Lockdown 2021 Update

I mentioned in my last post that I had compiled a list of things to do during the first lockdown to keep myself occupied, and how I intended to create one for this current lockdown.  Having done one already I was struggling to think of what to include but finally came up with a list.  Some of the things were on my first list that I knew I could do again plus I added in a few new ones too.  

The latest list consists of:

~ Create a 2020 photo book.

I really enjoyed putting this together.  Being able to see everything that I was able to achieve during such a bizarre year.  It's a year that will be talked about for years to come and I didn't want to forget the little things that made the year what it was for me.  I put this book together with Snapfish.   

~ Clear through my wardrobe.

I did this during the first lockdown.  I knew there was more I could get rid of.  I had lost quite a bit of weight and was unsure whether I'd put it back on.  After a year, I think it's safe to say that it is staying off for the time being, so the clothes can go.  Besides we're not exactly going many places to wear most of it anyway plus I do feel that my taste has changed in this time.  And I can't help but find having a clear out so therapeutic.

~ Watch a new TV series.

I'd heard a lot about The Queens Gambit on Netflix so decided to give it a go.  I loved it and am even more pleased that one of my goals for 2021 is to lean how to play chess.  It's something I've wanted to learn for a few years now so I'm hoping my boyfriend will be able to teach me.

~ Read a book.

I've actually read 4 and am already on book number 5.  I didn't read that much last year but hope to change that this year.  I have been logging my reading progress on my Goodreads account if you're interested.

~ Complete a jigsaw puzzle.

This is one of those things that I enjoy doing but rarely ever do.  I've already done two and have plans to order another from Liberty's after completing this one of theirs already, which I loved.

~ Finish a craft project.

I bought this kit a good few years ago.  I started it by stitching out the wording in the centre and then it sat untouched, until now.  I managed to get this on finished pretty quickly and I loved doing it, plus it has turned out even better than I imagined it would.  I definitely feel as though my creative mojo is returning and I am so here for it.

~ Begin a new challenge.

I was unsure what this was going to be but after finishing my cross stitch kit I've been thinking about trying a much bigger project, and something I've not tried before so watch this space, mind you it's going to be a long project so it may be some time before you see anything.  

~ Grab a takeaway from an independent coffee shop I've never visited before.

I've seriously missed eating out.  I've also seen a lot of business struggle during these lockdowns, so this one for me feels like something that I can benefit from, as well as supporting a small business.  I've returned back to a favourite spot already, Fete Graysyard in Chelmsford.  But have also been to Brunch and Bottle in Billericay, a new place that has just opened.  I have my eye on a few other places I'd like to try out too.

~ Do some baking.

I rarely bake but I've had an urge lately.  So Pumpkin Pie it was and it was delicious.  I'm now thinking about baking some Easter themed treats soon. 

 

~ Create a date night at home.

Not being able to go out has been tough, but that shouldn't mean that we can't still enjoy date nights.  It just means we have to be a little more inventive.  I've been able to arrange a few things at home already such as doughnut decorating, treat boards and takeaways plus this cute set up for Valentines Day.  If anyone can suggest some other ideas I'd be really grateful. 

Being able to cross near enough all of these off my list already has been great.  It is definitely keeping me occupied, but already I'm thinking of what else I could add to it, as it's still going to be a little while before things return back to some form of normality pre 2020.  I feel really lucky that I can look back on 2020 and all the fun things I was able to achieve, considering the majority of it was spent in lockdown.  I'm already getting the feeling that this year is going to be much the same in terms of restrictions, even after the announcement of no restrictions past 21st June, somehow I can't see it happening, hopefully I'm wrong.  Either way I am determined not let the year go to waste.  

What have you been doing to keep yourself from going stir crazy during lockdown?

