Exciting news for the blog

I wanted to write a quick post to let you know that I am still here *waves frantically*. I realise that I have been very quiet on the social media front; that my blogging has been somewhat haphazard and scattergun in its approach. I will be back to my normal self soon, pinky promise. I love blogging; I love parenting, but sometimes it can be hard to juggle the two. This month has been a very topsy-turvy month. Oldest has now finished school for the summer and, therefore, I am in full-on juggling mode. It’s ok, I like nothing better than being kept busy. However, at times my bosses (Youngest and Oldest) can be quite demanding, some might say that they are almost like mini dictators. Not me, nope, that would be far too harsh. However, ask me tomorrow and my reply might be different. They have very high expectations and routinely like to give me appraisals. I should welcome this feedback. However, no-one wants to be told that their singing is making their ears hurt. Oldest shattered my dreams yesterday morning as she overheard me singing along to the radio, and there I was thinking that I could be the next Taylor Swift. Oldest has also informed me that I should hand all vlogging over to her because she is far better. She might have a point there. Although I don’t think I am quite ready to hand over my YouTube channel to a 7 year-old.

There have been a lot of exciting things going on behind the scenes and rather a lot of caffeine consumed together with some very late nights/early mornings. I can’t complain though. It is liberating to have a job that means I am not confined to the 9-5 hours; a job that allows me to be at home with my children. However, this might sometimes involve me wandering around a lavender field whilst frantically answering urgent emails on my phone. What an office to have though, how brilliant that I can take my work out with me. I have a lot to be thankful for. I can now call myself a ‘freelance writer’. A role that I created for myself. A role that I have worked hard for. A role that I should feel mighty proud of. It is amazing that my little blog has opened up all of these fantastic opportunities. It makes me feel all Spice Girl. I find myself wanting to use the hashtag #girlpower, get my jogging clothes on and climb those steps at Portelet Beach (for non-Jersey people, they are the steepest, most meanest steps known to man) whilst punching the air and singing “eye of the tiger”. Obviously, I would have to do this out of earshot of Oldest or face a dressing down.

There is so much bad stuff going on in the world at the moment that it feels good to appreciate what we have. I am very lucky to live on Jersey and now that summer has finally arrived, beach season is being enjoyed to the max. Both the girls are beach bums and like nothing better than being outdoors. If it wasn’t for Jersey, then I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to start writing this blog. Sometimes, I focus on what moving to Jersey has made me miss, when really I should be focusing on what Jersey has given me. I am now able to be at home for my kids, I have created a job that I can fit in around the girls and we now have more family time with Mr C. All thanks to Jersey. I am sure that it must have been Jersey that made my blog stand-out and therefore helped convince the judges that I deserved an award. Thanks to that award I have some exciting opportunities coming up as well as having had some very exciting media dalliances. I have been on BBC Radio Jersey 4 times (they can’t get rid of me) and the other week I was in the Jersey Evening Post: twice! One was a feature interview, where again I waffled a lot. I didn’t get a double page spread, they just cut my answers. The world of journalism is a brutal one ;-). I am sure the people of Jersey really wanted to hear my thoughts on the best place to get a cocktail in the island. For the record it is ‘The Blind Pig’; lethal cocktails, but amazing.

However, the most exciting news is that I am working on a rather lovely addition to the blog. Nope, not a furry one. Although I really think Island Living 365 needs a dog, what do you think? Mr C says no to a dog, the kids would love one. Anyway I digress. No, we are not talking about a dog, we are talking about something fabulous that I am hoping you will all love. The plan is for it to launch in the next month. Make sure you are watching this space. There are lots of exciting plans afoot for Island Living 365.

So it is looking to be an exciting summer with lots of juggling; consuming of caffeine and exciting new work. But best of all it means lots of time with the girls. I am so pleased that the sun is finally shining. Jersey really does like to show-off when the sun comes out.

Do you have any plans for the summer?