Shiny happy people, my session with REN

It's been a good day.

For one hour I lay on my back, wrapped in a towell whilst a complete stranger rubbed REN into my pores.

In a beautiful, stylish, modern hotel. And 20 miles away my husband was putting the kids to bed.

*insert smiley face* 

I was there to try the new products. REN are British made (in Devon) and I'll be trying them out of over the coming weeks.

But for now take a minute to imagine yourself - child, husband, partner or pet free, in the muted, dimmed, rose-smelling, calm ambience of the Montpellier Chapter Hotel's Spa.

Bliss.

Here are some pictures to help.

Did you make any new friends today?

Making friends - it's such a ball ache. It's something you spend your whole life doing yet most of it dreading.


This weekend I've been thinking about it a lot. I mean, who doesn't worry about making friends?


From starting a new school, to going to Uni, moving away for your first proper job and then changing job. Buying your first house and meeting the neighbours, buying the next house and wondering if you'll build the same relationships again. Starting a family and fitting in with the mums, finding a life for yourselves that's more than just the kids.


But looking back, every time my life has changed direction (or location) I've met more great people to enjoy the journey with. Turns out there are a lot of friendly people out there, more than happy to let a welsh girl in.


So as I get ready to give up the day job and get the eldest off to school, I should be getting that familiar anxiety of starting all over again. But this time I'm excited, turns out this place I live in is full of crazy people and I think I'm going to have a ball.  


(Besides, if I didn't have any friends, I'd have to spend more time at home with my husband)

The heartbreak and the joy of SATC

*girly post alert*                     *girly post alert*                        *girly post alert*

I was always an Aidan kind of girl. Big does nothing for me. I love Carrie the most when she's with Aidan.

The best thing about a night in alone is being able to watch old DVDs of Sex and the City. For the last few weeks I've been back onto SATC, my faithful companion for roughly the last 13 years. It began during one of the best times in my life, when I spent my whole time with a small group of very close friends. Whenever I watch it, it takes me back there.

No matter how old I get, I still love Season 4 the most. Mainly because it's the second time Carrie breaks Aidan's heart and it's the most painful.

Because with pain comes joy. To suffer pain you need to have had some joy first, Aidan and Carrie joy. And I always love an unhappy ending.

This clip kills me every time. Watch it and see for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5LP85uElbw&feature=related

Unexpected joy

Nothing could have prepared me for the joy of seeing my son ride his bike.

It’s the kind of joy you don’t feel very often. Real, heart thumping, blood rushing, face glowing, smile inducing, shout out as loud as you can joy. I could feel my whole body open out into one huge smile as he disappeared off in front of me, on his own two wheels.

Joy.

This is more than just happiness, it's the kind of joy people tell you that you should feel on all those important occasions (but I never really did).

Your wedding day (fun but planned), finding out you’re pregnant (sick inducing), holding your new baby in your arms (thank god it’s over). None of those events made me feel the joy of the bike ride.

Because the very best kind of joy is totally unexpected. It’s not something you’re prepared for, no one is telling you to feel it, your mind isn’t willing your body on. It just happens, it rushes over you in an all-consuming way. That kind of joy is rare.

Up until then my most joyous moment was the Ryan Giggs goal against Arsenal in the ’99 FA Cup Semi-final replay. I’ve never felt joy like it, happiness like it, shared love like it (fallen over several rows of seats like it).  Or the Schmeichel penalty save in that same game – I mean, have you ever witnessed a crucial penalty save? It’s unbelievable.

Great joy often springs from great tension. It’s the exhilarating release of emotion that totally takes you by surprise. Making something you thought was impossible, look incredibly easy. My son, riding his bike.

So Sir Ryan Giggs – you’ve been relegated to second place in the all-time joyous top ten.

My new favourite moment is my 4 year old son going it alone on his bike, free of stabilisers. BOOM.

I get a rush just thinking about it

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