~ Gem x

Coping With Lockdown

I will be honest, I still cannot get my head around everything that is going on in the world right now.  And I still don't believe everything that we are being told by the media and our government, but I'm not going to get into all of that here.  Being in lockdown is something I could never have contemplated having to face before.  Now it feels more normal than not, as here in the UK we are experiencing our third lockdown since this whole pandemic started.

I am pissed off.  I am tired.  I am angry.  I had my ups and downs during the first lockdown.  The second didn't really phase me at all.  But this third one is really getting to me.  Every.  Little. Thing. is irritating me, and I don't know how to shake it.  I hate that every aspect of life right now has to be planned like a military operation, and this is coming from someone who loves to plan things.   I would love so much to go to the cinema, to go out to dinner with friends and family, to go play a round of adventure golf, but we can't do any of that, nor does it look like we'll be able to any time soon.

I'm not really someone that can sit around and do nothing for very long.  I like to have things to occupy myself.  I can happily sit in front of the TV and watch a few films or episodes of a good series, but after a couple of days cabin fever begins to kick in and I get irritable.  Going into the first lockdown I created a list of things I wanted to do.  Some of them were things I'd put off for a couple of years, others were silly little jobs I'd just not yet got round to, plus I added in a few things just for fun because let's face it, we could all do with a it of fun during these trying times.  For me I find it good to have a target, something to aim towards and this really helped me get through the first lockdown.  I didn't really bother with one for the second lockdown.  Being right before Christmas my mind was focussed on preparing for that.  Writing out my Christmas cards, preparing gifts for my loved ones, watching all the classic Christmas movies etc.  I'm feeling like I could really do with a list right now, which I am working on compiling, only trouble is I am struggling to find things to add to it as I completed so much first time around.

My first list consisted of:

~ Organise Pinterest Boards.

~ Finish Disneyland Paris Trip Scrapbook.

~ Complete a Jigsaw Puzzle.

~ Get Creative, Do Some Crafts.

~ Go Through Photos.

~ Read A Book.

~ Listen to my favourite songs.

~ Facetime Friends.

~ Clear Out Wardrobe.

~ Watch A TV Series on Netflix.

~ Go Through Emails.

~ Re-Pot House Plants.

Some of these things I can add to my new list, plus I'm sure I'll come up with a couple of new things too.  Is there anything that you have been doing to help make the lockdown more bearable? I'd love to hear about it if you've found something to pass the time.

~ Gem x 

  

Goals For 2021

I gave up setting myself new year resolutions a long time ago.  I'd always set them at the start of the year, full of determination to fulfil them by the end of December, only for them to be forgotten about by around March time.  I moved on to having a word for the year instead, feeling this was far more positive and beneficial, but again it fell by the wayside sooner than I'd hoped for.  I like the idea of them though, so after giving it some thought and looking at how well I seem to do with my 30 before 30 and 40 before 40 lists, I have decided this year to set myself a list of goals I'd like to achieve. To some this may seem the same as resolutions, maybe it's all in the mindset, who knows but I'm going to give it a try.

1. Watch the Star Wars films ~ Mainly because the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney World looks incredible and I want to be able to appreciate and understand it fully when I eventually get there. 

2. Cross off at least one thing from my 40 Before 40 list and London List ~ Last year meant that not very much was crossed off either list, hopefully that will change this year.

3. Learn how to play chess ~ I have always been intrigued by this game and have been wanting to learn how to play for a couple of years now. 

4. Get a new tattoo ~ My last one was in 2016, I'd wanted to get one for my 30th so it's way overdue.

5. Live in the moment ~ If it's one thing that I learnt from 2020 it's that nothing is guaranteed.  We can make plans but in an instant they can be squashed, so be more spontaneous and live each day as it comes. 

Nothing too major or daunting but definitely achievable. 

I love hearing about other peoples new year resolutions or goals so feel free to share them with me if you have set any for this year.

