I picked only 4 photos for each month, meaning a lot of important things were “ignored”. To see what’s in the photos, the descriptions for photos starts with the top row, left to right.
January: Bucharest, Romania – Pug Cafe in Manchester – Event in London with authors I like and follow – Theatre in Manchester, with artists from Mariupol, who are survivors of the Mariupol Drama Theatre
February: In Ukraine, in my first ever event taking place in a bunker – Mary Rose, a ship I wanted to see for a long time – Cocktails in Portsmouth – Movie screening and meeting a well-known rescuer from Ukraine, taking place in Liverpool
March: Bronte Parsonage – Wine tasting at a winery in England – Details on a painting on display at the National Art Gallery in London – Back at Oriel, Oxford
April: I spent the whole month in Ukraine, so all the photos are from there: I adopted Volya and I could take her with me – Easter – Singing the national anthem before the performance – Volya and volunteering, a perfect summary of my month
May: My husband and I on a coffee date in Ukraine – Volya and I flying home [technically to Paris, but on our way home to the UK] – Oxford, for setting up the exhibition I organised – Volya at the Palm House, in Liverpool
June: One of 2 trips to Oxford – Volya at the White House, Bladon, where Churchill had drinks in his youth – Tank Festival – With Volya at Stonehenge – The fossil I found on the beach in Lyme Regis, while we were walking there with Volya
July: Orangutan at Monkey World – Portland – Osborne House, Isle of Wight – Back in Ukraine for a couple of weeks
August: Porch renovations started – Volya on a short walk in the park – Cocktails – Liverpool from the river cruise
September: Event at Oriel – Bluecoat Liverpool – Volya being just super cute – Second event at Oriel
October: Gretna Green – The new mirror in the new porch – Dog at the camo netting place in Lviv, as I was back in Ukraine – Lviv Train station
November: Otley – Drinks on a getaway – Drinks with a friend, back in Ukraine – Treats made by a place I volunteered at that makes energy bars [raises funds like that] taken to the camo netting place
December: Treats in Ukraine, before leaving – A Christmas decorations that I bought in Ukraine – Christmas dinner at our favourite vegan restaurant, The Vibe – Volya on Christmas day
You have had such a remarkable year, Anca. Between your travel within the UK and seeing so many interesting things and then all your work in Ukraine, well, that would be enough for most! But you’ve added so many other things. Perhaps best of all was adopting Volya. Meaningful is so very many ways. I look forward to seeing what 2026 brings you.
I very much enjoyed seeing this collection of highlights. All the ones of Miss Beautiful herself, Volya, are of course, favourites. I like the one looking down at the table at Oriel too!
The Vegan Christmas dinner looks very tasty! I would happily eat that also. Lviv train station is so impressive!
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What a great recap of 2025! You had so many special and wonderful moments and lots of adventures! Fab photos!
Happy New Year x
Kim Carberry recently posted…Our weekly meal plan! 5th – 11th January! #MealPlanningMonday
What a great way to sum up the year! I enjoyed the photos and remembering what an interesting year you had. Of course (IMO) Volya is the high point of the year, but I’d forgotten how fascinating your visit to the Mary Rose was. I’d love to see that.
Kelly recently posted…The Classics Club 26 in 2026