Last year I wrote my end of year summary in arctic winter London.
This year, after 18 months on the road, I’m writing this from the comfort of my old bungalow in Melbourne with golden sunshine streaming through the open windows as a delightful breeze blows through the garden and the chorus of local birds chirp me a tune.
It truly is magical to once again bask in the Aussie sun and the perfect location to reflect on the year that has been.
January
I started the year on a freezing rooftop in Angel listening to Wait Til You See My Smile in memory of Addam Stobbs. I missed the warmth of my friends around me.
February
I met a boy. He was so dashing and charming. A favourite memory was falling asleep on a double decker after a day of exploring London together.
March
For the first time in years, I said ‘I love you’ to a lover. Murmured subconsciously in my sleep, then accidentally over the phone and finally in person.
April
I landed on the European continent for the first time when I took a weekend away in glorious sunny Montpellier. My boyfriend and I stayed at a remarkable 400 year old apartment and ate our way around all the delicious French menus on offer.
May
I moved from the East End to Kennington – ‘the town of the King’. Close to work, a great selection of respectable pubs nearby and on a good night I can open the windows and hear Big Ben chiming. Best decision.
June
Ah young love, sometimes it doesn’t last. I joined a gym, visited galleries, read in a park and did all the things you should after break up. I think I saw more of London than I had since arriving.
July
My friend took me to the Proms to see ‘Human Planet’ (a doco he worked on). It featured one of my favourite musicians, Nitin Sawhney with an odd entourage – an African gourd player, Mongolian throat chanters, Siberian shamans and Pacific Island dancers.
August
I went to the Edinburgh Fest and enjoyed great comedy, theatre and all the whisky drinking that happens in between. I love Edinburgh and you can tell the Scots really LOVE their city too – everything was just so well kept and beautiful.
September
I made a true friend in London. John and I had robust discussions about the city’s financial austerity, architectural abyss and socially conservative attitudes and I finally began to understand the place I now called home.
October
I scooted over to Amsterdam and one of the highlights was seeing the Van Gogh Museum. It was extraordinary to see a ‘timeline’ of his work from beginning to tragic end. Learning he started late in life reinforces the idea that there’s hope for me yet!
November
I saw the ENO production of Tosca at the Coliseum. It was surreal to see one of my favourite operas by one of the world’s preeminent opera companies. It was a nice reminder of how far I’d come since presenting that opera programme many moons ago.
December
I came home. It was a bit sad ticking the ‘just visiting’ box on the immigration card but I’d been looking forward to this for a whole year! It was so liberating to go driving with my dear friends along all of Melbourne’s lush, sun glittered, tree-lined boulevards. Bliss.
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Tags: *, Addam Stobbs, Amsterdam, Food, London, Melbourne, Montpellier, Queer, Travel
@danvogue
a year of immense change and growth for you, both personally and professionally! it makes me happy to know that you’re happy and optimistic about your “new” life in london. my spidey senses are tingling and i have a feeling you’re going to have your best year yet in 2012!
hugs to you, my sweet friend.
You’ve been my truest and longest friend from afar. Thank you for your continued support – one day we will meet!