~ Gem x

2020 Year In Review

When I wrote my first year in review post 6 years ago, I had no idea that it would become an almost yearly tradition, but also the one post each year that I really enjoy creating.  I find it so refreshing looking back at everything I have done over the year, and now that I can look over multiple years it just makes it all the better.  Although it does go to show how quickly the years are passing by, some of the things I've done only feel like they were yesterday.

 

I never got around to publishing one of these posts for 2019 which I'm a little gutted about now, but I'm back and ready to share 2020.  Yes, to many 2020 may have felt like a bit of a nothing year, but I feel like I've still made the most of it.  Here is what I got up to.

 

January

 I started off the year with a short break to Bristol.  Somewhere I've never visited before, but also a trip I would later in the year become grateful for as it was one of the few times I was able to travel away from home in 2020.  I loved exploring the hometown of Banksy and seeing all the street art around the city.  I tried my hand at axe throwing, lets just say I can't wait to try that again, it was great fun.  I walked across the Clifton suspension bridge, an amazing piece of engineering.  And a highlight was driving through Cheddar Gorge, something I was pleased to cross off my 40 Before 40 list.  January also saw a trip to the seaside for a walk long the seafront, perfect for a wintery day.  Breakfast at Bills, one of my favourites and a couple of shopping trips to Lakeside.

 

February

A girl’s night out for my friend Irina's birthday, both the first and the last in a very long time.  We enjoyed a gorgeous Chinese feast at a great restaurant in Chelmsford, Zenxi.  I'm looking forward to return once things get back to some form of normality.  I enjoyed seeing the snowdrops appear outside my little home, a true sign that spring is not far away.  We also celebrated my aunt's 60th Birthday, a lovely opportunity to spend some time with family.

 

March

 The month I moved back in with my parents.  An opportunity for me to save and figure life out.  Little did I know that lockdown would give me plenty of time for that.  Thankfully a night in with Leigh, a dear friend of mine watching Netflix with an Indian takeaway was enjoyed before going into national lockdown.  I said goodbye to my desk in my office at work and started working from home.  A puzzle was started with my parents, not done that in so many years.  A couple of small craft projects were completed.  Lots of organising was done and a good ole clear out was started, complete with a nice bonfire.  So therapeutic.

 

April

I settled into life working from home.  The Netflix and Disney+ binging began, watching the entire season 2 of You, and season 3 of 13 Reasons Why.  I started watching the Marvel films in chronological order virtually with Leigh.  The clear out and organising continued and some chilled out time was enjoyed.

 

May

 The Marvel marathon continued.  We celebrated VE Day by having a street party with our neighbours.  I discovered Fete a vintage coffee van a couple of roads away from my parents, which became a regular spot to visit.  It was great to get a decent coffee and support a small, local business.  I picnicked in the park with Iri as we enjoyed the sunshine.  I honestly felt so grateful for the beautiful weather we were blessed with.  I can't imagine how much harder things would have been had the weather not been so kind to us.

 

June

June felt like quite a social month even though I continued to work from home.  I met some colleagues in the park for a Five Guys takeaway.  Walks were enjoyed with Leigh, which included coffee dates and a visit to a beautiful field filled with sweet peas.  I enjoyed my first Starbucks since the start of lockdown, this did involve a fair old drive to get there but it was so worth it.  We also welcomed some new members to our household after discovering hedgehogs visiting our garden each night.  It was so lovely to see them each evening as they popped in for their dinner.

 

July

July was a month filled with lots of adventures, I could almost have forgotten there was a global pandemic sweeping the earth.  I celebrated my birthday which was made extra special by Leigh who treated me to a drive in movie to watch Birds of Prey, a film I had wanted to catch at the cinema when it came out but missed.  He also treated me to a day out at Thorpe Park.  It felt so good to be doing normal things again, it made me realise how much I had missed doing such simple things that ordinarily I'd have taken for granted.  I took a trip to Hitchin Lavender farm with Iri, that is a place I don't think I'll ever tire of visiting.  We packed up a picnic with us to enjoy while we were there which was perfect for a beautiful summers day surrounded by lavender fields. I ate out in an actual restaurant, we celebrated this with ice cream of course.  And my brother and sister in law bought a puppy, so we had lots of fun welcoming her into the family.

