Thousands have been gathering together throughout June for Black Lives Matter protests in London (and other cities in the UK) calling for action to end racism.
BLM
Black Lives Matter
As the political climate intensified further less than half of Britons now trust the government to provide accurate information on the pandemic after the whole Dominic Cummings fiasco last week.
The cusp of summer
WTF Boris?
Isolation stories: week eight
Stay alert, go to work, don’t go to work… wtf Boris? seriously WTF?! We were all very confused about lockdown and what we should and shouldn't be doing. Matt Lucas summed it up perfectly with his spoof that went viral.
Everyone is desperate for a haircut! On BBC 6 music, Lauren Laverne dedicated one of her morning shows to people’s hair dilemmas, and in our house Michelle got her hands on Charlie’s fringe! Headscarves seem to have made a bit of a come back and I’m personally loving all the time I’m saving not washing my hair, or wearing makeup everyday for that matter. In fact, according to this Huffington Post article the average woman spends 55 mins per day on her appearance (that’s two weeks per year!) and £47,000 on her hair in a lifetime! That’s obscene. All hail the natural look.
This week the parks were jam packed… Clissold Park in Stoke Newington was full to the brim with people eating ice cream and having picnics from 2m apart. I met up with my amazingly talented (and very funny) pal Jenni Sparks to catch up and receive a belated birthday present… an Aries print she’s illustrated! Jenni is working her way through the entire zodiac (illustrations that is!), so go take a look at her Instagram as this woman has some serious drawing skills!
Extinction Rebellion were back on the streets of Hackney, flying their flags with a socially distanced bike ride to highlight that as lockdown eases, traffic levels are rising sharply and affecting London’s air quality once again. I stopped to chat with a mother and her two cute little girls, plus a couple of ladies gave me some sunflower seeds to plant in the garden! Lots of lovely community vibes going on.
I enjoyed a coaching session with the brilliant Melissa Maouris… it never fails to amaze me what comes up through a powerful coaching conversation. Some of you might not know, but I’m also a qualified transformational life coach and I have a couple of coaching spots becoming available soon. So if you’ve been feeling like you’d benefit from some support during this time, or perhaps you’re considering making some changes in your life and need to gain more clarity, or maybe you just want to find out more about coaching then do drop me a line… I’d love to hear from you.
In exciting news, I received a handwritten reply to the letter I sent last week! So it’s official… I have a new pen pal and we shall be sending letters back and forth just like the olden days. Highly recommend buying some stamps and giving it a go, totally made my week!
In our house, the aroma of Sauerkraut drifted through the air as Mike was putting together jars of his immune boosting fermented cabbage. Keep an eye on his Instagram over the coming weeks if you fancy getting your hands on some, it’s super tasty! We also discovered that Eira (the pup) is a total sun worshiper… wherever there’s a small sunny spot on the floor, she’s guaranteed to be lying in it. She’s Maltese, so I guess it makes sense!
We ended the week with some (very strong) Margaritas in the garden… and the rest is all a bit of a blur!
Week eight in photos... I’d love to hear what you think so please do like, comment or share any thoughts below and thanks so much for taking the time to read.
Sex magic is a thing
Isolation stories: week seven
Remember when the school summer holidays seemed to go on and on forever? Can you believe we’ve already endured seven weeks of lockdown? Seven weeks!!! It came as no surprise to see that some people had started gathering together socially over the bank holiday weekend when it was 25 degrees in London.
In other news, the UK recorded the highest death toll in Europe last Wednesday yet the tabloids focused on the Government’s scientific advisor who broke lockdown to see his lover. Oh and Matt Hancock told Dr Rosena Allin-Khan to watch her tone… there was nothing up with her tone and it sparked outrage across social media.
I was very happy to get my morning routine back on track. I’ve been doing the Five Tibetan Rites (or the fountain of youth as they’re also known), meditating, journalling and facilitating my own Transformational Breath sessions… something I started training in earlier this year which I’m super excited to share once I’m qualified. Watch this space.
I also got back on the yoga mat and joined a “sun flow” class with Becky Hicks, a combination of movement, dance and yoga which I absolutely adored. Moving my body, eyes closed to one of my favourite tunes by Bonobo transported me back to those festival days dressed head to tail in sequins frolicking about on a dance floor (miss you!).
