I’ve lived in this town my entire life. I spent my childhood playing out with friends in the fields and the cul de sacs. I know the secret path ways, the short cuts, the hidden quiet spots. And yet earlier this week we stumbled upon a field I never even knew was there. And it was as though we’d found it at the most perfect time.

It was the first time we’d all left the house together for almost three weeks, and even then it had only been for a quick dog walk. Since social lockdown was put in place and with Sean and Mum both having to leave the house as keyworkers I figured that the best way to keep me and the children as safe as I could would be to batten down the hatches and forego any need to leave the house, despite an allowance of exercise in the guidelines. It just felt as though we were already at risk enough. And then mum and I came down with what we can only assume was this rotten virus and we all went into total isolation. Almost a month of being cooped up in the same four walls were starting to take their toll on not only my own mental well-being but the children were beginning to go a bit stir crazy too.

Discovering this little patch of sunshine together was a wonderful way to spend the morning with my three favourite people. For the first time I felt myself completely embrace the slower pace we’ve all found ourselves having to take. Before, I’d been trying to fill our days completely, planning for every moment. Making sure the children were as unaffected by the strange and unsettling times we find ourselves in. However as I watched as my family run wild through the countryside, as the children’s faces lit up at the wonders of all that nature has to offer, I felt a wave of calm come over me.

We weaved our way in and out of the golden blooms, playing peekaboo. Watching William ‘sneaking’ through the flowers to make his sister jump and then laughing out loud with excitement when he got to her was so funny.

We chased butterflies and stopped to watch as the bees buzzed from flower to flower. Florence was excited to tell me all about how the bees were collecting nectar to take back to their hive and make honey from. We’ve been talking and reading a lot about bees in our play at home and it was wonderful to see all the things we’d been learning click.

We threw rocks and sticks into the stream and blew dandelion clocks into the breeze.

We even spotted a pheasant which Florence followed on tip toe behind Sean to try and get a photograph and a closer look. He was very cheeky and ran back and forth across the grassy path between the bank and the flowers trying to hide.

Before we knew it we’d spent almost all morning there. Just us and a few passing dog walkers making the most of the beauty spot right here on our doorstep.

We stopped for a quick game of hide and seek around the big tree before making our way home.

Something tells me we’ll be back to this little hidden spot time and time again over the next few weeks. These glorious yellow fields.

Hello! It’s been a while since I actually sat down properly and wrote anything at all and while I’d love to say it’s because we’ve been off adventuring or planning something huge, the truth is we’ve been right here just getting on with the every day. I have always struggled a bit through the beginning of each year — dark and dreary days have a real impact on my brain and since having children January & February seem to be an endless battle against colds & bugs but with any luck this final bout of laryngitis is on its way out the door we’ll all be feeling a lot more like our normal selves. I mean, unless we all get coronavirus and then frankly I think I might just retreat under my duvet for the rest of the YEAR.

I have really been questioning how to go forward with my blog and social media and have taken a bit of a step back while I figured out what I want to do with it all. I started writing here and sharing our lives as I loved the idea of recording all of our special memories and having something that my children could look back on it in years to come. Having worked with bloggers to promote my own business back in the day too, I knew the value I could bring to some of my favourite brands through spreading the word and shouting out about their products too.  Over the years monetising these little personal spaces on the internet has become so much more of a thing and for a little while there I got a bit sucked into the ‘Blogging for a Living’ bubble. Now though, I’m pretty sure I want to find the fun in blogging again and not worry so much about whether it’s making me any money! I’ve so much I want to write about and document on here, not to mention some pretty awesome collaborations to share but I’ve decided to go back to my roots and blog for me and mine. Plus, Pinnable parties has really started to take off and I feel like I’ve found my calling a bit. I know…pass the bucket.

Anyway, I’m hoping to have a bit more of a structure to my blog with regular features including a weekly kids fashion post showcasing our favourite independent and high street brands, the return of our weekend blogs, monthly letters to my children, posts about our days out, plus cake hacks, some kids play ideas and perhaps more apt in the weeks to come a little diary of our days at home should we all have to go into isolation.

Stay safe lovelies

A x