilkie
That was an unexpected find while on an errand in a part of London I don’t usually visit, just on the end of a row of terraced houses 🙂 Yes, 2025 has started well, thank you 🙂