2025 - A Year in Review

Just finished a bit of work, now laptop’s shut, podcast in my ears, sitting back. I’m on the ICE train from Hamburg to Munich. Quiet compartment, relaxed atmosphere.

Later, when my train arrives in Munich, I’ll take the regional train to visit my dear friend Laura, whom I met three years ago in Cape Town. She has invited Harry and me to spend New Year’s Eve at her parents’ house. I couldn’t be more excited. It’s the first time in years that we won’t be spending NYE in London.

The further south I travel, the more signs of snow there are. The sky is overcast, white mist hangs over a lake, the trees are covered in frosty white. I can’t wait.

As I close my eyes for a moment, I think about my review of the year. It’s been part of my routine for at least eight years now, between Christmas and New Year. A time for rest and reflection.

Travel

I’ve travelled a lot this year. In March we went to France with 15 of us, my second skiing holiday. As I did in 2024, I spent the morning in ski school with my friend Rozzy. We had a nice group and a great teacher. We made progress, even went off-piste and gained more and more confidence on our skis. I used the week for a social media detox and was able to really switch off, thinking of nothing but the next chocolat chaud or when to meet for après.

After our holiday, many trips to Germany followed: Hamburg, Kappeln, Bonn, Mainz, Berlin. It was so nice to spend time with family and friends.

In August I spent a whole week with my parents and joined the White Dinner in Kappeln. My mum organises it every year with her girlfriends. Es was It was a mild summer evening, and we sat together with strangers and friends dressed entirely in white on the banks of the Schlei, enjoying a picnic. One guest played the violin. It was so beautiful, it could’ve easily been a scene from a cheesy film.

In September we extended the summer in Greece. For almost three weeks we enjoyed the warm autumn sun in Athens, Agistri and Poros. We work the minimum amount necessary and spent the rest of the time at the beach, book in hand. We hiked, cycled, swam, at Feta, drank Pina Coladas. An energy boost for the rest of the year.

Mid of December we spent a few pre Christmas days in the Cotswolds with Harry’s family. It rained most of the time, but that made it ever cosier. but that only added to the cosiness. When it did stop, we strolled through the pretty villages, bought last-minute Christmas presents and then warmed ourselves in pubs with open fires.

For Christmas, I went to Hamburg again and then to my parents’ house in Schleswig-Holstein. This is the one trip that is fixed in my diary every year. I spent a whole week at home and managed to really switch off, sleep in late – something I usually find quite difficult – and enjoy the Christmas season to the fullest.

Then I boarded the ICE train to the south, as mentioned in the intro. We spent the days around New Year’s Eve in a small town near the Austrian border, surrounded by freshly fallen snow. We went ice skating on a frozen lake, skiing in Leogang in Austria and tobogganing down a mountain on New Year’s Day. The start to 2026 couldn’t have been more beautiful.

Friendships

The many visits to Germany also meant that I was able to see my friends a little more often than usual. This included welcoming some of the many new arrivals, who have already become very dear to my heart.

Time with friends is precious. I have wonderful friends with whom I can have honest conversations, laugh and cry. I am so grateful for a bond that feels so close despite the distance.

House

The second year in our house meant more renovations. The major project in 2025 was our kitchen. We had the back part re-plastered. And we did it the way the Victorians would’ve done 150 years ago: with lime. It was a process that took three months in total. After that, we let everything dry out for six months before we could finally paint. The pink walls became light, the light green cabinets became dark. With all the preparations and everything else, it was quite a long process, but it was worth it. Now all that’s missing is the splashback, which we’ll tile this weekend. Fingers crossed.

Over the last year, I’ve had to learn to be more patient and enjoy the process. Good things take time. We’re still a long way from finished, and I’m looking forward to tackling more details in the house in 2026, getting the garden under control, maybe growing some vegetables. Every little thing we do makes the house our home. Every small change fills me with so much joy.

Health

My health was probably one of the low lights of the year. It seemed like there was always something. At the end of January, I sprained my right ankle. Fortunately, by the time I went skiing in March, my foot had recovered enough that I could just about squeeze it into my ski boot. In June, I had Covid. In July, I had a lingering cold that developed into a sinus virus, which stayed with me until the end of the year. Feeling constantly ill took a toll on my mood. It also meant that I had to put running on hold. I cancelled two half marathons that I had registered for. Running was something I really missed. But – touch wood – at the end of the year, everything feels better again, even if not perfect yet. I’ve slowly started running again and going to regular yoga classes. I’m still being careful, though, baby steps.

Job

In terms of work, this year has been a rollercoaster ride. It started off very low, with just one customer and lots of questions and doubts. Slowly but surely, we managed to gain more clients. We were able to take on new projects and win long-term clients who are really fun to work with. Every day, I learned to be more confident and to let go of my imposter syndrome, at least a little bit. Nevertheless, I also faced new challenges. I still haven’t found a solution for some of them. Overall, however, I would say that it’s been a successful year. Especially when you considering that we’ve only been doing this for 1.5 years. Working with Anna is great fun and we’re increasingly finding our own feet as freelancers. I’m excited to see what 2026 brings!

What I’m letting go of

• Exercising for the sake of it
• Doomscrolling
• Procrastinating
• Comparing myself to others
• Overthinking

What I’m taking with me into the new year

• Listening to my body
• Phone dates with friends
• Taking regular breaks
• Celebrating small wins
• Phone-free weekends
• Patience
• Breath work