My 2017 highlights


January 2017 and my birthday photo shoot was achieved with tripod, camera and 10 second timer. The day was pretty perfect for this time of year and the setting not too shabby either.


February, and if I could time travel, this version of me would be overlooking the birthday girl below. Blockhouse Castle sits just above that pretty little stretch of beach. Taken again with my timer etc, I felt very proud of the fact that the wild weather didn't defeat my photo shoot, nor was I put off when an out-of-season and thoroughly unexpected holiday maker happened upon me as I sat on the castle steps to change out of wellie boots and into leopard print courts. Not sure who was the most surprised, he or I!


March, and certainly not my most glamorous shot of the year, but one that makes me proud of my sea swimming escapades throughout the winter and into the rest of the year. I love the flushed, ruddy skin that accompanies the wonderful afterglow of my icy cold dip. There's no better way to start the day and once this is done, I pretty much feel I can conquer the world.


April, and this is a bit more in keeping with the glamorous image I like to portray, hehehe! The first exhibition of the season means the start of proper dressing up. This beautifully ornate Italian gown was a charity shop find, causing me immense pleasure indeed.


May, and one of the most joyful of photos - the result of a lovely fresh sea breeze that played havoc with my flimsy skirt. Thank goodness for the fulsome petticoat that protected my dignity! This post celebrated two years of blogging.


June, and the time my husband and I took the afternoon off work as the weather was just too good to miss. We tootled off in our little motor boat to Samson, the nearest uninhabited island and enjoyed our castaway picnic. I posted this photo on Instagram where it was spotted by a PR agency who then approached me to appear in a local campaign to advertise the islands. I kinda like the fact that on this particular day I had decided that I wanted to embrace every opportunity that the blog might present.


July, and the height of the summer means one exhibition every ten days for me and my staff. We all seem to thrive on the adrenlin rush that propels us forward during these crazy, hectic summer weeks. And of course, I revel in the need to find new show outfits almost every week!


August, and another beach day (a bit of a theme going on here, don't you think?). It was my day off and I took advantage of the very low tide and did an inter-island walk between Tresco and Bryher. Despite looking on my ownsome, it was a wonderfully social event with lots of locals and holiday makers taking part in the pilgrimage too.


September, and this was the post where I was featured with Johnnie Walker on his Sounds of the 70's show. A terrifying idea beforehand, but on listening to it, my lovely husband declared it was a great collection of our memories. It was a huge honour and one I'll never forget. Dearest Johnnie, thank you!


October, and I was in London meeting up with some blogging friends as well as helping my husband celebrate his 60th birthday. We had a hectic time, fitting in as much as we possibly could. 


November, and the long awaited images arrived and I could finally post the feature about my summer shoot on Samson for the Island Partnership. I loved the whole thing, even though it was quite funny trying to do yoga on the silky smooth sand as well as having a (sometimes vocal) audience to contend with. Another memorable day of the year for me.


December, and this one didn't make the cut for the blog, but maybe should have. I don't have green fingers and unfortunately the Poinsettia no longer looks quite as healthy as this. Over-watering, under-watering, too hot, too cold - who knows? And if you do, please tell me what this darling plant needs to survive.

It's been a great year, one full of work, play, family life, shopping trips and swimming too. It gives me such a thrill to see the readership of the blog grow and know that you're out there sharing in my island life. I love to hear from you with your comments, so do drop me a line if something strikes a chord with you . My "Suggested by..." feature seems to have dried up, but if you have a favourite item of clothing you'd like to see again, then please feel free to send me an email or pop it into the comment box and I'll style it up for you to see once more. Thanks so much for joining me over the past year and I look forward to catching up with you again soon.

Anna x

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20 comments

  1. What a year! Some beautiful shots, outfits and experiences. I'm now on my second poinsettia survivor, this one is 13 months, the previous lasted 2 years. It's been sheer guesswork. Water it occasionally when the soil is dry, keep out of direct sunlight (mine's on the kitchen island. It will shed most of its leaves at some stage (and its redness quickly) but don't panic! Have a super 2018, x.

