Welcome to the Group 💃

I sit on a sunny Saturday, the midday stretch, with a coffee from a chain and a great people-watching spot, the welcome stretch of my warm muscles after a more energetic belly dance class. The slight discomfort of a burnt tongue after sipping my drink too early, the lyrical mumbles of creole, the mellow afrobeats of passing cars. 

Welcome to the Group...

In contrast with a two weeks ago...

It's been a hard week. 

It's as if the dust has settled and I'm left to evaluate. 

Who. Where. How. Why. 

Why do I miss friends so much after I just saw them. Why do I miss places I wanted to leave for so long. Why do intelligent people get degenerative diseases of the mind which bring so much pain to their lives. 

How do they deal with that? How do I cope with that? How is any of it fair?

Where do I go? Do I spend the time with the people I love, living their life their way, or do I make my own path. 

Pure and free

🦋🦋🦋 A gentle reminder that the universe has me in its arms 🦋🦋🦋

Who do I trust if I can't trust myself?

Why do we doubt our intuition so much? Is it because we have been hurt? Do we seek destruction so that it doesn't find us first? So that we have some power left to call our own? 

For what purpose? To what end? 

Dear Reader, I listened to the calls. I returned to my mat. I sat, for hours and moved with the turbulent winds of the mind. 

I found my answers to two of the three questions. The third needs more time. Needs more surrender. 

Yes. 

I know that I am supposed to be recounting my journey in Croatia and Herzegovina. But this needed to come today. 

I found empathy in someone. A fellow traveller experiencing the exact same thing. 

We are not alone. 

Maybe we don't always know where to find our empath, our kindred spirits, or even our soul mates. But they are there. Listening. Waiting. You can find them when you close your eyes; look inward. Your third eye. 

There, you find the clarity. That everyone is everything. And nothing. We're all just watching a movie. 

We're the actors, the writers, the camera crew. The protagonist, but only if we allow it to be so. 

The director is among the stars, pouring love into our world through everything we know. 

It doesn't matter where you are. Mauritius, Ireland, Indonesia, India, the freaking moon. 

It's about where you are inside 🪷 

What colours do you embody when you close your eyes? Which textures do you feel when you walk down the street? What are your feelings when you see a butterfly? What do your hands feel like when you meditate? 

Think about the moments in your life when you feel calm, Dear Reader. Chase those and not what you're expected to want. 

Being a nomad is hard. I don't mean someone who travels the world. I mean a nomadic soul. Where you love everywhere and nowhere. 

But it can also be the most rewarding gift. 

If this speaks to you, I'm there. I'm holding your hand, right now. I'll always be there when you feel lonely. 

And if this is all just some random, whimsical words, then I hope they entertained you at least, Dear Reader, and that you may sit quietly some time today, and think about where you are and how it makes you feel. 

See you in the stars 🌟✨

A Fairy in a Castle 🏰

Choices. 

And consequences. 

Dear Reader, yes, I did just quite John Wick. And Ballerina, but it's fresh in my mind. 

This Free Spirit yearns for adventure. 

And adventure is to be found in so many ways. 

Maybe I could continue to gallivant around the world incessantly. 

However, last year, I found myself growing weary and needing longer breaks between. 

Not because the travel is strenuous. 

Not because the planning is complicated or the logistics take time. 

But because I found myself increasingly full of love. 

And I wanted someone to give it to. 

Someone who's in my life for more than a few days. 

The kind of person who will give it back. 

I wanted to nurture the long distance friendships I have, as I found myself becoming worse at responding to those who I am fond of. 

But I will never fully relinquish the desire to explore and see new places. 

It just has to be more condensed...

Bled

People may say that travelling to 6 places in one week is not really allowing you to see anywhere. And they're not wrong. It is a different kind of adventure. 

For me, I wanted to spend time driving, alone with my thoughts, watching the beautiful scenery pass by and witnessing the subtle topological changes as I moved between destinations. 

It was a magical week. Not without challenges. But full of beauty, reflection, welcome solitude and pistachios. And a reunion with the Adriatic Sea. Damn she's cold. 