Getting out and about, I cycled to Epping forest and explored Tottenham marshes (which are beautifully overgrown and dreamy for photos) and came across some guys from Forgotten Circus School who were just hanging upside down in trees. Wish that could be my daily exercise!
Keeping creative, I started making a macrame plant hanger (still in the early stages so far) and also put pen to paper to write an actual letter… something I haven’t done properly since the 90s when I exchanged letters with French pen pals and a boy from Devon. Lets see if I get a reply.
On Thursday it was the full flower moon (the last supermoon of 2020) and wow the energy was high… I woke up at 5.30am totally wired and ended up going for a 5km jog in the early morning light. To celebrate, we lit a bonfire in the garden and attempted to harvest some of this Scorpio moon’s energy with a ritual… deciding what to let go of and setting some intentions for the future. According to an article on Vice, you can use your sexual energy (in other words go have an orgasm) for manifestation. Apparently sex magic is a thing, who knew?!
Living with two therapists definitely has it’s advantages and Michelle received an Acupuncture and Tui-Na treatment from Charlie, to get her feeling back on top form. Go check them both out, they perform wonders on people.
Another highlight of the week was receiving a box of Italian organic goodies from Fattoria La Vialla, a beautifully rustic estate where a group of 95 family friends stayed last summer in the Tuscan hills (thanks dad!).
Here’s week seven in photos. Thanks so much for taking the time to read, I’d love to hear how you’re finding lockdown so please do leave a comment below.
Those April showers
Isolation stories: week six
We made it to week six of lockdown and the heavens opened… those April showers finally arrived! As had Boris and Carrie Symonds baby boy.
My week got off to a wobbly start. My morning routine had taken a back burner and I was struggling to get myself out of bed much before 9am. Sometimes 10am!!! Am I the only one?
I spent both Monday and Tuesday morning cosily under the covers editing photos, writing and drinking tea until noon. I absolutely loved being still and listening to the rain fall outside my window though, it transported me right back to my travels in 2017 where I stayed high up in the rainy mountains of Dharamkot, India.
As the week progressed and the rains faded away, I was really fortunate to be commissioned for a photo project by All Points East festival - they’ll be posting a collection of the images I captured around east London on Instagram over the coming days.
I started Charlie Morley’s Embracing the Shadow course which I’ve been meaning to do for over a year, experimented with food photography for my housemate Mike’s new venture and took photos of Michelle’s African sound journey. I also experimented with some self portraits (nude!), because well why not? One of the things I’m really enjoying about lockdown is having time to be creative and try out new things… a macrame kit is on its way!
Eira (the pup) enjoyed life in her new sofa playground (we’d removed the covers to wash) and our neighbours (the heroes who saved her when she escaped last week) were delivered some chocolates by Charlie as a thank you.
Have you seen Normal People yet? I binge watched it over the course of a week and it is so beautifully written and raw, but wow it brought up all sorts of old teenage feelings. I cringed, laughed and cried my eyes out, remembering how confusing it was navigating that first love.
I ended the week getting myself knee deep in nature… one of my favourite things to do. It’s always the best cure!
Here’s week six in photos, thanks for taking the time to read.
The puppy escaped!
Isolation stories: week five
As we entered week five of lockdown, people seemed a bit restless and lockdown fatigue was definitely setting in.
Boris was still nowhere to be seen... did he actually have Coronavirus or was he just hiding away from his responsibilities? Bit like that time he hid in a fridge to avoid the media? Retailers were really suffering and Cath Kidston closed all of its shops, plus loads of Brits were getting pissed!
It was a dreamily warm week, filled with long sunny days. I ventured out on my bike cycling over 40 miles in a week… exploring an eerily quiet central London, taking a peek in Soho and Hyde Park, finally realising where the Royal Albert Hall actually was (after living in London for 15 years!) and even stood at the gates of Buckingham Palace (never been there before either). My bike has been a total lifesaver and lockdown has actually given me an opportunity to discover new places and enjoy London’s roads which are so quiet.
The BIG news in our house was that the puppy escaped! After ten minutes of frantically searching for her, we heard a voice outside shout “we have your dog here, in the end house”. Eira’s first big solo adventure! She didn’t seem phased.
We went for a house jog together one day, relaxed to Michelle’s fully immersive and beautiful online sound journey (she’s doing them every Tuesday at 8pm if you fancy it) and joined a new moon ceremony manifesting all kinds of good stuff.
