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 🪷