“Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” 
― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings

Somebody once told me that it is far easier to moan about what has gone badly than it is to give thanks for the blessings in our lives. This Christmas I wanted to say thanks for all the good things 2012 has brought my way and thank you for all the situations that have schooled me this year. These ‘thank yous’ are in no particular order:

1)       Thank you India for teaching me that sometimes my expectations of a place can be completely wrong. This can be a good thing.

I expected India to be a shock to the senses. It was. It was also a place where you could stop and relax and allow life to seep over you. It is somewhere I never wanted to go to (it was not on a travel list). I now want to go back!

2)      Thank you Stephen for encouraging me to dream big and for backing me up whenever I have suggested something crazy. This has been my most successful year as a photographer and that is due in no small part to my husband.

3)      Thank you South Africa for your beautiful landscape, your fine wine, your friendly spirit and for new friends.

My husband scans Boulders Bay in S.Africa for penguins.

4)      Thank you International Guild of Visual Peacemakers for inspiring me with your desire to change the world through beautiful images.

5)      Thank you MRDF for giving me so many wonderful opportunities to help make small miracles possible for some of the world’s poorest people and thank you World AIMS for giving me belief in the fact that young people really can change the world!

My images being used for this year’s MRDF Harvest Appeal (images taken in Mali in Nov 2011)

6)      Thank you Turkey for providing the setting for a fun family holiday and thank you Perks and Cook families for bringing the joy!

7)      Thank you Ethiopia for showing me the potential people have to change attitudes towards the environment. Thank you also for providing me with some of the best cups of tea and coffee I have ever had!

I am travelling back to Ethiopia in 2013 with Woodhouse Grove School and look forward to many more hot drinks!

8)      Thank you Republic Media, The Guardian Travel Section, Wildjunket, Lets Be Wild, IGVP, MRDF, Tearfund, Irex, One and RISC for publishing my work and for believing in me.

9)      Thank you Nepal for your mountains that made me cry because I realised just how small and weak I am. Thank you Nepal for your children who bring a smile to my face. Thank you Nepal for the women who live in harsh circumstances but keep bringing joy to others. Thank you KOPILA Nepal for your courage and thank you Carol Davidson and Kent College Nepal for letting me share your adventures.

Girls greeting me with the traditional ‘Namaste’.

10)  Thank you to every family member who has loved me unconditionally, to every friend who has encouraged me, to every follower of this little blog and to every person in my life who has ‘had my back’. I love you all.

Above all else…

Thank you God for giving me dreams and then enabling me to live them.

On safari in South Africa with The Guardian and &Beyond.