I took some socially distanced portraits of my pal Laura who has written this beautiful article about living with MS, enjoyed the NHS clap from my mates front stoop and finally finished reading A New Earth which is a book i’m gonna treasure and read over and over.
Week five in pics (click to enlarge the images). Thanks so much for reading.
The weeks are flying by
Isolation stories: week four
Lockdown was extended by another three weeks, Boris was recovering at Chequers and a YouGov poll reported that only 9% of Britons wanted life to return to ‘normal’ once lockdown was over… oh and a bird poo’d on my head (but I’m taking that as a good omen!).
The weeks are flying by… once I’ve done my morning routine, prepared breakfast, gone out for some exercise, eaten lunch, done a bit of work and then cooked dinner… well there’s not much time left in the day is there?
In between meals (really recommend trying this tasty root vegetable pilau), I spent time exploring on my bike, climbed some trees in Hampstead Heath, practiced Wim Hoff’s breathing technique and dropped by Bill Murray’s place for a chat. I also bought a cool NHS social distancing scarf with all profits going towards providing food for health workers… shame it’s a bit too warm to wear it.
As a house, we did our fortnightly trolley dash in the supermarket, cooked a big family nut roast, started what must be the hardest jigsaw in the world and the puppy found herself in the kitchen sink having a bath.
Week four in photos, thanks so much for reading.
The age of Aquarius
Isolation stories: week three
As we entered week three and the age of Aquarius, under a pink super moon, Boris was admitted to intensive care with Coronavirus and it felt like the world had gone mad. Was he gonna make it? This was the question on everyone’s lips.
I started jogging. Who hasn’t? Ate three massive bags of salt and vinegar crisps in a week (hence the jogging) and crafted Easter bunny ears for the puppy. I walked barefoot through the park, sat and listened to birdsong amongst the trees, waved at friends through their windows and got ready for an online date… applying makeup for the first time in days, choosing a cool shirt yet wearing jogging bottoms on the bottom, because well he wasn’t gonna see them was he?
At our place we hosted an online fire sound journey in the garden under the full moon, celebrated Easter with a BBQ, indulged in six loaves of tasty free sourdough from my sister and binge watched Unorthodox on Netflix… there’s a scene in a Berlin nightclub where everyone’s dancing, sweating and slithering around skin on skin. Wow I miss that! I miss human touch. How long do we have to wait until we can snog someones face off in a club?
I tried my best to tune out of the news all week and remain positive, but it wasn’t easy, especially when we were all wondering if the prime minister was going to survive (not that I’m a Boris fan fyi, but no one wanted him to die, apart from a few absolute horrors on social media).
I’d actually been holding it all together pretty well, until Good Friday when I was approached by a warden as I was stretching on Hackney Marshes; “we’re asking everyone to keep moving this weekend please” and that was it, a sadness suddenly overwhelmed me. A sadness about not being able to meet up with friends, go out for dinner, to a gig, sit on a picnic table (they’re all covered in police tape) or even stretch in the park.
Although I don't want the world to go back to how it was (something needed to change) and I’m enjoying this slower pace of life, I'm really missing the simple things and the freedoms we once took for granted. Grieving for parts of my old life and missing my pals, yet staying hopeful that something amazing will come out of all this. Plus it’s spring, the blossom is in full bloom and the sun is warm on our faces so it ain’t all bad.
Week three in photos below, thanks so much for looking.
Have you looked up at the night sky lately?
Isolation stories: week two
Week two arrived and it felt like the energy had shifted somewhat… it was slightly less frantic and people seemed to be adapting to life inside and online, apart from those 3,000 people in Brockwell park on Saturday!
it’s totally magical
It was a week of ups and downs for me, from feeling super creative and totally in flow one day to having waves of tiredness and low energy the next. Monday (post birthday) was spent in my PJs hiding under the duvet watching films all day, whereas Thursday I was on a high dancing around my bedroom to Madonna. An absolute rollercoaster ride isn’t it? I’ve started taking time to really slow down (and not feel guilty about it), feel into whatever comes up and focus on one day at a time.
Aside from riding that rollercoaster, I finally got back on my bike after several months and visited a couple of pals for doorstep chats, enjoyed online coffee catch ups in bed, spent hours art directing a photoshoot of us in the garden and shot a self portrait with one of the cats. You know, just regular things!
