Today is the last year of 2025. There’s been highs and lows and sadly still too many wars being waged in this world. I pray that next year these come to an end and that people find peace and justice. Here are my favourite photos of 2025. May 2026 be a better one for us all. Happy New Year.
London in Winter really lights up. Oxford street currently has these pretty hanging stars that make the dark, cold nights a little lighter and brighter.
I love the sunny, calm Autumn days that we can get. The crisp air and the blue sky really awaken the senses and make a walk in the park quite wonderful.
I love the changing shades of autumn, the reds, oranges and yellows, the colours of fire but without the heat. The ArcelorMittal Orbit in the bright sunlight fits right in with it red exterior.
There’s a new V&A museum that’s due to open in East London. Nearby they have opened to the public, their storehouse, a building that houses all the art pieces that are not officially on display. It’s right by where I work so I went to have a look. It has three floors with a wide range of beautiful and interesting art works.
They also have a huge mosaic ceiling saved from a church which is definitely worth a look.
The store house is free to visit and I like that what it holds will change as the displays in the main museums update theirs.
I recently visited Knole house. It is said to be a calendar house, having 365 rooms, 52 staircases, 12 entrances and 7 courtyards. The house was built by Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, between 1456 and 1486. We didn’t have time to look in many the rooms but we did climb up steep spiral staircase in the tower up to the roof which gave us great views.
Knole house also has medieval deer park, with deer roaming the grounds for 500 years. The deer we encountered were quite timid and let us get fairly close, which was amazing.
With large grounds to walk in and with the deer and nearby stream Knole house is a lovely place to visit.
Eid-al-Adha is the second Eid of the year that Muslims celebrate and coincides with the pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia and honours Abraham’s (pbuh) promise to God. This Eid will be celebrated with a heavy heart, thinking of those that are oppressed, facing wars and of those without families. In these blessed days may all pilgrims’ prayers and ours be accepted. May the prayers of all those facing hardships be accepted and I pray they find ease.
Eid Mubarak. Taqabbal Allahu Minna Wa Minkum (May Allah accept it from you and us)
I saw these lovely Aquilegia ‘Earlybird’ purple flowers in a park in London. I’ve never seen them before and thought they were quite unusual but really pretty. Always a better walk when you spot something new and eye catching.
Some street art has been commissioned by the local government to brighten up our streets. It was great to see the artwork coming into shape and the end results I think are brilliant. The artists are very talented and I will enjoy looking at their pieces when I pass them by.