It has been eleven days since my last confession. 

Okay, yes not confession, but my last blog. Thanks so much for sticking around. 

In so many ways life has been so busy since we came back from Scotland 26 days ago that something, soon enough, was going to give. Unfortunately, it was writing. I really really enjoyed writing about our trip and sharing the itinerary with you all and yet the busier I got the harder it was to publish every day. And then I reminded myself it is only the challenge I set myself that is falling behind. Nothing else. 

With plans to head to Leeds for the day and slowly ease back into our everyday lives, the real happenings proved to be much busier. Heading back to my part time job in gardening was interesting enough with my back issue still flaring up and autumn throwing all sorts of maintenance my way. I experienced my first fully fledged migraine which saw me puking and sleeping for a few days. I took a last minute trip up to Durham for a few days to see my brother and his family which was just brilliant. Two full days of talking, laughing and games with my young nieces. Then as an added bonus my oldest niece came home with my mum so we spent two more days playing and having fun. On the return I met up with Mr W to take a day trip to Leeds to see my step son. We planned an 80th birthday party for someone very special and a day out shopping with a lunch thrown in too. We’ve also seen my other brother for his birthday and spent a slow few hours in Greenwich planning lots of behind the scenes secrets which will be shared soon. These will become apparent on social media very soon!

I would love to say that life will get slower in the lead up to Christmas but it’s only going to speed up. But gratefully it is mostly days out filled with new experiences. So far, there are 6 days out in London and a trip to Europe… which I will tell you all about soon. Part of the reason to head into London is to see my friend visiting from the States. I’ve been helping her with her week long plans and I am SO excited to see her! There are so many big plans in our capital city that I have been frantic with itineraries and research. What is it about Autumn that plunges us into a frenzy? 

There are some renovations starting in our home, by us, which will take up quite a bit of my time as well as the regular stuff. The regular stuff being household chores which have severely fallen behind recently. AND there is the Christmas shopping which we like to do as early as possible as socially December is a huge month for us and I don’t like to feel rushed. Ultimately it doesn’t work out that way, but we can only try! 

Adding to that we are trying to find the time to look into next year’s travels which won’t hit the bank too hard but take us somewhere new and exhilarating. 

Life happens. Everything you love, like and must do happens all at once and it does feel hard to find that balance. Truthfully we do find it testing at times and then ultimately punish ourselves for not getting a grip. However I am trying to treat myself as I would treat others. If my friend was beating themselves up I would tell them to give themselves a break and that is really important. Be kind to yourself just as you would others. Nobody gets it right all the time and nobody can go full throttle all the time. 

Right now, instead of staying up alone writing until midnight, I am falling asleep by 10pm with Mr W and on occasion I am reading new books. I am an avid reader and have most definitely fallen behind in my reading since the summer. We managed one late coffee morning in bed a week or so ago and even enjoyed breakfast at the dining room table too. I have squeezed in a hair appointment and had dinner with family a few times. These little moments really help to put the busy times into perspective and have massively taken the pressure off. 

Maybe someday we will find the balance. Right now, it’s manageable. Just.

I’m going to be kinder to myself while chasing the next adventure.

Be kind. Always.