As a house we brainstormed ideas around our work (we’re all freelancers so times are a bit tricky), attempted to give the puppy a new haircut, started an online tarot course together, did a somewhat scary supermarket sweep all masked up, watched Fantastic Fungi twice (it’s amazing, check it out), lit a bonfire and spent hours looking at the moon and stars. Have you looked up at the night sky lately? It’s so unbelievably clear and pollution free here in London, you can actually see stuff. It’s totally magical!
Scroll across to see week two in pictures. Stay safe and thanks for reading
The whole world has stopped
Isolation stories: week one
Life is on hold, the whole world has stopped and we are in London lockdown.
We can only leave the house to buy essentials, get medical supplies or to exercise once a day. Small businesses (and many big businesses) are struggling, many of my freelance friends are without work and the city is eerily quiet… it’s an unsettling and scary time, but I can’t help sense an underlying feeling of anticipation. What will the world be like after all this?
With the intention of being creative and documenting these strange times, I’ve started capturing daily moments in and around our home and local area. I’m very lucky to be staying with friends in a large house with the cutest puppy, two fluffy felines, a forest of plants and some outside space with a vegetable patch. I feel very grateful to be with these guys and getting through this all together.
Week one felt super high energy, with every man and his dog generously offering free online yoga , meditation, breath work and online courses in literally anything and everything. Musicians played gigs on Instagram live (James Blake blew my mind!) and everyone in our circles were talking about Universal Credit and what self employed people were entitled to from the government.
Community was the theme of the week in our house… we signed up for our local Mutual Aid group and spent a lot of time checking in with family and friends (especially those living alone), talking to strangers and neighbours whilst social distancing. It was also important to try and find some sort of daily routine and make sure we felt safe and comfortable in the house… buying supplies, having a mega spring clean and most importantly having some fun.
We drew rainbows in the sunshine, joined Morning Gloryville for their Earth Day online rave, laughed hysterically at Snapchat filters, dressed up in sequins and ate tasty local pizza on my birthday. I also ended up swapping dance off videos with a guy I’d met on a dating site… still can’t believe I did this/ am doing this! Funny what a lockdown does to you.
A man smoking from his window in Tottenham
Beat Hotel, Marrakech
I wasn’t planning on going back to Marrakech after a pretty disastrous trip back in 2011 (see my other post about that), but when I was asked if I’d like to shoot Beat Hotel, a four day festival overlooking the Atlas Mountains… well I jumped at the chance!
Beat Hotel has been a staple at Glastonbury since 2011 (the tent we always go to on the Sunday night to grasp those last precious Glasto moments) and was travelling to Morocco for the first time over Easter weekend. Held in the Fellah Hotel, one of the most striking festival settings I’ve seen, with red villas contrasting against sculptured green cacti, and swimming pools framed by palm trees.
A small festival with a lovely bunch of people, we enjoyed headline sets from Maribou State and Young Fathers, DJ sets from Gilles Peterson and James Holden, epic poolside sessions, secret house parties, creative classes from the likes of Patternity and a whole range of wellness workshops… disco nap yoga, early morning meditation, gong baths and mystical tarot readings.
Here’s a few of my favourite shots from the weekend. See you there next year?
Poolside at the Fellah Hotel, Marrakech
Making (positive) Marrakech memories
Memories from my first visit to Marrakech back in 2011 are not particularly happy ones. I was constantly running to the bathroom (food poisoning), feeling endlessly harassed, upset at having my arse grabbed by a teenager and ended up crying on the doorstep to our riad. To top it all off my relationship was coming to an end. That holiday sealed the deal I think.
I swore I’d never go back to Marrakech. So when I was asked if I’d like to shoot Beat Hotel festival in March (see my other post here), I did hesitate… for about two seconds… then proceeded to book flights and give Marrakech a second chance.
And Marrakech had changed. A lot. Or perhaps I had?
I hadn’t remembered how much of a vibrant and mysterious city it was, that you could lose yourself for hours in a labyrinth of tiny alleyways. A real city of extremes… busy and noisy in Jemaa el-Fna (the main square), with calm and tranquil spots tucked away from the Medina. Souk vendors seemed way more relaxed this time, people were friendlier (apart from the kid who told me to f*ck off!) and I was in photography heaven. Filled with rich colours and the intoxicating scent of spices, I fell head over heels in love with Marrakech this time.