***

Arriving in Zagreb, I was eager to leave and make my way up to Slovenia, knowing the little time I would have. And Ljubliana was just as I imagined it. A serene, endearing place, filled with very friendly people. 

And dragons 🐉

I enjoyed a typical meal in a little tavern, and was well looked after by the kind waiters. I enjoyed a walk around the city at night, watching the twilight embrace the canal. 

After the lady at the hotel gave me an extremely strong local drink, I slept well, ready for my next day of driving and adventure. 

And the next day, I eagerly made my way to Bled. 

After encountering the most efficient parking system, I made my way down to the lake. The softness of the hazy morning reflected in the water, made everything look as if it were part of a fantasy. 

I went to a local market and bought a necklace from a local artist, whose smile and genuine warmth melted my heart. 

Then I tackled the comfortable hike up to the castle, where I was treated to even better views. 

Pottering in and out of the intricate castle corridors and endless twists and turns, I thought of my dad, and how we used to visit random castles back home. And I thought of India, where I explored so many forts 🏰

And of course, the typical Bled cream cake was great... Though too expensive, too enormous and too sweet, so I ended up eating half... But at least I had cake in the castle 🤌

As happens with most stunning places of natural beauty, I found peace by the lake and remembered that the universe holds me in its arms when I need it most. 

Alone in this world but never lonely...

And with that, I made my way down, slowly to Zadar, which I did not enjoy so much. Things don't always go to plan, but the trick is to trust your Spidey instincts. 

After a reassuring call with my Star, a walk by the promenade and subsequently an enormous local pizza, I was left happy again. 

And so concludes my brief trip to Slovenia and to the North of Croatia. 

I will write of Makarska, Dubrovnik, Mlini and Herzegovina at a later time, so that I may bask for longer in the sweet memories 🍃

A dream of travelling to Slovenia came true ✨

And I found the peace inside, once again.

A Lake over an Ocean

Dear Reader, 

How are you this fine day? 

💞Padres ✨

Of course, this day is not so fine for many people around the world. One of my friends messaged me this morning saying "What the hell's going on with the world right now?". 

Yes. 

We are in a weird point in time, where we have medicines that can cure illnesses we never thought treatable, where we can visit all corners of the globe, where people have more opportunities than ever to thrive... 

And still, we choose violence. Anger. We allow our Ego to rule our lives. 

Okay, before you decide that this entry is too depressing, it's not. I just thought it necessary to reflect. 

And as I spent 12 wonderful days with my family and childhood friends back in NI, I was sad to leave. I felt a pull to stay where I have so much love and comfort. 

But reading the news this week reminded me of why I left. For the first time in a long time, I will not be disclosing my hometown, as once again, I'm ashamed at what a small minority of ignorant people have done. 

I am sending my love to all those who have been made to feel unsafe. And I also send my love to those who feel the need to perpetuate this violence, so that they may taste some experiences that allow them to realise the error of their ways and work hard to make up for it some day. 

Anyway. 

My time home was lovely. Though it rained almost every day, I only got to go on one proper run (it was glorious), and my dad was having some less good days. 

But his good moments were in fact great, and my mum did her usual job of making me feel like the most loved human in the world. I'm lucky. I never take that for granted.

Walking the old steps, but with a new perspective, an inner calm. 

Realising, that I have forgiven so much. There is so much calm inside me now, which I didn't think existed. Like a pool of possibility, stemming from droplets of hope, acceptance and discipline.

Seeing the people who ground me, witnessing their happiness, their own journey through life's twists and turns. 

Shout-out to my former wine and cheese companion, and now prosecco and sheeze bestie 🥂 and shout-out to Doug, who never fails to make me feel appreciated and useful...

To my crazy kareoke girl, who always makes time for me when I come home, after 20 years of friendship 💕

🩷

And to my best friend who became a mother to the most adorable baby boy just over 8 weeks ago. And shout-out to Baby Oliver, for making me a very happy Auntie Steph, with his relentless cuteness 💙

Recognising the light trickling in during the morning, the soft interwinding of the willows as they blow in the breeze. The birds singing, the flowers blooming. 

A feeing of calm, in and out. 

