So this month I’ve published a grand total of 3 blog posts (4 if you include this one). I think that gives you an indication of just how insanely busy May has been for me!
The main reason has been because I’ve started a new role at work. I’m still freelance – and still at the same company – but I’ve taken on a role that’s a LOT more responsibility than I’ve previously had. It took a lot of mulling things over for me to accept the position, purely because I’m someone who really values my free time and having the creative energy (how lame does that sound?) to work on other avenues. I haven’t yet quite reached that perfect balance but I’m hoping that as I get to grips with processes I’ll slide into my own little groove and things will be a lot easier! Here’s hoping…
My weekends have also been pretty busy with lots and lots of plans. Here are some of the things I’ve been loving this month…
1. A solo cinema trip
Despite how busy the month turned out to be, I started May feeling kinda lonely. Rather than wallow, though, I decided to embrace it by taking myself off for a solo cinema trip to see Black Panther. Halfway through the opening credits I realised that this was the first time I’d ever been to the cinema by myself. I’m not sure why it’s never occurred to me before to go to the cinema without someone else tagging along – maybe because if I find myself with some spare time, I normally end up just working! Anyway, the movie was great, my evening alone was fab, and I’m definitely going to be doing this again!
2. A seaside trip to Walton
I go to Walton-on-the-Naze, a little seaside town in Essex, every April to put flowers down for my grandad on his birthday. This year I was a little late in going because the weather has been so naff, but I ended up going up one Saturday when the weather was absolutely glorious! I put some roses down, treated myself to an ice cream, and sat on the beach for an hour to soak up some rays.
3. Lots of gardening…
With the weather being a little better, Ian and I have been trying to make the most of our little garden. It’s a bit of a blank canvas in the fact it’s got some patchy bits of grass and lots of weeds in the beds, so we’ve had to work hard to get it looking semi acceptable. We’ve even got a little vegetable patch, although the cats do keep digging everything up…
4. Ian’s birthday BBQ!
May saw Ian’s birthday, and we held a BBQ in our garden for a group of friends. It was good fun, and one of the best things about starting early in the afternoon is that we were tucked up in bed asleep at a reasonable hour. Would very much do this again.
5. A brunch at Dalloway Terrace
After seeing tonnes of photos of Dalloway Terrace all over Instagram, I was so excited when Jodie from The Little Backpacker invited me there brunch! It’s been waaayyy too long since we had a catch up, and I couldn’t think of a prettier place to do it in.
6. A weekend in Rotterdam
My long weekend in Rotterdam for Traverse was THE BEST. I met so many incredible content creators, caught up with some blogger friends, and learnt so much about everything from SEO to editing photos in Lightroom. One of the main reasons why I love going to Traverse every year is to remind myself just how big and supportive this industry is. It’s easy to lose sight of things when you’re at home slogging away at another blog post after a hard day at work…
But it wasn’t all work, work, work. I found time to head up the Euromast to watch the sun setting, and I conquered a big fear by climbing over a gigantic harbour wall into a speedboat for a ride around Rotterdam.
7. Finally visiting Brussels!
When I worked out I’d passed through Brussels 9 times without actually seeing the city, I knew I had to do something about it. On the way home from Rotterdam, Sophie and I ambled into Brussels for some sightseeing, ice cream and 29°C weather. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, and we actually managed to see so much in just a few short hours. I’m so relieved I can now say I’ve seen this gorgeous city for myself!
8. Jim’s worked out where his food is kept
And he can now jump in within 0.23 seconds of me opening the drawer. I’m such a proud cat mum right now…
I do love the Dalloway Terrace!!
Sounds like a packed but lovely month! I really like going to the movies on my own – it’s nice and relaxing! x