Jemaa el-Fna, the main square in the heart of Marrakech
Dungeness, Kent
Dungeness in Kent, a place I’d been desperate to visit since first hearing about it a few years ago. So on a recent trip to Brighton, my brother and I decided to make the journey and see what all the fuss was about.
Turns out Dungeness is hauntingly beautiful. With its rugged, barren landscape, it felt like we'd stepped into the Wild West. There was no one around other than the occasional fishermen mending a net or painting a boat - we felt completely remote and isolated from the real world.
Small wooden cottages adorn the peninsula, with a huge nuclear power station adding a mark on an otherwise flat horizon. Overhead wires dissect the sky, disused railway lines lead towards the sea, whilst abandoned boats, rusty machinery and old shacks add a touch of beauty to the vast and deserted shingle beach.
It's an otherworldly place, which captures your imagination and I’ve no doubt you would unearth something new every time you visit. We easily lost track of the time and if it hadn’t been for the sun setting so early we would've spent hours longer exploring.
Instead we ended up in the only pub we could find, and of course were the only punters. Dungeness has a particularly eery feeling after dark, so we were keen to make a swift exit and get back to the hustle and bustle of Brighton.
Bonfire night in Lewes
Bonfire night in Lewes is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It’s organised anarchy. And you’ll either love it or you’ll hate it.
The town’s November fifth festivities mark the exposure of the gunpowder plot in 1605 and the burning of 17 Protestants in the high street. In preparation, roads into Lewes are closed early and shop windows are boarded up, as thousands of people descend onto the streets. I started to wonder what the hell I’d let myself in for.
As darkness falls, Bonfire Societies from all around Lewes start to parade through the tiny streets carrying flaming torches, effigies and burning crosses. Gently at first.
An hour or two later and things have gone up a notch. Piles of discarded flaming torches have created small fires on the roads, bright red flares are lighting up the crowds, firecrackers (so loud you have to ram your fingers right into your ears) are being set off everywhere, huge effigies of Boris Johnson, Theresa May and Guy Fawkes have made an appearance and the air is smoke filled and smoggy.
Each bonfire society then leads the way to their designated bonfire site, which means there are six different bonfires and firework displays going off in the town at the same time! After the fireworks people take to the streets, light fires, set off more firecrackers and do crazy things like jumping through flames.
It’s a long, noisy yet exciting night. You’ll jump out of your skin several times as a firecracker lands by your feet, so it’s definitely not for the faint hearted. If you go prepared with drinks, snacks, earplugs and a big happy smile on your face, then I defy you not to love it.
A man in one of many historical costumes worn by society members parading through the streets carrying torches, effigies and burning crosses
A knight in shining armour?
Carrying burning torches through the narrow streets
Watching poppy wreaths being lit at the War Memorial
Gathering discarded torches and putting out small fires along the way
The calm after a firecracker fuelled storm on one street
Red flares light up the crowds
Watching Cliffe Bonfire Society’s bonfire
Cliffe Bonfire Society’s monstrous bonfire which was too hot even from this distance
Revellers enjoying Cliffe’s epic firework display
The last few to leave Cliffe’s bonfire
A couple walk home in the early hours of the morning as flares and firecrackers are still being lit
Carnage on street corners in the early hours of the morning
Happy in Hampi
I’d heard friends and fellow travellers rave about Hampi over the years, so it was top of the list on my most recent trip to India.
Arriving on a bumpy overnight bus from Bangalore, I was greeted with the pinky orange hues of sunrise and a strange landscape of ancient ruins and huge oversized boulders dotted along the horizon. I felt like i’d landed on another planet. Finally I'd made it to Hampi.
And I didn't leave for three weeks.
Three weeks of wandering around bare foot, swimming in local lakes and rivers, visiting ancient temples, learning to ride a scooter, spotting the most vibrantly coloured birds, eating masala dosas and clambering up boulders to sunset point every day where the “Chai boys” would sell sweet hot tea after school and people would come together to play music.
A UNESCO world heritage site and ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Hindu Vijayanagara empire in the 14th century, Hampi attracts not only backpackers but pilgrims from all over India who come to visit Virupaksha Temple, one of the holiest temples in the country.
Hampi is one of those places where everyone seems to linger much longer than anticipated or return time and time again. Stories of unexpected delays aren’t unheard of either… I was even bitten by a dog meaning I couldn’t leave on time!
