half way through the Big Birthday Year

 

So here we are, nearly  at the end of June and half way through the big birthday year ( although I can see this going on and on).

So here are the firsts for me and ticks in boxes.

November 23 ( start of the BBY)  Torremolinos holiday ( loved it)

December 23 Visiting East Hampstead Park in Berkshire and East Lutton in Yorkshire

January 24  went to see the Flying Scotsman

February 24 Visited Krakow ( want to go again)

March 24  Visited Bratislava (really want to go again)

April 24 Visited Keighley and flew  Newcastle to Heathrow and back in a day ( never done that before and never do again)

May 24 Holiday in Mljet Croatia ( trying to book for next year already)

June 24 Sprained my ankle, damaged the ligaments n my foot!!!!! ( not intending doing this again)

Oh the excitement!

So lets see what the rest of the year kicks up.

I am currently  trying to jiggle around some plans to see if I can fit more in. 

The only problem with wanting to do lots of things in a year, is the day job!!!!

Island living dream

 

The sense of calm that  descended on my life, during my holiday and since I returned from Croatia, has shocked me a little. Especially when I realise the chaos  that my life seemed to be in. Endlessly trying to be all things to all people whilst not really being true ( or kind) to myself.

I couldn't believe the power of nothing to do but eat, drink, read, swim and sunbathe. The swimming part with no chance of tiptoeing into the water flapping my arms around trying to get used to the temperature. Oh no when in Mljet, just get in!

With no beaches, and access to water from your sun terrace down a ladder ( like the one at your local swimming pool), going for a swim usually meant total immersion in the cold, crystal clear  Adriatic waters. Refreshing, exhilarating and flipping nippy! Worth it though for the feeling as you surfaced.

And then I read an article by Helen Russell, author and journalist who decamped to Denmark with her husband for a year whilst he was working for Lego. 13 years and 3 children later she is still there, and writes brilliant books about life and all things Danish.

Strangely the thing that I never realised is that in Denmark you are never more than 32miles (52 km) from the ocean. And that they have  more islands than Greece.

The Danes seem  to believe in the power of water (my ex CEO, a Dane loved to paddleboard),  like the Danes I am less than 32 miles from the coast, unlike the Danes, I do not make use of it.

Yes I do live on an island, but sometimes it feels more like a prison, time to break free!

And with this in mind, I intend to visit the sea as often as I possibly can, to top up my Croatian calm.........................until I can go back for a real top up ( without the horror boat ride).

What to do June?!!

 

Well here we are on the 3rd of June, and I have ticked another thing off my 'things not done or places been to' list.

Yes the 1st June dawned with me looking forward to shifting the cold that had plagued me for the last week of May. The sun was shining so I went to meet my friend for lunch, and that is where it starts.

Wearing  a pair of not high sandals, I set off. You've got to love an uneven pavement.

Going over on an ankle is usually  fine, I'm sure we all do it. Carrying on the day, going for lunch and sitting down for a good three hours not so good. I found walking back to the station, eye wateringly painful, I headed straight to A & E.

Now before anyone gets all uppity about strain on the NHS, those of you who know me very well, will remember 5 years ago, when I went through weeks of the is it/isn't it a broken foot and the long running trauma that caused including  nearly 4 months later being hospitalised as I was unable to walk.

As this was the same foot I thought it best to have it looked at. And the doctor agreed that I had done the right thing.

So here we are 3rd June, I've got my feet up, I do have to carry on as normal, I need to keep moving, but also resting it.

And that a tick off my list, because despite breaking many  bones over the years I have never sprained my ankle!

Happy June