It's been a year since I decided to quit my job...

ONE YEAR.

One year since The Boy came to pick me up after the shittiest Monday on record.

The rain was showing no mercy.

It was dark at 5pm.

There was a huge traffic jam.

It had been ONE OF THOSE MONDAYS.

I'd had enough. ENOUGH! Life wasn't about this, there was so much more I wanted! I wanted adventures!

The Boy had an announcement for me and he didn't want to make it while sitting in a cold car in a traffic jam. I had a feeling I was either about to get divorced or in for some other serious news.

So off to the pub we went and himself announced that he was thinking of seeing more of the world at some point in the future - not right now (lest his employers happen to read this!) but in the future. This is progress.

I wanted to go back to Kenya since my quickfire trip last July for one week. I wanted to live in one place, learn Swahili and spend my days writing and making sure I really did enjoy writing and social media. So a plan was made and the very next day I handed my notice in at work.

That was one year ago.

Since then I spent the most challenging but happiest three months living in Mombasa, in my own little apartment. The Boy joined me for one month and we had a whale of a time living at our own pace, doing what we wanted.

Since coming home I've found full time employment (it started off as a contract and progressed to full time) which is a new challenge in itself. It's hard work and I miss Kenya so much that I ache some days, but I have no regrets in general. How could I regret this amazing year???

Photos that make me happy

Going mad at the Garden Centre

You know you're getting old when you're HAPPY to spend a Sunday afternoon to stroll around a garden centre with your Bezzie.

What's more, we even got EXCITED about lavender, roses and terracotta plant pots.

We did a good job I think!

My little yard is looking lovely, non? Just a shame we might be moving in the next few months!

Do you love garden centres too? It's ok to admit it here, you're among friends...

SMILE!

Someone out there would love to smile and doesn't have it as good as you do. Find reasons to smile every day!

Just saying...

Something has been playing on my mind recently and I feel like I need to get it out to see it in words...

I like myself.

Not in a conceited way, or an I-fancy-myself way. But for the first time in a looooooong time, I'm happy with the person I am and where I've come from and what I am now.

I have an amazing husband, I have amazing family, my friends are second to none and I'm in a job I seem to be good at.


I don't have a cat but I'm working on that.

I keep busy, I learn something every day, I notice the beauty in everyday things, I like meeting interesting people, I still hate going to the gym, I'm always going to be cuddly, I tell jokes, I have an annoying laugh, I have plans in the pipeline, I'm going on holiday on Saturday.

That's me right now.

I'm more patient, less stressed, calmer and generally more level headed since coming back from Kenya. Possibly because I have more of a sense of perspective and priority.

But let me just say this. 

I get along with everyone. I don't care what your age is, what gender you are, what colour your skin might be, what religion you choose to follow... but if you choose to put me down or make me feel less than the person I am, I don't want to know you. I have no reason to try and get along with you or try and make you a better person.

There are so many other people in the world who have it harder than you, you're just making your life harder than it needs to be and you know what? LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR THAT.

So there. *Sticks tongue out*

5 boring (but essential) items to pack for your travels

When I start packing, these are the things I'm generally thinking:

"Ooh pretty dresses! Yay pretty holiday dresses!"

"Is 5 pairs of shoes too many for one week away?"

"Ooh soapbag! I LOVE packing my soapbag with all my toiletries!"

I don't tend to be thinking about exchange rates, airport transfers and other dull but necessary things.

All the essentials. Barney? Check. Whiskey? Check. Cat? Check.

I've done a few trips abroad in my time so far and I've forgotten so many practical things in my haste to pack sparkly flips flops (yes, really). These things can work out to be quite expensive abroad, so I'm hoping to save you (and me) some cash here.

Here are my five boring but essential items to pack for your travels:

1. Batteries
You can pick batteries up for very little money back here in the UK, so you might be forgiven for thinking it'd be the same abroad. But noooooo. Batteries can cost four times as much

2. Torch
I DON'T NEED A TORCH I'LL BE FINE. Cut to a few days into your trip, lights are out and you need a torch. Have you remembered your batteries? See above.

3. Spare charger
I can't even count how many phone chargers I've left plugged into walls around the walls. It is a massive pain in the arse when you realise you've forgotten it. If you're moving around a few different places and you have an iPhone, don't just bring a wall charger, bring a USB cord as a backup charger.

4. Matches/Lighter
You might not need to light many romantic candles on your trip, but you'd be surprised how many times you need a naked flame and a match or lighter is out of the question. Not this time! Ta daaaaa! Plus, they're odd conversation starters if someone needs a light :)

5. Hair grips
Ok perhaps not for guys here, but you won't realise how much you need hair grips until you don't have them. Pinning your hair back on a hot day, creating funky hairstyles on the road, plus they're quite handy for other uses (you know, getting stuff out of stuff) and they can be quite hard to track down in some countries I've found!

What are your boring but essential items to pack for your travels?

A walking safari and a water safari