As 2025 draws to a close I find myself looking back over the year in amazement. So much has happened, some good, some bad. I started off unable to blink and drinking through a straw and am now 90% recovered – you’ve honestly no idea how much you take blinking for granted until you can’t do it! Despite a difficult start to the year health-wise my house renovations continued and are now, for the most part, complete and although that has taken up much of my time and energy I’ve still managed to create new art which I’m delighted to say has been recognised both locally, nationally and internationally. I tried new ventures, like taking part in the Art Trail, and have started new projects unrelated to photography which are challenging but exciting. I was stood in the kitchen last night, in this home which I love so much, bathed in blissful silence, watching the Woodpecker feasting on his last meal of the day at my feeder, the sun sinking over the fells and the vast sky turning black as the first stars appeared and felt such gratitude for the beautiful life I’ve manage to create for myself despite the odds, at times, being well and truly stacked against me 😊.

What will 2026 hold, I wonder?

I was in the city yesterday for an MRI scan on my brain tumour. I have to admit I can think of better ways of spending a Tuesday, particularly as when you have your brain scanned your head is put into a cage which is screwed to the table which feels a bit claustrophobic, plus for someone who is as sensitive as me the very loud noises and some of the vibrations make my nervous system decidedly unhappy, however my meditation practice kicked in and in the end I had to stop myself from dropping off to sleep because I tend to twitch and that would have ruined the pictures 😉

On the drive home there was a 3 story cattle truck in front full to the brim with sheep going to slaughter. They were crammed in but not making a sound, somehow recognising that protesting would be pointless as their fate was sealed. I acutely felt their resignation. I haven’t eaten meat for over 35 years – it would be unthinkable for me to be able to feel an animal’s pain (for those who don’t know I’m a Somatic Empath) and then eat them. The mere thought horrifies me.

My ex boyfriend had 2 dogs, an Airedale and a Lakeland terrier. We hadn’t been in contact for 5 months when I instinctively knew his little Lakeland was ill and it had something to do with her stomach. So I asked him how his dogs were and his said the Airedale was unwell. I thought maybe I’d got the dogs mixed up until a couple of months later the Lakeland was diagnosed with colitis, an inflammatory bowel condition. We haven’t been in touch for several months now, but the other day I got a big feeling out of the blue that the Airedale has passed away or is close to passing, in which case I send my condolences to the family. I also told my cousin his little dog was in pain and needed to see the vet, at which visit she was diagnosed with arthritis of the spine. I have no clue how I know this stuff, I just do.

I’ve had these abilities all my life and literally had no idea my experience of the world was unusual. Having now discovered that Somatic Empathy (aka mirror-touch synaesthesia) is really rare I’ve been put in touch with researchers at the University of Sussex and am interested to chat with them in January about my ‘gifts’.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy’ William Shakespeare.

Other plans for the first few months of 2026 are to finish my long-awaited photography room. It will then be available to rent, either as a small photo studio, or as a meeting or therapy room.

For Christmas I treated myself to a new car which I’m collecting in January. I’ve needed one for the past 2 years but as I used the current one to cart half a bungalow to the local tip which trashed the boot I though it best to wait! It’s red and a bit sporty with lowered suspension, which is prudent for me as I tend to drive like a boy racer even though I’m old enough to be a boy racer’s Nan 😂

I can’t wait to get stuck into doing the garden come the Spring to create my pond. I’ve recognised while renovating my house that I do love to have a project on the go, although if I ever say I’m considering renovating another property I’ve told my friends to shoot me because I will have completely lost my marbles 😂

I’m also committed to finishing a large writing project I started last year, which has been very challenging but is incredibly important to me.

So the start of the year already feels interesting and exciting and busy and that’s without all the events that will no doubt happen completely out of the blue, both good and bad. Whatever your year holds I hope it fills you up and brings you joy. Happy New Year!