What a week… month?

After four days of conferences this week (across two different locations), I’m finally home and feel like I can take a breath, and write a blog post. (When I last wrote, I was taking a mini work retreat. It went well but at lunchtime I got a call from O’s school, he wasn’t well so I had to cut it short to pick him up. Sigh).

Beach near conference number 2. Enjoying our winter weather!

I knew May and early June would be intense, and indeed it was. It included:

• In laws as house guests for 3 weeks (hugely helpful and lovely house guests but still a lot).

• A 9 day trip to Canada

• A local TV news interview (my first!)

• A live public webinar (and associated social media advertising that I featured in)

• A major work event with media/VIPs present

• Presenting my work overseas

• 3 conferences

• Visited friends and stayed with them 3 nights during the second conference

• O was sick with fever cough and eventually a secondary infection he needed antibiotics for

• My parents visiting (staying elsewhere though!)

• Inspecting houses for my parents to buy

• My parents bought a house close to us! This is a VERY HAPPY THING :)

However, all those events and activities meant my normal rhythms and routines were interrupted, and I missed them. Things I didn’t do regularly:

• Walk (this was good in Canada but much less consistent the rest of the month)

• Listen to my podcasts (less opportunity to be alone)

• Read (this one I’m really missing)

• Plan! There were multiple days where I didn’t crack open my beloved Erin Condren and I misssd it

• Write fiction (I did basically nothing on my novel during this period).

• Stretch - my neck/back was not happy with so much sitting and less walking/stretching

• Have solo time (lots in Canada but basically none since I got back, which was hard).

Luckily the conferences this week weren’t too far away (2 hours drive), so instead of me going on my own, Al and the kids took a mini break and we all drove to stay with friends near the conference venue. It gave the kids a little holiday which was fun, we got to see friends, and it made my conference attendance easier from an emotional perspective (I didn’t want to leave the kids again so soon after Canada). It worked out well, but gee it was tiring. After each day at the conference I had to come home and socialise with friends. But overall I’m so grateful I had that option.

Now we are all home and there is NO conference travel or major work events planned for many months! I feel really relieved and pleased for all of us to be back into a routine (when I’m out of routine the kids are too.)

Today I have a day working from home with minimal meetings, and I can’t wait to do my June planning, my forward planning for work, take a walk, listen to a podcast and generally bring some calm and quiet to my life.

I hope everyone has had a good start to June!