August

My trips to Fete coffee van continued, their bio-degradable coffee cups are just the cutest. I had my first evening of puppy sitting, I took my auntie duties seriously as we settled down to watch Netflix.  Chilled out evenings at home were enjoyed with lots of candles.  We experienced a couple of thunderstorms which gave me all the autumnal feels.  I ended the month with a drive up to West Yorkshire to stay with one of my cousins and her husband for the bank holiday weekend.  We enjoyed a beautiful walk with their dog and just an all-round good weekend filled with good company and lots of laughs, it was so nice to be surrounded by different scenery for a change.

 

September

September took an exciting turn, as I started dating someone.  We visited the Gaia exhibition in Greenwich and ate brunch at Grind, a really cute place I'd seen and wanted to try out, it didn't disappoint.  Home cooked dinners were enjoyed al fresco, made lovingly by Irina.  More time was spent with my brother and sister-in-law, we took a walk around Epping Forest.  I visited my first Pumpkin Patch of the year, Leigh had never been before so it was only right that I showed him how it is done as we ran around the patch in Colchester owned by Foxes Farm Produce (what are best friends for?).  And I FINALLY got to taste my first Starbucks Pumpkin Spiced Latte of the year, better late than never guys.

 

October

 The month of all things pumpkin.  I visited a new pumpkin patch this year, The Pumpkin Village located in South Woodham Ferrers at Marsh Farm in Essex.  They had so many great spots for photo opportunities, perfect for those Instagram-able shots.  A day spent in Leigh-On-Sea with Irina. We stopped for lunch in a cute little tea room and sat outside on their terrace to enjoy the sunshine.  Went for a nice walk around Hanningfield Reservoir, can't beat an autumnal walk among all the crunchy leaves.  And of course October wouldn't be complete without pumpkin carving.  We made ourselves a little autumn themed feast, put Hocus Pocus on and set to work carving our masterpieces.  I loved Irina's Jack Skellington creation, I went for something simple this year and just soaked up the moment.

 

November

I clung to pumpkin season during November, I wasn't quite ready to let it go, especially as we headed into a second lockdown.  I baked Pumpkin muffins and enjoyed hot chocolates in my favourite mug topped with pumpkin marshmallows and sprinkles while watching Get Out and Us (I've never been one for scary movies but wanted to give these two a go, no idea why I'd put off watching them till now, they weren't even scary).  Just before heading into lockdown I finally got to visit Fete at Graysyard, the little coffee van that saved me during lockdown opened up their own little coffee shop and I'm so here for it.  We ventured out for a gorgeous walk in the South Downs through the Queen Elizabeth Country Park, the view from the top of the hill was amazing.  The winter weather really set in during November, but I wasn't complaining, driving past the reservoir on the way to work and seeing the mist rising, a moment of pure tranquillity.

 

December

The final month of 2020 and time to get festive af.  Definitely a different December to what we are used to, there were no dinners out or Christmas parties, we had to make the best with what we could do.  We watched Home Alone at the drive in cinema.  Spent an afternoon in London checking out all the Christmas lights, it seemed so strange seeing the city so empty compared to how it would usually be, especially around this time of year.  Festive films were watched from home with all the snacks and cute chocolate reindeer drinks.  I rocked the Christmas jumpers, has to be done through December right.  And the year was finished off at home, pretty much how a lot of the year was spent, with my best creation yet with an epic grazing board and cocktails.  I will definitely be making more of these boards in 2021. 

In a year that seemed pretty bleak I'm so thankful to have been able to find lots of moments of joy and happiness.  It is a year that has allowed me to heal and find myself once again.  It wasn't without its low points.  A lot of tears were cried and here were moments of sheer despair but it is all part of the journey and a part of my story.

