I found it emotional enough to summarise 2019 in a single Instagrammable post, so I won’t dare attempt to reflect deeply on an entire decade passed (perhaps when I exit my own 20s next year). What I will say now with immense pride, is that I followed the words I promised myself in 2010: Follow your heart and what you love; it will only lead you to more of it. That courage (for better or for worse) led me to my whole world: this little corner of Notting Hill, ardently in love and writing stories both mind and heart beat for.

Now, it’s the roaring ’20s. I’m so curious for what 2020 will bring. We spent the first day of the year utilising our National Trust membership in the magnificent White Cliffs of Dover. The same landscape spotted as we crossed the English Channel into our new life. It was the perfect walk to weave together sentimental reflections with powerful resolutions.

Last year’s chief resolution was to practise profound honesty with myself and edit my life a bit. I slowly refined my heart’s passions and learned how to strictly invest only into where, what and who I’m meant for. I’ve been brewing 2020 resolutions throughout December, in between the holiday shopping on Oxford Street and spending those last precious days of December with Daniel and my mum (yes, adopting British English once and forever). Beyond resolutions to beat my reading count, find the right deals for my books, master powerful habits, better skiing skills, have our wedding, deepening new friendships and fill my mind and body with only what nurtures it, I have a chief resolution to carry me through this year…

Mindfully, vulnerably and wholeheartedly fall more in love with this English life as I build it daily— and share every page, season, and romance of that story with my readers along the way.

I’ll start with a moment shared with Daniel today during our walk. A cloud of fog from the channel rolled over the cliffs. We couldn’t see more than ten feet ahead, yet we had a moment of seeing our future in a unique clarity. The notorious winds of the coastal England battered our faces, I smiled as I thought how many times I had read about these particularly powerful winds in books. It made me think about winds, and the directions they take for us. We squeezed each other’s hand and together agreed our whirlwind time in the States felt like two and a half years of connecting flights until arriving home in England. The amount of curiosity, inexplicable nostalgia, profound happiness and endless imaginings I feel for England can only compare to the two other loves in my life. Writing stories, and my husband. Two loves, two homes, both of which one lifetime will never feel enough for. The United Kingdom is now the third love of my life, and I’m ready to devote a lifetime to translating that love into stories.

To the precious readers who have stayed loyal to this blog for the past two years, KG is now a scrapbook, a most honest journal, an active inspirational destination for the celebration of English living. From creating my lifestyle in London and filling our flat with treasures collected to exploring the great English countryside to how do Afternoon Tea most properly, exploring the style of royals, quintessentially English events, scone recipes, entertaining tips, weekend trips to Europe, how to enjoy Londontown life like a local, and a million stories beyond. I’m truly elated to share these brilliant years ahead as I explore what it means to be wholly British (before becoming it officially).

Wishing you all the most brilliant New Year; let’s do this one together xx