Perhaps the allure of Hampi lies in its surreal landscape with its golden boulders and bright emerald green rice fields, or perhaps it’s the captivating ruins as far as the eye can see, or maybe it’s the friendly pilgrims you’ll meet, or the mystical tales of Gods and Goddesses. Whatever it is, there’s something really magical about this place and you’ll always be happy in Hampi.
A hand painted boulder I discovered on a scooter ride outside of Hampi
Stunning green rice fields and Virupaksha Temple in the distance, as seen from Sunset Point on Hippy Island
A family visiting Hampi’s temples and making their way to a huge wishing tree nearby
One of the “Chai boys” who sell tea to people enjoying sunset every evening on Sunset Point
Huge golden boulders with little people on the top enjoying views at sunset
Views from Hanuman “Monkey” Temple at sunset
Crossing the river from Hampi Bazaar to Hippy Island by boat at sunrise
A surreal landscape of boulders, ancient ruins, rice fields and banana plantations from Hanuman “Monkey” Temple
Trekking the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal
I travelled to Nepal in spring to trek the Himalayas. It was by far the most physically demanding, challenging, yet most rewarding thing I've ever done.
Imagine turning your phone off for three weeks, living high above the clouds and exploring an ever changing landscape each day. From snowy Himalayan peaks to traditional Tibetan Buddhist villages, pine forests to rhododendron forests, glaciers to ice lakes, tropical rainforests to deserts and river gorges to open plains.
Up each day at sunrise, it was easy to fall into a routine. Trekking until noon, eating Dal Baht for lunch (and sometimes dinner too), exchanging “Namaste’s" (hello) with friendly locals along the way, drinking copious amounts of tea, staying in colourful wooden tea houses, taking afternoon naps, playing cards and hitting the sack exhausted every night before sunset. I was in heaven and ended up staying in the mountains for 26 days.
Don't listen to any of those trekkers who try to tell you the Annapurna Circuit is just "too commercial these days". It's simply stunning and it literally took my breath away.
Upper Pisang village on the Annapurna Circuit after a sprinkling of snow overnight
Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels have rolled up paper inside bearing a mantra, and it is believed that spinning the cylinders emanates positive energy
A colourful teahouse in Chame with perfectly displayed crockery
A view of the Manang Valley on a side trek up to Kilcho Tal ice lake
A grandmother and her granddaughter in the pretty village of Tal
A porter takes a break from carrying more than his own body weight in pots and pans
A view of Mungi and the valley below
A little boy in Manang, a village at 3,519m where trekkers stop to acclimatise for a couple of days
A nerve wracking trek across this terrain to reach Tilicho Lake base camp
Trekkers rest after a strenuous trek to the frozen Tilicho lake at 4,919m… this side trek helps with acclimatisation for Thorong La pass
Snow fell the night before our big ascent to Thorong La pass at 5,416m
It was no mean feat making it to the top at 5,416m… many people turned back due to altitude sickness, some were carried up on horses and others were even air lifted out by helicopter
Ranipauwa at the foot of Thorong La pass is a stop-over for Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims on their way to the Temple of Muktinath, and weary trekkers
First view of Kagbeni in Upper Mustang after clambering down a crevice enduring high speed winds, which turn up every single day after 11am… be warned
A little oasis called Tiri in Upper Mustang, which you can reach by walking along the Kali Gandaki river basin
View of Machapuchare “the fish tail” at sunrise from bed in Tadapani… didn’t even have to get out from under the covers
Escaping the 9 to 5
The thought of sitting behind a desk working in marketing forever was terrifying, but the idea of quitting my job and venturing out into the unknown filled me with complete fear.
Dolly Parton as 'Doralee Rhodes' in Nine to Five (1980)
After an agonising twelve months weighing up the pros and cons, I eventually gathered up the courage to resign and then as fate would have it, I was made redundant. Initially I was shocked, but ultimately it couldn't have happened at a better time. I was free!
In the run up to this day I'd been in a battle with myself (and probably bored my friends to tears!) over whether leaving my job was the right thing to do. What was I going to do instead? How would I pay the bills? What if no one would employ me? I'd started to panic and think I should just stay put, or that another marketing job might make me happy. I'd always thought this, but the new jobs came and went and they were never "the one".
I decided I needed to find another way. That I didn't want to settle for this life. So here's how I escaped the 9 to 5...
▫️ I signed up for Escape The City, joined their London Facebook group and went to one of their Monday morning workshops, where I met a whole bunch of people who were feeling just like me! Knowing I wasn't alone, was so reassuring.