~ Gem x

I'm Back

Hello.  Is that even the right way to start this?  I don't actually know, it has been so long.  Having not written a blog post for over a year I have found myself itching to get back to writing lately.  My inner Carrie Bradshaw has reared her head and the words are finally flowing after all this time.  Previously I'd written my blog for ten years and I think it was safe to say that I'd reached a stale mate.  I didn't really know where I was going with it all and genuinely felt as though I had nothing to say.  Looking back now, it wasn't just my blog where I was facing that issue, it was my life in general and maybe that's why it became so difficult to write in this space.   

 

 

A lot has changed for me (again) in the past year. I have moved back home with my parents following a relationship breakdown, which, if we were really being honest, had ended a long, long time ago.  Shortly after I moved back with my parents we headed into the first Lockdown of 2020.  It was tough, but then wasn't it for most people!?  Although I struggled, a lot, I think a big part of that was my healing.  It was me finding myself, discovering who I was again.  

 

The time brought me closer to my family and not just my immediate family but my extended family too.  I re-connected with them and feel as though I have built a far stronger bond which I should never have really lost.  I had a lot of time to think about life and what I wanted from it.  I began to get myself organised and I completed jobs that I had been putting off for years, it felt and still feels great to know that I have accomplished that.  

 

 

I genuinely don't feel as though I could have achieved all that I have had we not have been in lockdown.  It came at an imperative time in my life.  It was what I needed and I'm so grateful for it.  After a couple of months in lockdown I was so ready to return back to some form of normality though.  I really appreciated returning back to work.  I found it a lot harder working from home, it was a lot harder than I thought it would have been and I seriously missed my colleagues.  I was also feeling ready for adventure too, it had been a while.  I was lucky to get out and spend some time with a couple of friends, I'll share more of what we got up to in another post.  Ultimately I felt ready to kick start my life again.  A fresh start.  It was time.  There was only so much Netflix, Disney + and TikTok that could pass my time.

I went into 2020 feeling anxious and scared, I felt a bit lost and had no idea what direction my life was heading.  I barely left the house during the first lockdown and I don't mind admitting I didn't want to go out.  There have been various lockdowns and tier changes since then, I can't say that I feel the same way as I did back in March and I'm happy that this is now the case.  I intend to continue living my life to the fullest, however that may look in the current climate.  2020 has been an experience for sure.

~ Gem x 

Colchester Zoo

Before now I actually cannot remember the last time I visited a zoo.  I've never been a huge fan and the thought of wild animals being kept in captivity just really doesn't appeal me.  I remember going to Colchester Zoo as a kid, back then it felt huge but I have to say, returning now as an adult it still felt as though the animals all had plenty of space within their enclosures.

It was also clear to see how much all the staff cared about the animals and how knowledgeable they all were, which was really lovely to see.  But the thing that struck me the most was the amount of work that Colchester Zoo do with their breeding programmes and the work they are doing surrounding conservation and sustainability.

    

They have projects worldwide in supporting conservation of animals as a part of their Action for the Wild charity.  It was humbling to see how passionate they really are, and the fact that it is not just another money grabbing tourist attraction.  It has definitely changed my perception of things and I won't be leaving a return visit so long this time.

~ Gem x

Rochester

I have vowed to explore more of the UK as part of my forty before forty list.  We are blessed with some beautiful places in the UK some of which are so close to home they can be travelled to and explored all in one day.  Places such as Rochester.  I am honestly not sure how I have managed to go this long before stumbling across this little gem of a place.

It is only a small town but it is packed with plenty to do.  In the few hours that I was there I managed to see a lot, without being rushed.  

The Cathedral was pretty grand, I imagine it would look gorgeous at this time of year decked out for Christmas.

Next up was Eastgate House, tucked just off the High Street.  I didn't go inside as there was an event taking place when I visited, but I was able to see it all from outside and even got to see the chalet where Charles Dickens used to do his writing overlooking the garden.

