If you need somewhere to store all your important dates, here is my calendar for 2024 featuring photographs in Abington Park, Northampton. Every year has its seasons and one of the most beautiful is Autumn. Nature at its best as the trees shed their leaves and produce a stunning array of colours. Every month, enjoy these park views during Autumn in Northampton! This 2024 calendar will make the perfect gift for anyone who loves nature and the changing seasons.
One of the advantages of living in the town centre is that I get to watch firework displays from the comfort of my flat.
The town was aglow with Christmas lights. They make Northampton look pretty!
My Christmas tree was up at the end of November.
The mornings were rather frosty, but there was beauty in the coldness.
My December
More Christmas trees in the town centre.
The beautiful All Saints Church. Had to stop and photograph it.
A fun night out with my sister. We went for tapas and a few drinks in places we had never been before. We also went to the panto a couple of weeks later which was fun with the niece and nephew in tow! He’s behind you!!
Another night out and one for the road!
That takes us up to today – 31st December. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!! I hope that 2024 is good to you and all your dreams and wishes come true. Much love 🙂
The Changing Seasons is a monthly project where bloggers around the world share their thoughts and feelings about the month just gone. We all approach this slightly differently — though generally with an emphasis on the photos we’ve taken during the month.
For many of us, looking back over these photos provides the structure and narrative of our post, so each month is different. Some focus on documenting the changes in a particular project — such as a garden, an art or craft project, or a photographic diary of a familiar landscape.
But in the end, it is your changing season, and you should approach it however works for you.
There are no fixed rules around post length or photo number — just a request that you respect your readers’ time and engagement.
Tag your photos with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them.
With Christmas just around the corner, you may be starting to think about the new year and what it has in store for you. Why not start 2024 with goals in mind?
What do you want to achieve next year and in your life as a whole?
Do you have dreams? Is there something you want to achieve?
Here is my planner for 2024 to set goals and tasks throughout the year. Think about what you want from life, no dream is too small and nothing is out of your reach. My 2024 planner will help you to keep focused and motivated as you work towards your goals. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small. Start with one step in front of the other, follow your own path and keep moving towards your dreams and desires.
My 2024 Planner
This 2024 planner will make the perfect gift for anyone who wants to set their goals and dreams into motion!
I finally published my photographic book – A Book Of Photographic Images. A collection of my photos with matching quotes. I matched the photo with the quote.
Book of Photographic Images
February
I left one job for another. I was not happy, so I found myself working for Mencap. I was so relieved and was looking forward to it. Little did I know then, that this new job would be more stressful than the one I’d left. It was all part of my journey.
March
I finished another painting – a colourful African Savannah.
African Savannah
April
I added a new cookbook to my collection. Dishoom is a beautiful Indian cookbook with lots of delicious recipes, stories of how the restaurants came to be and a map of traditional cafes and restaurants in Bombay. The Chicken Ruby has to be the most delicious curry I’ve EVER had!
Dishoom
I also took a trip to the stunning Everdon Stubbs to see the forest carpeted with bluebells and views across the countryside.
Everdon Stubbs
May
I treated myself to a lovely lavender plant – one of my favourite plants for it’s luscious smell and beautiful colour.
Lavender
June
Couldn’t resist this photo over the rooftops of the interesting cloud formation..
The skies over the rooftops
July
The best things in life are free, so they say, and July proved that because my BFF, Chris, came to stay. We had been talking about getting together as soon as we could, but COVID stopped us. Then, things started to open up and Chris wanted to visit his family in Looe, Cornwall, but he still had to self-isolate for 10 days. We came up with the idea that he could self-isolate with me and then travel down to see his family. So, that’s what we did. We literally did nothing because we couldn’t! The only thing we did was to take a walk to the post box to deliver his COVID test. Although we couldn’t go out for dinner or drinks, it was just lovely to spend some time with him.
Chris and I
August
I love visiting historical places and I can add Warwick Castle as one of the best places to visit. It was great exploring the castle and its grounds.
Warwick Castle
September
I went to Birmingham for my sister-in-law’s hen do. We had bottomless brunch, played bubble football and crazy golf and drank a lot over the weekend, but it was a fabulous and fun time together.
