If everything goes according to plan 2022 should be the year in which I shall leave London and venture back on the continent. With nine months to go (planned move if September/October) how will I say a worthy goodbye to a city that was my home for twelve years?

I have several different ideas and to be honest, it is hard for me to say which ones will hold, but let’s see. The list below is in no particular order.

No new books apart from Books That Matter

I will continue with this subscription box because it really makes me smile every time. Also, it pushes my reading boundaries, which is great. But if the goal is to downsize on books, no other books can be acquired. I already told all my nearest and dearest to try and limit bookish gifts as well, at least till the end of 2022.

No New Books = No Bookshops = 12 Museums for 2022

I was toying with the idea of re-doing my 12 Bookshops for 12 Months project, as a good farewell. But I am only human and I would not be able to go into a bookshop and stop myself from buying something. Hence we change the scope, I will say my goodbyes to London museums. Especially since I have been deprived of them during the pandemic and haven’t ventured back yet. So this would be a good way to restart. I’ll aim for the mix of the well-known and loved ones with some more quirky ones.

12 Plays for 2022

This is the one idea I am still not sure about, and also not sure how it will be impacted by any new covid surprises coming our way. Similar to museums I haven’t ventured into theatre since early 2020. One of the last plays I’ve seen was the excellent Uncle Vanya at the Harold Pinter Theatre in 2020. I know theatres reopened, but I was still hesitant to go, as those are not the roomiest spaces in London. That said London theatre is a thing of its own, the sheer choice is dazzling, not to mention the quality. We’ll see how this one goes.

What are your 2022 resolutions?

Photo by Violetta Kaszubowska