Lastly was the castle.  All that is left of it now is the square keep which you can still go inside and climb to the top (three floors), where the view of Rochester is worth a look. 

There was plenty more explored on the day so this isn't an extensive list on all that there is to do in Rochester.  I would say if you've not visited before, it is worth adding to the list of places to check out.  I'd like to return one year for the Dickens Themed Christmas market, maybe next year.

~ Gem x

Finding The Words

Don't laugh, I was going to take part in Blogmas this year.  In reality I haven't blogged in just over a month and still have a load of posts in draft from earlier in the year that I would still like to publish.  I have written less this year than I have since starting this blog nine years ago.

The truth is I just haven't been feeling it.  It has been a strange year that hasn't been without it's challenges and for the majority of the time the last thing I could think about or focus on was sitting down to write.  It's an odd one though as I find that writing is one of the things that really relaxes me and when I get into it I do enjoy it, but it helps having something to write about and for the most part the words just haven't been forth coming.   

I'm planning on publishing my drafted posts over the next week or so, getting up to speed with things ready for a fresh start to the new year and who knows what 2020 will have in store.

~ Gem x

Happy Place Festival

Back in August I headed into London with a friend to visit Fearne Cotton's Happy Place Festival in Chiswick Park.  It was a two day event, for which we had booked our tickets for the Saturday.  The ticket included general admission plus the main talks stage, although at the time of booking we had no idea who the guest speakers were going to be as these were not announced until a bit later.  There was the option to book additional sessions for various workshops, including yoga and extra talks but these all sold out pretty quickly and to be honest as it is the first event of this kind she has done, we were unsure what to expect and so just stuck with the standard entry ticket.

The day was pretty perfect.  We were extremely lucky with the guest speakers who literally filled our days timetable so we felt kind of pleased that we hadn't booked on to any of the other sessions as it would have meant missing out on one of the talks. Personally I would say if you were wanting to take advantage of some of the yoga sessions or other workshops taking place as well as the main talks, you'd be better off booking a 2 day ticket or you just need to be prepared to miss out on something you may want to do.  

You could tell that a lot of thought and effort had gone into making the place feel relaxed and chilled out and I loved all the little touches.  Even the businesses that had been selected to be there had been thought about and were all great for supporting healthy lifestyle choices and mindfulness, plus there were some great little spots for photos, perfect for the Instagrammers attending.

The highlight for me was listening to Rylan Clarke and dare I say it Russell Brand (I am not a Russell Brand fan at all) Both were great speakers and I feel as though I took something away from both of them.

It was a really great day, and is definitely something I would look out for again in the future.

~ Gem x

Zakynthos

This years summer holiday took me to Greece, to the beautiful island of Zakynthos.  For me, a big part of a holiday is being able to explore somewhere new and different.  The world is a huge place, and I'd love to be able to visit everywhere.  Although there are definitely places I would happily visit again and again, I do prefer to travel somewhere new, just to be able to cross another destination off the list.

 I would usually spend the entire holiday travelling around all the different places and really exploring the island or country I'm visiting to the fullest.  This holiday was a little different though and was mainly spent relaxing by the pool, which is so not like me at all but was very much needed.  

One day was spent in Zakynthos Town, although I'll have to admit to being somewhat disappointed by this.  I was expecting something like Corfu Town which really is beautiful but sadly it wasn't comparable.  There didn't seem to be all that much there and it looked very run down and not as pretty as I had hoped.

 

I'll admit to feeling a little guilty about spending the majority of the holiday within the confines of the hotel but like I said it was very much needed.  There were plenty of evening strolls along the beach though to catch those dreamy skies at sunset, one of my favourite things to do on holiday, so not all was lost.

And all of those pool days meant that I was able to read 5 whole books.  In less than 2 weeks, that is unheard of for me, I was super chuffed.

So not quite the usual holiday for me this year but a good one none the less.

~ Gem x