Our Personal Highlights of 2017

As 2018 draws ever nearer, the MMW team have been thinking about what we achieved on a personal level in 2017. This was a fantastic year, and a few of us travelled to some pretty extreme areas of the world! The main charity that we support, a Bedouin nursery school in Dahab, Egypt also had some wonderful news. 
 

Allie Astell - Founder
 

Allie Astell on the Great Wall of China


"I had such a memorable trip to China with my sister and Dad back in May. The last time I was there I was only two, when my parents lived in Peking in the early 70s, so that made it all the more special. My highlights? Finding that the British Embassy in Beijing where Dad was posted at the age of 27 is still there and hasn't changed a bit, messing around on the Great Wall, visiting the ancient palaces, and attending the Gourmand Awards in Yantai, during which my sister Jenny won 'Best Charity Cookbook of the Year' with a collection of our late mother's recipes. If you love Middle Eastern food check it out as all proceeds go towards Doctors of the World and their refugee aid."


Donna Bateman - Business Partner
 

Donna Bateman in Ethiopia


"It’s been a year of creating delightful memories, starting with an amazing trip to Wadi Zalaga in the heart of the Sinai desert to see the not-to-be-missed annual camel race, through to the life-affirming and, at times, challenging journey around Ethiopia and finishing off spending precious time with family on a memorable holiday to the Neapolitan Riviera. I will forever cherish every single one of these trips – from the people I met, the sights I saw and the wine I drank! Oh and I probably shouldn’t forget that in the midst of it all I became an Advanced Scuba Diver! 2017 has indeed been a remarkable year."


Ruben - Squarespace Developer
 

Ruben and Cassie Paul


"I married the love of my life Cassie in July, and it was an incredibly special day! So many friends and relatives travelled from all over the world to our UK wedding. We now live in Austin, Texas with our dogs and life is perfect. I'll never forget 2017."


Valerie - Web Designer & Blogger
 

Valerie at Everest Basecamp


"I experienced possibly the proudest moment of my life just a month ago at over 5km in the sky at Everest Base Camp. I trekked for 2 weeks through the stunning Himalaya, fighting the flu, dodging yaks, sleeping in tents, and gasping in awe at every turn when a new mighty peak introduced itself. At the top, I applied my signature YSL red lipstick and posed for the most epic selfie ever!"


Charity Highlight
 

Birds of Paradise Hadana Dahab


The Birds of Paradise Hadana (kindergarten) in Dahab, Egypt is a non-profit project that we're involved with, run by a Bedouin lady. In August a local musician called Spike raised £130 through a community open mike night and he took the cash to the hadana, playing tunes for the kids while he was there. The money paid for another ceiling fan as it can reach almost 50 degrees over there, a water tank, and a garden shelter roof. If you'd like to find out more about this grass roots project or donate, click here to join the Facebook group

If you're a client and have great news about your business or personal highlights of the year, we'd love to share it via our blog and social media channels. Drop us a line.

All that leaves us to say is Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and we hope that 2018 brings you everything you wish for!