Gratitude, lining the streets of my mind. 

Leaving was harder than I thought, but each step is guided by the frangipanis and followed by the butterflies. 

And besides, I never really left. 

See you in my meditations, home.

Hvala 💛

Dear Reader,

I come to you from a little cafe, with a kitten beside me and an empty glass, which recently contained pistachio and passion fruit gelato. 

I have a lot to catch up on. 

I know, I know. Don't worry, Dear Reader, for I have not forgotten you. I am just living in the moment. Trust that I will share all my happy memories from the past few weeks, with friends, with family and with new adventures. 

But yes, today I decided that I would visit my 5th country this week. A feat I have not done before. 

And by Friday, it will be 6 in one week. 

That's not why I'm doing this. 

Those of you who know me will remember that I am first and foremost a Free Spirit. 

However, this Free Spirit has found herself very much in love. 

And soon, I will return to the melting pot and all the warmth and wonder there.

So I wanted to explore, one last time (at least for a while). 

I wanted to see some places, and drive around in a little hire car, admiring the beauty, bathing in the quiet solitude and basking in the peace of a calm mind. 

So I chose Croatia. 

Then Slovenia.

And now Montenegro. Just for the day. 

And how wonderful a choice it was, to visit the Old Town of Herzog Novi. 

I read that Montenegrins are a bit gruff. That information was entirely incorrect. In fact they are some of nicest I've encountered all week. 

Helpful, smiling. 

Thankfully, work is quiet, but I am enjoying catching up on little tasks whilst cafe hopping on the promenade. 

As well as sharing oranges with kind strangers. 

I am filled with gratitude today. 

How lucky I am to be alive in this very moment. To have a job which allows me to work remotely, to be transitioning to a manager I respect so much, to have friends in all pockets of the world, quieting supporting me from afar. To have my parents and family sending their love across the stars every single day. 

To have seen so many beautiful places, met so many wonderful people and to have so much more to look forward to. 

Yes. I am finding myself on the upper end of that wheel.

About time!

Nostalgia with a Twist 🍃

 Dear Reader, 

I may be freezing but inside I'm warm and fuzzy.

Get ready for a lot of photos. 

As promised. Here I am, still waiting at Liverpool port to make my merry way to Belfast. 

I am exhausted, having driven across multiple counties this week. 

Having visited 5 cities, towns and even little villages. 

And finally spending time with the people I often miss so very much. 

And Mia

Yes. 

This week I am feeling lucky. Grateful. Blessed. Loved. 

How lucky I am to live in an age where Google Maps can efficiently guide me across a country. 

How grateful I am to be from a country where women can drive and a people can hire a car so easily. 

How blessed I am to have friends in so many places, with so many personalities and experiences that filter into my life, enriching my journey across time and space. 

How loved I am, for friends to invite me to stay at their home, for friends I have never met to greet me so warmly into their space, for friends I haven't seen in so long to travel over an hour to spend just a few minutes with me. 

Yes. 

All of the good vibes flow through my veins tonight. 

Which I need. 

As life has sent me an reminder of how little we are and how soon the giant universe can humble us. 

...Sending so much love to the man who gave me life, my wonderful father. And to my beautiful mother. 

Dear Reader, hug the ones you love....

I am so lucky to have been greeted by such a fabulous human upon arriving back in England. And George, my darling, apologies again for hugging you so excitedly that we both fell to the ground. However, it was worth it, Sir. 

Break time for a MUFFIN 

Hanging out with your parents in your beautiful garden is now becoming a tradition for every Summer. 

Leaving one quintessential English village for another.  

The next leg of the journey took me to the new house of Waterbeach's finest, who gave up city life for suburbia and fresh, country air. 

I am so happy to be able to celebrate Eurovision with my craziest best friend, who allows me to be absolutely and unapologetically abnormal. 

That she has found a man who loves her the right way, brings me infinite joy. 

I loved our walks, our binging of Killing Eve, our co-working and our unwavering commitment to Middle Eastern cuisine. 

We will always be friends as I simply disallow all alternatives. 

The best teeth on the PLANET

I cannot believe that I stayed for 4 nights as the time completely FLEW by. So precious are the moments spent with people who really see you, even when you don't always see yourself. 

