Things I've learned this year
2024 has been a year with gratifyingly generous helpings of adventures and new experiences, some truly memorable travel and the blessing of so much lovely time in the company of the people I care about most.
It’s also been a year when I’ve learned all manner of new things - historical, geographical, practical, incidental, unexpected and surprisingly useful. I share a selection here in the hope that some of them will be new to you too.
Oman is 2,186 miles from north to south. A fact I discovered just two weeks before we were planning to fly into Dohar, which is very near the northern end of the country, and trying to book a taxi to our hotel, which I hadn’t realised was in the very far south. Result - a mad scramble to book internal flights instead.
Baroness Brenda Hale wearing her now-famous spider brooch
The famous spider brooch worn by Baroness Brenda Hale (who I interviewed for a Women of the Year event) when she announced the High Court’s decision that Boris Johnson’s proroguing of Parliament during the pandemic was unlawful, was from Cards Galore and cost £12
The largest LEGO model ever built - on display in Times Square
The largest LEGO model ever built was a life-sized replica of the X-Wing Starfighter from Star Wars. It was unveiled in Times Square in New York City in 2013. Made the models in the Lego store in Leicester Square, which included a life size car you could actually sit inside, rather pale into insignificance in comparison. You can see pictures of those ones in THIS BLOG
Actress Sarah Bernhart travelled with her own coffin which she reportedly slept in. Discovered at the Diva Exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Katherine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story, flanked by co-stars Cary Grant and James Stewart
From the same exhibition: Katherine Hepburn bought the rights to The Philadelphia Story and sold them to MGM on the condition that she starred in the film. Her performance earned her a third Academy Award nomination.
Penguins use the same muscles and wing motions as flying birds to, in effect, fly underwater. They also recognise each other by their voices. Each penguin has a unique call that allows them to identify their mates and chicks. Learned during an outing to London Zoo with two of my grandgirls.
Gustav Holst’s tombstone in Chichester Cathedral
Composer Gustav Holst is buried in Chichester Cathedral. Something that’s of particular interest to me because he was the Head of Music at my old school (long before I was there, I hasten to add) THIS BLOG gives my recommendations for the best things to do on a day in the city.
Magnificent Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh Castle, which I visited on a road trip to Northumberland, features in the opening scenes of 2023 film Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny with Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge You can read about the other fabulous places I saw in THIS BLOG
Fashion designer, and daughter of Paul, Stella McCartney’s favourite song is “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys! Discovered after seeing her work as part of the Icons of British Fashion exhibition at Blenheim Palace, which I wrote about in THIS BLOG
Fresh from taking part in the Rock Choir performance at the Edinburgh Festival alongside two of my fellow Rockies, my lovely sister-in-law Mel on the left, and equally lovely pal Jan in the middle
This year’s Edinburgh Festival featured performances from over 2,000 artists from 42 nations. To my huge excitement, I was one of them, singing alongside my lovely fellow Rock Choir members
The Paris Olympics
In 1900, Paris became the first city to invite women to participate in the Olympic Games. The 2024 games in the city were the first in the movement’s history to achieve gender parity. I explained all the reasons I love the Olympics, as well as those ones, in THIS BLOG
Tracey Emin at the Women of the Year Lunch
In her desire to leave a lasting legacy beyond her own work, artist Dame Tracey Emin (who I interviewed for, and met at the Women of the Year Lunch) has established a centre in her home town of Margate which provides studio space for established artists and the equivalent of a masters degree for budding ones, all of which she funds entirely herself. There’s more about Tracey and the very special anniversary lunch in THIS BLOG
Courtesy of Nancy Birtwhistle, another Women of the Year Lunch guest and former Great British Bake Off winner: There can be a gap of as much as three hours between the bakers completing their signature and showstopper bakes and everything being cleared and readied for the judging filming.
KFC is the traditional Christmas meal in Japan
Buddha statues - the hand positions each mean something very specific
A Buddha with one hand up and one hand with the palm upwards is saying ‘dont worry’ (hand up), I will help you (upturned palm). A Buddha with hands clasped in its lap is saying ‘I will rescue you’
Each station on the Tokyo metro has a different ident tune when the doors open so that passengers can easily identify their stop, even when they’re dozing.
Tokyo from the top of the Skytree Tower
The road layout in Tokyo was created to confuse any enemies trying to attack it. Read all about my fabulously fascinating trip to Japan in THIS BLOG and THIS ONE (there was just too much to fit into one).
The young nurse who Michael Burke interviewed in Ethopia about the work she was doing with the victims of the appalling famine 40 years ago- a report that went on to trigger Band Aid and Live Aid - had no clue who he was, couldn’t wait to get rid of him, and no idea what the worldwide impact of her words were for many weeks afterwards. From my interview with, now Dame, Claire Bertschinger for the Women of the Year podcast..
The best way to get blood out of fabric is to dissolve a lot of salt in boiling water (stirring until it’s completely absorbed), letting it cool fully, then soaking the stain in the liquid for as long as necessary. It works brilliantly.
Cinnamon is a remarkably effective ant-deterrent.
I’d love to know what your 2024 learnings have been. Here’s hoping that 2025 has plenty more life-enhancing experiences and revelations in store.
Other posts you’ll enjoy
