Home time

I never thought I would say this but I am actually going to miss the doggies when I head back home later today.  They have been a pain with their constant crying in the night but I am pleased with how lovely they have been too.  They are both very affectionate and it has been nice to have them to cuddle up with in the absence of Mr L.  

I am however really looking forward to getting home and spending some time with Mr L before chaos commences with the return of the kids from their holiday.  

One thing I have done this week is to create a new 6 month plan for my business - not a traditional business plan but more of a visioning exercise to help me clarify my goals and stay focused over the coming months.   Lots of things have changed lately and my old plan no longer seems to fit so it's good to have a clear idea of where I am headed.  

Morning calm : some thoughts

After a somewhat restless night with the dogs barking and refusing to settle, it is nice to have a moment of peace.  

Nothing to accompany my thoughts except the faint snoring of a dog and the sound of seagulls flying overhead. It amuses me how that sound used to annoy me so much when I lived here, yet now I like it as it reminds me of the sea.  Another thing I disliked as a child but love as an adult.  

Sometimes I am really compelled to visit the seaside, not for Fish and Chips or an Ice Cream but to walk along the coastline or sit and let my thoughts roll in and out with the tide. There is something so soothing about the motion, which is odd because I am so afraid of the water.  

I'm feeling quite homesick now. It is strange being back here and I miss my home and Mr L.  In some ways hardly anything has changed since I left here 10 years ago and in other ways things are so different.  There is a "greyness" about it all now, bleak is the word I am looking for I think.  I had a happy childhood in this part of the world and yet I am so grateful I managed to "get out".  

Off to do some work whilst things are peaceful and dogs are sleeping! 

Time Out

I am away for the week, dog-sitting for my sister whilst she is on holiday.  I have to admit I wasn't looking forward to it, not only was I a bit uncomfortable with the two large dogs but also with spending a week in the bleak little town on the north-east coast where I grew up. Luckily, my Mum has tagged along to keep me company.

Despite not looking forward to it, I had set my mind on trying to enjoy a week in a different environment, away from the four walls of our office.  I had plans to get lots of work done and take stock.  It doesn't seem to be happening though, it's hard to concentrate with two dogs bounding around.

I'm also missing Mr L, it sounds silly as we have only been apart for a few days but I am missing him being around, his silly jokes (although don't tell him) and curling up on the sofa with him at the end of the day.

New Routine

Last week Mr L and I set ourselves a new challenge (well really it's my challenge but Mr L was being lovely and supportive).  A while back I used to run almost everyday, it was my daily exercise and an opportunity to get outside and clear my head.  I loved running in the morning as it set me up for the day but then an old knee injury took hold and, alas, that was the end of my running routine. 

Since then, I have to be honest and say that exercise dropped off my radar.  Aside from the occasional walk I have been doing very little.  Add into that setting up a new business and some days I am so engrossed in what's happening on my computer screen that I don't leave the house. 

*Hangs head in shame*

Enter the new routine.  It was decided that whilst I can't run, I can walk so that is what I would do each day.  Every morning, before starting work I would get outside and go for a walk and to show his support Mr L would come with me.  Day one of this new routine arrived and at 6.30am off we trotted (in the dark!) for a 5km walk.  As we were nearing the end, the sun had risen and we stopped to watch a flock of Geese come into land at our local wetland.  Lovely start to the day.  

The week continued in a similar way and I managed to clock up 24km in total!  I also had a gym session with a friend which even involved a little light jogging on the treadmill.  Not only I am proud of setting this new routine in motion, I have really been enjoying having the time to get outside, breathe, and clear my head. 

This week I definitely intend to continue, despite the dismal weather forecast, and I hope I will continue to feel inspired and refreshed. 

A work in progress

Meet our office cat

Exciting times.  Yes indeed, work life is full of excitement at the moment, I now have a new business partner on board and as we move towards becoming a limited company I can't help but feel like I am really starting to achieve my business goals.

I'm finding it very hard to switch off at the moment, not only do we have two big projects on the go but I also have countless ideas to help move the business forward.

I attended MADE festival last week and it has spurred me on even more, it was hard not to be completely inspired by both the speakers and the other entrepreneurs I engaged with.  I still think it sounds funny to refer to myself as an entrepreneur or even a business woman/ business owner but in reality I am now all of those things.  I love it.  It's hardwork and challenging and an immensely steep learning curve (I am very quickly learning what I am capable of and what I am not) but I feel alive with it and I know this is what I am meant to be doing with my life.

