2012 Round Up

It's hard to believe 2012 was my 7th year in the UK - they're racking up so quickly. It was the year I got my indefinite leave to remain here, a challenging and stressful year at work but finished up with a positive move to a new team, and another year filled with travel, culture, restaurants, and London firsts which constantly amazes me.

Best cultural experience:

I managed to get a good dose of culture in again this year and saw more than the equivalent of one per month which has been my goal each year since I arrived. The quality of what I saw was as impressive as ever but these are my picks:

Music: My first visit to the Royal Opera House to see La Boheme

Theatre: Play without Words at Sadler's Wells

Exhibition: David Hockney's A Bigger Picture at the Royal Academy of Arts

Comedy: Daniel Kitson

The full list of everything I saw is here.

Best eating and drinking experiences:

An all-Americana trend took over London this year. I've tried it all - ribs, burgers, hot dogs, sliders, mac and cheese, an all-you-can-eat crayfish boil (twice!) and BBQ. It's not always executed well but my favourite of all of these was the BBQ ribs at Dukes Brew & Que in Hackney.

The best bistrot food was at 10 Greek Street which opened at the beginning of the year, but Pizzaro, Mishkin's, the Waterline, Bodega Negra, Terroirs and the Green Man French Horn were also really good.

Dabbous was the best top end restaurant meal I enjoyed and worth the 6 month wait to get in. The Ivy is worth a mention too as a classic London experience and Nobu for some of the best Japanese in town (fortunately I didn't foot the bill for that one!).

Weekend brunches featured pretty heavily in my calendar and my favourite of these were at Salvation Jane, Caravan and La Fromagerie.

The best cheap and cheerful meals were at Yalla Yalla and Comptoir Libanais - both Lebanese places.

And the best of the many cocktails I had the pleasure of sipping were at Nightjar, Mark's Bar, 69 Colebroke Row, The Savoy, The Playboy Club, The Zetter Townhouse and Brasserie Zedel.

Best of the travel (everything makes this list!):

I didn't do nearly as many European trips this year as I have previously but my two trips to Spain were the highlights. The weekends away with friends in the UK are always so relaxing and it's so nice to get out of the city. I had 4 weekends away going to Norfolk, the Cotswolds (once in a B&B and the other glamping), and to Devon.

Dublin (my first time to Ireland)

Madrid (thoroughly enjoyed this weekend discovering this fantastic city on my own)

Seville (for the most impressive wedding ever)

Sicily

Istanbul (for the second time, with the foodie walking tour being the highlight)

Basel, Switzerland

And of course my 3 weeks back in Australia going to Brisbane, Noosa, Sydney and Toowoomba.

Best of the rest:

Watching the Olympics on the big screen (and track side) surrounded by cheering fans

Latitude festival

Seeing the rowing at the Henley Regatta for the first time

Visiting the Chelsea Physic Garden twice after it had been on my list of things to do for years

Going to the Chelsea Flower show

Listening to the Urban Beekeper talk about his work over a honey tasting and brunch 

Seeing a white collar boxing match at a black tie event (not because I loved it that much, but just for something new)

Looking back on my 'Walne objectives' which I had set again for year, I didn't manage to achieve everything but I did at least manage something in every category!

Finance: Another year debt free, with my savings spent on holidays

Career: I survived the Ketel One website launch, we won an award for the work we did on The Reserve Club which is one of the best projects I've worked on in a long time, I've joined a new team and started a client secondment. And from a professional development point of view, I joined Toastmasters.

Travel: Made it to Madrid which was on my list, but there are still plenty more to go!
Home: Chose to stay living in Balham with two lovely girls, Ani and Claire
Leisure: Managed to read roughly a book per month (Buttefly Isles was my pick) and kept up my cultural experiences
Mind: Continued with my French classes for another year
Health & well being: I did the fun stuff - pilates and facials, but none of the hard stuff
Image: Got my nails done a lot more often!
Love, friends and family: I spent lots of quality time with my good friends here whether it was enjoying any of the above together, or a simple cup of tea: Laura, Jaimee, Stuart & Kris, Laleh, Rebecca, Natalie, Lucy, Becky, Ana and my buddies from work.

The year ahead looks promising with citizenship on the cards, holidays planned, and 3 weddings to attend!