My road trip up North was more exciting with the addition of the heartiest meal that I never expected:

Enough chips to feed an army

I have to say, the 3 hour drive to Shipley felt worth it when it turned out to be an adorable place with yoga cafes and happy faces. Are people actually nice up North?! Could my perspective have been warped this whole time? 

🧡 

I can't believe I got to meet the woman with whom I speak every work day. The person who helped me through a dark time this year. Someone whose humble nature and sunny demeanor is even greater in person. What a fantastic human being. 

And Goose, the most regal, demure dog.

I didn't get to see everyone and do everything I hoped. But when a friend travels almost an hour, knowing that they can stay a maximum of 20 minutes, it really makes your inner smile grow radiantly. 

Spiritual Sister 

🩵

✨🪷

And so here I am. On the ferry. One packet of biscuits in. Will need to sneak many more for my parents. Wish me luck. 

Off to Norn Iron. 

In time for my mum's birthday 🎂 

Where I will see old friends. Old roads. Tayto crisps. 

Wine and cheese. Even if it's it low alcohol + vegan edition.

And soon, I will meet the latest edition to the Blythe family 💙💙💙

I do miss the melting pot, and Mon amour ♥️

But I am happy, full hearted and overjoyed to be with the people I love again. 

Dear Reader, think of the people in your life. Do they fill up your cup? 

Do you bring out the best in them? 

Do you like the person you are around them? 

Do you go away feeling as if it is time well spent? 

... If the answers are no, reflect on that and how you can change those answers. 

We have so many paths, but "now" is where you are.

Learning to Be

 Dear Reader, 

Winter is Coming...

... So I'm leaving... As per my commitment to avoid Winter...

Only joking! 

But it is true. 

I am leaving Mauritius. 

Forever. 

Haha. That part's not true. 

But alas. The time has come to step away from the Melting Pot. A place I am starting to feel more and more connected to. 

The place where I have spent the most time since COVID. 

Where every street has a frangipani flower lining its path. 

Where intricate, colourful temples meet the call to prayer. 

Where every meal comes with chilli. 

Where every beach is beautiful. 

Where the red fody sings his morning beats ♥️

A place where I discovered a whole new garden of hopes and dreams 🌻

Where people greet you when they enter a gym class. 

Where you can see a doctor whenever you need to. 

I could go on... 

My last tantalising trip up North was a wonderful. Filled with the best cheese on the island, hours upon hours of beach lounging, lots of swimming, cards and good convo. Filled my cup right up.

 

Finally - kayaking!!

As I think about returning to the UK, I feel that eerie sense of anxiety again. Do you ever feel that, Dear Reader? 

Despite the fact I will see some of my favourite people, that there are so many who risk their lives to move there, I still hold a little dread for returning to England. 

It's like the opposite of what I feel here. Unbelonging. Nothing sinister. Just always feeling that it is not my place. 

Which is why I travel. I have always been in search for places where I feel I belong. And I have found them. Because many exist. And it's not the geographical location. 

It's the spiritual essence you embody when in that place. How you feel. How true you are to yourself. The people you spend your time with and the things you do with that time. How you are. How you "be".

Where the ocean meets the shore, just as the mountain peak embraces the sky, the trees root to the ground and sunlight touches your face...

So I will return to the UK, this time, carrying the essence of all the places I can "be". 

So that I may jump on the friends who give the best hugs.

So I may dance with my best friend to crazy Eurovision tracks.

So I may meet other friends for the first time - hi Leah! 

So I may go back to Ireland and spend time with my loving parents, my friends who are new mothers, my oldest friends from childhood. 

So I may make the most of every second with all those people whom I miss so dearly 💖 

And all the while, knowing that within a few weeks, I will return to my Meeting Pot and Shining Star.

Dear Reader, my plan is to write you next week, will you join me on the ferry? ⛴️

✨ And Dear Reader, next time you feel you don't belong, close your eyes. Remember why you are there and what brought you to that moment. Find the love in that, and sit in it, basque in the knowledge that you're exactly where you need to be 🪷