I'm also very excited to have Mr L on board as my business partner, I don't think there is anyone else in this world that I would trust with that job.  It's great to have him to bounce ideas around with and it works so well because he balances me out in so many ways.  I also love that we are building this vision together.

As things move forward and I let go of what has passed I am feeling lighter, more free somehow and although I think there will be some difficult times ahead I know that whatever happens, things are getting sorted and it will be just fine in the end.

*It would be nice however if I could just have a little more sleep!

Launch Day!

It's finally here!

Yes this afternoon, after months of work, I finally launched the new business venture and website.

It's so exciting to be able to finally share it with my blog reader over at Little Pieces and I am feeling a mixture of relief, excitement and happiness at finally getting it done.  I just know that this is the beginning of an even bigger and more successful phase of my business.

The initial response has been so positive and affirming and I am really grateful for all the support of my family, friends and blog readers.  Mr L has been especially supportive even on the days I have been tired, grumpy and frustrated by slow progress!

I'm off now to enjoy a glass of wine before I get back to marketing plans, Twitter campaigns and blog post writing.  No rest for the self-employed!

Birthday reflections...

It's my 28th birthday today. 28 years old…sometimes I feel much older, other times I can hardly believe I am at this stage of my life already.  Don't get me wrong I am not freaked out by it (I'm leaving that until I hit 30!), it just seems in some ways that my twenties have zipped by without me noticing.  I'm not a big birthday person and this one is going to be quiet, it's always an awkward week as the bank holiday means friends go on holiday or have plans already, so it will be a quiet day with Mr Lovely.  Perfect. 

Yesterday I took some time to review the past year - it's the one annual tradition I have.  It was a big year, full of change, new experiences and shifting relationships.  I started my business and even better I made money from my business.  What had been a dream for several years became a reality and although I have a way to go to craft it into what I want, I'm doing it.  I also became clear about the direction I want my main blog, Little Tiny Pieces to take which resulted in setting up this personal blog for my general ramblings.  I met with a fellow blogger, reached out to others in the community through button swaps, advertising and guest posts and began to develop my strategy.  It's a work in progress, as always. 

I wrote a lot this year.  Blog posts, emails and letters, journal pages, pages of my future book, ecourses and workbooks.  Hundreds of blank pages filled with my scribblings.  I learnt to love the process of letting my words flow onto the page and the satisfaction of a story forming.  It's a sort of therapy I guess, a way of staying grounded and connecting with others.  It's slowly becoming a bigger part of future plans. 

I fell in love.  Mr Lovely came into my life and my world was turned upside down (in a good way).  I learnt what it really means to be in an adult relationship, I learnt to let go of the past, I learnt to let someone love me.  Not always easy, but always worth the effort.  I have laughed, cried, kissed, cuddled, talked.  I became part of a family and I am so thankful to have Mr L and two amazing children in my life, I feel so privileged they have let me be a part of theirs. I moved and began to feel settled once more. 

I tried new things and made new memories- baking bread, wine tasting, coding a website completely from scratch, eating a burger in the rain in the middle of Green Park at night. I did things I hadn't done for a really long time - visited the Cinema, started scrapbooking again, rekindled a love for tomatoes, visited the seaside, remembered how much music is a part of my life.  

Of course, the "big family thing" happened, it's not fair to talk about it here as I have to respect the privacy of those involved but I learnt a lot from it.  I learnt to let go of unrealistic ideals, I learnt that I value those who take their responsibilities seriously, I learnt that when it really comes down to it I can be stronger than I think.  I also came to believe that the "dark seasons" of life are the gateway for something greater.  They are necessary in order for us to recognise the seasons of opportunity that life also throws our way.  

I discovered what is important to me - relationships and friendships, health, being creative.  I got frustrated with unrealised potential and being held back by fear, I was inspired by those who turned their ideas in reality.  I realised the value in achieving work/life balance.

My 27th year has been good to me and I hope my 28th will be even better!

It seems I am still in a super manic period of life - I'm still finalising my website, work for my biggest client is starting to take up more of my time and there seems to be a never ending list of jobs to do at home.  I spent last week having a major stress fest but after a discussion with Mr L I have started to relax.  That's one of the things I love about him...somehow he always manages to keep me grounded. 

The weekend was lovely - we had an impromptu gathering for Mr Lovely's birthday on Friday night and then I had quite a bit of time to myself.  It was a bit weird but it gave me a chance to regroup and do things I haven't done for ages such as have a lie in and read magazines in bed. And of course there was a lot of Olympic viewing too!

This week my two goals are to get my website done and paint our hallway.  Two quite big things but I really need to achieve them for my own sanity!