2025 has had an interesting start and I am hoping the Hermit year improves. After a bout of flu which I passed on to the family (you are welcome), the grandchildren both got chicken pox, I have had this twice in my life which is apparently unheard of but thankfully I escaped the spotty disease! There has been so much illness around I hope you have dodged the germs.

BIG NEWS:  Early January I received an email from the Holiday Inn, Bloomsbury, announcing that they will be undergoing a major refurbishment starting in the summer of 2025. This renovation will affect the conference suites, resulting in the cancellation of all events from July onward, with no events scheduled to take place until the summer of 2026. This has p*ssed me off because contracts were signed in November, they must have known this was on the horizon. However, I’ve been actively looking for a new venue and have narrowed it down to two fantastic options, both in central London. Each has lovely conference suites and I’ll be visiting the event teams at both venues on January 29th and will make a decision. I promise to keep you updated and will share our new venue as soon as the contracts are signed.

This is a reminder DO NOT BOOK accommodation at the Holiday Inn Bloomsbury.

In other conference news, the 2025 speakers are booked, and it is an incredible line-up, I will be sharing names once the new venue is secured.

New details will be shared soon.

(Picture: Margo in Margate plate gifted by Steven Bright)