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    1. Yes, what a year indeed! It was lovely to go through the old posts and relive some of the events.
      Thanks for the tips about my ailing plant. I have been in a panic about it as it's shedding like a crazy thing!

      All the best to you too for 2018,
      Anna x

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  2. What a wonderful collection of highlights, Anna! I love the mix of casual and dressy - it encompasses both sides of you so well. Thank you for the walk down memory lane. Oh, and I kill plants, so no words of advice on the poinsettia!

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    1. Hey thanks, Sheila! It was fun to go back through these posts again. And yes, I fancy that I'm a plant killer too!

      Anna x

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  3. What! Are you swimming in winter in the sea? My God, I can only dip my toe in August in the UK sea! Wow, I am impressed! BTW, the April photo is amazing!

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    1. That's what I try to do Nancy, but the current wild winds and storm Eleanor have put a stop to my swimming of late. That dress from April was rather lovely, wasn't it?

      Anna x

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  4. What a lovely round up and you look wonderful in all of photos. I'm so impressed at your year round swimming and it clearly makes you happy, and of course it's so very good for you.

    I bought a Poinsetta this year - my first one ever and I'm afraid it has died on me; too much watering methinks.

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    1. Surely the best part of running a blog has to be going back and living it all over again, don't you think Vronni? The seas are too rough at the moment for swimming, but I'm power walking in my lunchtimes around the shoreline to keep me feeling connected as best as I can.
      I fancy I'm on my way to killing my little plant too!

      Anna x

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  5. I love this round up! I think I read most of them and especially loved the whole radio show. I so enjoy seeing your outfits but mostly hearing about your life in your little corner of the world. To a wonderful 2018 dear friend! Cheers!

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    1. I think we're all the same Julia - not exactly nosey, but most definitely interested in other people and the lives they live. I always hope that the combination of the backdrop and the outfits will keep my readers coming back.

      Best wishes to you too for 2018!
      Anna x

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  6. Didn't that year go fast! Lovely to have a recap. I think the yoga pose photo is my fave, close my eyes and I am there. I find things on my blogs that I had completely forgotten about. Poinsettias! If they give up after a few days its probably because they got too cold before they got to you. I've seen them outside flower shops in the Winter. Most of my indoor plants thrive on not much watering. They do shed leaves later on. They grow outside in Madeira and have spindly tree trunks and branches with the leaves and red bracts at the top.
    Happy New Year
    Tessa xx

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    1. Yes, the year did seem to just whizz past, didn't it? All of the beach photos from that day are lovely mementos of that special time and I love the yoga ones too.
      I think I plunged the plant into the too cosy sitting room too quickly after it sitting in the drafty shop and that was the start of my problems. It's now on the kitchen windwo and I'm trying not to water it too much. The way I see it, it's got two chances!

      Happy New Year to you too x
      Anna

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  7. I enjoyed the synopsis of your year and so glad to know that you're encouraged by an increase in your readership!! I think your unusual and charming setting are very appealing but your sense of style is also fun, unpredictable and inspirational Anna.
    I like reading that you love the ruddy skin tone that results from one of your cold ocean swims. It amazes me that you want to jump into that cold ocean each morning Anna!
    I'm looking forward of a bunch of fun posts in 2018!!

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    1. Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. I think you have to work with what you've got, and that's exactly what you get with my blog - the tales of my everyday life. I'm blessed to have this amazing backdrop to offset all of my stories too.

      I'm so looking forward to 2018 as well. See you again!
      Anna x

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  8. I think anyone who sees all of these posts would want to be your friend - every one of them is inviting us into your world! You had some stellar experiences in 2017 and I'm sure there are more to come in 2018. Thanks for this photo review, Anna. You live in a magical place and you have the style to go with it.

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    1. Cheers Melanie! My little world is so well defined making it easy for me to encapsulate in a blog - yours is something very different. The joy of blogging is that we can visit and enjoy each other's worlds in the click of a mouse. Hurrah for that!

      Anna x

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  9. what a fabulous recap!, thanks for sharing all these things with us!
    besos

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  10. Wow you've had a busy year, shared some great outfits too Anna. x Jacqui
    www.mummabstylish.com

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