My sister and I
October
My brother and sister-in-law got married and we had a brilliant day celebrating.
Trev & Julie
November
I managed to get to Rotterdam to see Chris in November. Despite having to pay extra for COVID tests to go there and upon my return to the UK, I was desperate to have a change of location and to spend time with my best friend. It was just what the doctor ordered! And the views weren’t too bad either!
Windmill on Voorhaven
December
My December was full of family, food and getting out into nature.
I always get excited when I see beautiful sunrises like this one.
Frosty views across the Racecourse.
I love real Christmas trees and mine was up at the end of November!
A 7.5 mile jaunt around Pitsford to blow the Christmas cobwebs (and overindulgence of alcohol) away.
The time goes so fast, but my 2021 was full of happy memories.
Abel Tasman National Park is located at the north end of the South Island of New Zealand and is named after Abel Tasman who was the first European explorer to sight the country in 1642.
Back in 2008, I visited the park with a fellow traveller. We started our hike on a deserted beach, picking up a coastal trail which took us inland around headlands and lush forest with so many different species of trees. There are gorgeous beaches and estuaries which showcased the diversity of the place. And, as this was July, and the low-season in New Zealand, there was nobody else about, so we had the place all to ourselves, which was a very special experience.
I love cooking and trying different recipes – some old, some new. This was my homemade pizza in the making.
Homemade Pizza
It was delicious!
I had a day out at Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings – a fabulous outdoor space with beautiful buildings, re-enactments, and history. More on that later but, for now, here’s the windmill.
Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings
I can’t resist taking photos of the moon from my bathroom window late at night.
Moon over the town centre
Two more weeks and two more recipes – pizza pasta and stuffed tomatoes.
Pizza PastaStuffed Tomatoes
October
As we head towards the end of the year, the colours around us are changing.
Colour of Autumn
I sold my car, so I’ve been getting to work on public transport and foot which has it’s advantages – namely this lovely sunset.
Sunset in Northampton
Sometimes I walk all the way home and get to capture this view across the River Nene near the town centre.
The Changing Seasons is a monthly project where bloggers around the world share their thoughts and feelings about the month just gone. We all approach this slightly differently — though generally with an emphasis on the photos we’ve taken during the month.
For many of us, looking back over these photos provides the structure and narrative of our post, so each month is different. Some focus on documenting the changes in a particular project — such as a garden, an art or craft project, or a photographic diary of a familiar landscape.
But in the end, it is your changing season, and you should approach it however works for you.
There are no fixed rules around post length or photo number — just a request that you respect your readers’ time and engagement.
Tag your photos with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them.
Well, what a start to 2020! The very first day of the new year, I got to spend a glorious day with my best friend and life partner – Chris! (He loves it when I call him my life partner! Hee hee)
Chris and me
I was on a trip to Brussels and Chris came to meet me for the day. We had such a lovely day together – reminiscing about the past, making new memories for the future, but more than that – we had a lot of fun, as always. You know when you just get on with someone – that’s Chris and I!
I also went to Bruges for the day and spent 4 hours wandering around, snapping away with my camera.
Canal Spiegelrei, Bruges
February
On the TV, news of a virus made me really think about whether I should go on my trip to Barcelona, but I was glad I did, it would be the last time I went anywhere for a while. It was my first time there and I had a fabulous time wandering around the city. I was especially ‘wowed’ by the Sagrada Familia.
Sagrada Familia
March
We all found ourselves in lockdown! What surreal times those were! Now, it seems a lifetime ago and I still can’t believe it actually happened. Not much else to do apart from exploring the garden!
Exploring the garden
April
My birthday in 2020 was probably the quietist on record, but I celebrated with wine and a curry and spent time with my brother and sister-in-law.
I went for a walk most days which kept me sane while we were locked up. Sometimes I just walked along with music in my ears and sometimes I took lots of photographs. Who would have thought there was a waterfall in the woods behind my brother’s house.
Waterfall in Little Billing
May
Still in lockdown, we had to find new ways to amuse ourselves and my brother Trev came home with his hair dyed blonde! We took to calling him Slim Shady. Now, will the real one please stand up!