▫️ Through Escape The City, I found Amanda Devine, a life coach offering free sessions at the time. Amanda helped me break things down into smaller pieces, made everything feel more manageable and gave me confidence in knowing I was making the right decision.
▫️ I started saving as much money as I could ready for my escape.
▫️ I talked to likeminded people, those I knew would understand, and avoided those I thought might pass judgement. I was surprised how many people I started to meet who had either quit their jobs or were thinking about it.
▫️ I broke the news to my parents and hoped that they would be supportive - luckily they were!
▫️ I began saying out loud to friends "I'm going to quit my job!" and then it started to feel real and I knew it was the right decision.
▫️ I immersed myself in the book The Artists Way by Julia Cameron, taking myself on weekly artist dates and writing morning pages each day in hope of rediscovering my creativity.
▫️ I took some time out in London to reflect, make space for myself and just be.
▫️ I booked a two month trip to Asia to travel and visit my sister.
▫️ I contacted friends about freelance work so I had some money rolling in each month. Amazing opportunities turned up and I found myself gaining great new experience.
In an ideal world I'd have known my next career move beforehand or volunteered alongside my job to gain experience elsewhere, but I didn't have the answers at the time, so when redundancy came along it gave me the chance to take some much needed time out.
There have been some highs - travelling for extended periods of time and sunbathing in London parks when everyone else is at work, and some lows - having no money to afford meals or gigs with all my mates. But overall the excitement of not having my life mapped out in front of me replaces my fears, and even though I'm still exploring what comes next, one thing I do know is that I'll never regret leaving my 9 to 5 job.
Written in the stars? A Vedic Astrology Reading
I’ve always been fascinated with star signs, especially since “luck” would have it I’m a typical Aries – fiery, adventurous, stubborn and as head strong as, well, a ram. But I’ve never had much time for horoscopes, fortune tellers, astrology readings or Mystic Meg… what could they possibly tell me about my life? Well a lot apparently.
Today I had my first Vedic astrology reading with Dr Prateek Mishrapuri in Rishikesh India. Vedic astrology is an ancient science in India dating back to 3,000 BC. It places higher importance on the moon, whereas western astrology with its tropical zodiac deals with the solar system.
Sitting in Dr Prateeks’s waiting room I was feeling slightly apprehensive, the cynic in me was convinced he’d tell me a bunch of generic truths and then I’d hand over 500 rupees and feel duped.
Well the cynic in me was wrong. In twenty minutes he’d given me a run down of my past, present and future. How did he know I’d left an office job early last year? That I was searching for something more fulfilling and hoping to work for myself? That I’d been living out of a bag for a year? That I’d been thinking about getting a tattoo on my hand?
He offered up intriguing advice about my career, my love life and told me some spicy things about my sex life… apparently I’ll be “doing it” until a ripe old age!
The session ended with me laughing in disbelief, buzzing with positive energy and wondering if our lives are actually written in the stars. I’ve been feeling lost for a while, not sure I’m on the right path, but with so many parallels between the reading and what I’ve been thinking, I wonder if I finally am.
I made a promise this year would be all about learning new skills and guess what? According to my birth chart this is the perfect time for just that. So let’s hope Dr Prateek is right and that this ram is finally gonna make some headway.
Time for change
The reason we become directionless and lost is because we’re not on the path we actually are meant to be on—we’re following someone else’s “should." Jamie Varon
I feel like I don’t know myself. For the past thirty five years I haven’t been paying any attention to what’s been going on inside me, or what that little “inner voice” has been trying to say. If truth be told, I hadn’t ever really stopped to think, or even realise that I had an inner voice screaming out for my attention.
I’d been living my life following other people’s “shoulds”. Studying a degree in architecture, although my heart wasn’t in it. Working for ten years in marketing, when I knew deep down it wasn’t right. And buying a flat in London, because, well this this is what grown ups do right?
This realisation hit hard. I mean why had I just gone along with all these “shoulds”? Why hadn’t I chosen my own path? What was wrong with me? I gave myself a hard time initially, then decided to accept the past and realise I actually had no regrets. Afterall they’ve made me who I am today. I just wish I’d learned to listen to myself earlier.
It was time to make a change. The “shoulds” needed to go. So last year I left my marketing job, moved out of my flat, spent some time exploring Asia, found myself a great life coach and finally set up this website.