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Hey there lovely readers
Did anyone miss me? It's been a whole 2 weeks since my last blog post!
When I say it's been a wild couple of weeks, I'm downplaying it.
Firstly, let me share with you some business wins!
My hashtag strategy planning document was a huge success!
My first newsletter had an impressive 60% click rate!
And I managed to take a whole week off to celebrate Charley's 13th birthday!
It was so nice to unwind and enjoy quality family time while also hitting some big milestones on the business front.
Read on to hear all about the highs and lows of these past 2 weeks.
So after finally pushing that newsletter button, 2 weeks ago, I breathed a sigh of relief knowing those expert tips and tricks were winging their way to your inboxes.
All my own and my client's content was scheduled, email automations were running smoothly, and my dear friend kindly agreed to oversee my socials while I was away.
But there was little time to celebrate my amazing planning skills because Operation Birthday Surprise was already in full swing!
In a scene straight out of an over-the-top spy movie, we concocted an elaborate tale about a dental emergency to lure my darling daughter Charley out of the house, so that I could frantically pack everything I thought a 13-year-old girl would need for a week away!
Every exaggerated "Ow!" and pretend groan as I "recovered" from anaesthesia on the phone was rewarded by Charley's growing concern.
Lying to my child made my stomach twist in guilty knots, but it would all be worth it soon...
After dropping Charley at my mum's, my partner Dan and I raced to Allerthorpe Golf and country park, giddy with excitement.
We had been planning this surprise trip for months and couldn't wait to deck the lodge with birthday decorations! But the universe had other plans. Cleaners delayed, staff missing in action... it was a comedy of errors!
As the hours ticked by, Dan and I became restless kids ourselves, whining "Can we go in yet??" from our very stationary car. The lodge -- and our plans -- felt impossibly out of reach.
As many of you already know our lodge was aptly named “Rubens Lodge”. A nod to the memory of our son.
His passing 2 years ago, left a hole in our hearts that could never be filled. We hadn’t taken a family holiday since losing him, the grief was just too heavy. But when we stumbled across the lodge named Rubens completely by chance, it felt like a sign. Like Ruben was reaching out across the void to remind us of the joy in life. Booking it was bittersweet - the wound so fresh yet also somehow healing.
During the months leading up to the trip, I flitted between heart-bursting excitement imagining Ruben’s delighted smile, and heart-rending grief over him not physically being there.
Seeing his name on the sign as we finally arrived almost knocked the wind from my chest. Tears flowed, but smiles did too. Ruben’s spirit danced around us as we decorated for Charley’s celebration, filling the lodge with love and laughter. The trip allowed us to honour his memory in a beautiful new way while also creating new memories together as a family.
After the chaos, Charley’s arrival was anything but magical. Mum was meant to have let us know when they were close so we would be ready, but she forgot and in walks Charley wondering what we were doing there. Her confused face morphing into shock and joy is a memory I’ll treasure. Hearing her delighted squeal when she realised this holiday was just for her, ( I think the balloons made it obvious) made every bump in the road worthwhile!
The next few days were blissful. We went on scenic walks, visited Burnby Hall and gardens, where we were met by fish that swarmed us like puppies begging for food, spent our evenings in the hot tub and laughed until our cheeks ached.
We even managed to get my stepdaughter with us for the last few days of the holiday, which was lovely, but, If you have ever tried to share a hot tub with a 5-year-old, you will know that it was far from relaxing, with many attempts at avoiding the splashes as she proudly tried to show us what she’s learnt in swimming lessons.
Friday morning came all too soon and upon returning home, normal life hit us squarely in the face. Mt. Laundry taunted us, hungry kids multiplied, and my poor neglected to-do list awaited.
I had rather foolishly decided to give myself the weekend to adjust back to normal life before returning to work. So when Charley woke up feeling poorly on Monday, instead of tackling that to-do list, I spent the day taking her to get checked out at the hospital. Thankfully it turned out to be nothing more than a nasty infection that had hit the left side of her face, ear and tonsils, but by the time we got home, work was the last thing on my mind.
I won't lie - adjusting back to reality has been a challenge. Running a business while managing a family is no fairy tale, but I wouldn't trade this crazy, meaningful life for anything.
And every view, every comment, each like and new follow makes it all worthwhile. Please know that I truly appreciate each and every one.
So thank you for being with me on this incredible journey. Here's to the continued wild ride ahead, loop-de-loops and all!
But for now, I'm grabbing a coffee and putting my feet up.
These ups and downs have me knackered!
Don't forget you can subscribe to my newsletter and get antics like this, hot tips and tricks and so much more delivered straight to your inbox twice a month!
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