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I got on the plane!

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Friday 31 October 2025

In recent years, I’ve become a regular at the local airport; dropping off, picking up, loitering at the arrivals gate, paying astronomical parking fees (even once being fined for forgetting to pay them!). I swear that some of the staff now greet me by name! But the one thing I’ve not done… since 2019… is fly anywhere. No, I have been strictly a chauffeur…until this weekend!

Yes, readers, I actually get on the plane!

With my two salaried daughters, who now pay for themselves, I jet off to Brussels for a long weekend. I am beyond excited. I refuse to have ‘carry on luggage only’ and fork out for a 20kg case. Overpack to ridiculous proportions, fill my purse with Euros, doubtless drive the girls insane …. and what fun I have!

Brussels could just possibly be the perfect weekend destination. Not too big, effortlessly elegant and a delight to while away the hours in.

We shop, we stop regularly to sample the famous beer, we eat … lots of frites, plenty of waffles and, of course the reknowned ‘Moules’

and we just enjoy wandering around the pretty streets and squares.

Some parts of the city so French, other, such as the Grand Place with its heavy Gothic architecture very … I was going to say Germanic, but Flemish is probably more accurate. We certainly take a lot of pics!

All too soon I am being dragged reluctantly back to the ‘Flixbus’ stop to start the return leg to Blighty. I would love to have stretched this out for another 24 hours. Back on home soil, I do manage to briefly extend our break when I espy and report an ‘unattended bag’ on the shuttle back to the car park and we, along with all the other passengers, are evacuated …. for 15 minutes until the next shuttle arrives!

But it’s only a short delay until I am back home… and already dreaming of my next trip. The financial barrier of paying for everyone and everything seems to be gone (for now), and my travel bug is definitely back!

Easter Sunday 2025

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Sunday 20 April 2025

Easter Sunday… April 20th…gosh where have I been?

It has been weeks since I last penned a blog post.

I am not entirely sure why, but I think I just fell out of the routine and stopped writing. And I really want to get back into the blog. So what better day for a new beginning or a reawakening than Easter Sunday!

So, glass of wine in hand, here goes. Life is good.. and not just because of the Riesling or the chocolate eggs. Many events will merit a post of their own over the next few weeks but for now I’ll sketch out a short start catch-up.

We have a doctor in the family. Woohoo! Yes, my brilliant Eldest child is back from medial elective in Nepal and SE Asia, she has passed all her exams and has secured her first Junior Doctor post. We are also close to having a second graduate in the house, with Prom-dress daughter completing the finishing touches to her dissertation as I write.

And for me, well freelancing is so much less stressful than my previous work that I have time to do all things that I actually want to do. I have played with many different musicians, met new faces and, more importantly, spent lots of time with those I already like a lot. I know my heart, I know my head and it is time to steer my ship to the shore of happy endings. And I’d like to write about it all… as I have done for a few years.

So, this week’s challenge is carving out some blog time… will refill my glass, because I say ‘Cheers to that!’