The Real Slim Shady?
Trev then decided he was going to go one step further and dye his hair all the colours of the rainbow, so I ordered some hair dye. This is how it turned out. Rocking the rainbow bro, and his tribute to the NHS. Thank god it was temporary and washed out!
Hair dye number 2
June
Still off work, I went to meet my mum, sister and niece in the park for a picnic. It was lovely to spend time with them, enjoying the sunshine, playing Frisbee and looking at the birds. For me, the simple pleasures are always the nicest.
A trip to the park
The biggest news of the month was that I have moved into my own place. A lovely little duplex apartment near the town centre. I was anxious about moving whilst in lockdown, so I waited until things had eased a bit. Then I was worried about finances, so I waited some more. In the end, I decided to take the risk and just go for it. I have always said, if I become unhappy I will do something about it. I loved living with my brother and his fiancé, but it was time to move on.
First night in my new flat
July
I took a trip to Newark to visit my friends – Doyle and Mel. It was so lovely to see them and their kids again. Mel and I went out to the garden centre and, on the way back, we went to the marina in Farndon and had a cheeky drink by the river.
Photo Credit: Melody Armstrong
The following weekend, I went to Rotterdam to visit Chris.
We had such a fun weekend, as we always do when we get together. Chris was an exceptional tour guide and he took me to new parts of the city. It was such a lovely couple of days making new memories!
Exploring Rotterdam
August
I had been on furlough since the end of March with no clue as to when I would be returning to work, but then we were asked to attend a meeting. We were told that, due to the virus, there would be redundancies.
With this news, I took up painting by numbers to try and stop the constant sick feeling in my stomach.
Painting by Numbers – Amsterdam
September
I was made redundant! My boss came right out with it… “we have to let you go.” Even though I kind of knew, it was still horrible to hear it. I could feel the tears coming, but I didn’t want to cry in front of her – it wasn’t her fault. I got back into the car to drive home and I cracked!
I got home and immediately set about looking for a job.
I have never felt so stressed, I felt sick every day with a feeling of dread in my stomach. I lost all motivation to do anything – even exercise! I was applying for 2-3 jobs a day, every day, and feeling very frustrated because NO-ONE replied!
October
I was finally offered a job! It turned out, it was all just a matter of time! Time that I didn’t think I could bear to wait! I could not be happier and I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders!
To celebrate, I went out with my sister which was fun, albeit strange. Groups of people absolutely plastered at 6pm on a Saturday night, temperature checks and ID checks before you went into a pub and bouncers telling people ” YOU CAN’T PASS WITHOUT A MASK!” which I thought was quite amusing and that became the quote of the day.
My sister and me
November
I went for a wintery walk in the park with my lovely mum. She is always great company to be around.
A walk with my mum
December
We came out of a mini-lockdown at the beginning of December and I made my own Christmas wreath. I was quite proud of my creation!
My homemade wreath
Christmas day came around and, although everyone was under a 1-day restriction, I was lucky enough to be able to have a lovely day with my mum, dad, sister and niece – memories to be treasured.
My sister and I on Christmas Day
Then, on New Year’s Eve, I spent the evening at home, talking with Chris online. I even got to celebrate two New Years – one in Rotterdam and one in the UK because of the time difference.
Then, we were back in lockdown or tier 4 until at least mid-February 2021.
Despite 2020 being a strange year, I still managed to experience many moments to be grateful for.
Walking around Barcelona is easy and there are many alleyways and streets to explore. There are buildings, parks, street art and many other attractions. There is so much to see and on a day out in this wonderful city, I took to the streets to see what I could find.
Carrer de la Reina Cristina
Street Art
Street Art
Escola Ramon Llull
Parc de la Ciutadella, Passeig de Picasso
Parc de la Ciutadella
Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar
Barcelona History Museum MUHBA
Barcelona History Museum MUHBA
Catalonia Plaça Catalunya, Carrer de Bergara
Carrer de l’Hospital
La Rambla
I will definitely go back to Barcelona, there is still so much I haven’t seen.
