What’s been making me happy: January

What’s been making me happy: January

Hello! It’s nice to be back writing after a slightly longer than expected break. Christmas and New Year didn’t quite pan out how I had expected, with a rather debilitating virus and a couple of cases of conjunctivitis forcing our little family into hibernation mode. Apart from hospital, doctor and pharmacy visits, we did little over the festive period apart from rest and recover. I won’t lie, it wasn’t the merriest time but we’re all happy and healthy now and for that I’m very thankful.

It’s hard to believe we’re three-quarters through the first month of the year already and I know for many – particularly those in the U.K. – it’s been a pretty tough start to 2021. Now more than ever, it feels important to celebrate and appreciate the small things in life, so on that note, this is what’s been making me smile in January…

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The week that was

The week that was

It feels like midwinter is really upon us now.  The days have been grey and drizzly. The trees are bare.  And I’ve been reaching for my warmest wool jumpers.  Despite the chill, there have been some bright moments – blooming bulbs, snuggly cuddles and getting back on the exercise bandwagon.

This is how my last seven days looked…

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A day in Bewdley

A day in Bewdley

Wagga Wagga is in the midst of a heatwave at the moment.  We had three consecutive days above 40ºC (104ºF) last week and after a few days ‘respite’ (35ºC and 32ºC respectively) the rest of this week is set to stick in the high 30s and low 40s.

I don’t particularly enjoy that sort of extreme heat.  Warm is lovely… but at the moment it’s just downright ridiculous! It’s making me crave the cool, damp days we had back in England just a few short weeks ago…

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Hill walks

Hill walks

Adam and I are now on our way back to Australia after the most wonderful month in England, celebrating our wedding and spending time with friends and family in our U.K. home of Malvern, Worcestershire.

One of my favourite parts of living in Malvern was the town’s proximity to the Malvern Hills and I probably spent hundreds of hours rambling upon them during our 15 months in England. Quite a few of the guests at our wedding spent time in Malvern with us prior to the big day and I was thrilled to be able to share the hills with them…

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A Sunday sunrise

A Sunday sunrise

I normally relish my  mornings over the weekend. For a large portion of this year my alarm has gone off at 4:45am Monday through to Friday; so that ability to wake up when your body is ready, linger in bed with a coffee and to quietly plan the day ahead is something I utterly enjoy.

On Sunday though, Adam and I decided to forgo our slow morning, in favour of something a little more active. We rose in the dark, threw on sneakers and waterproof jackets and jumped in the car with our friend Clint and drove about 20 minutes south of Wagga Wagga, where we embarked on a little dawn bush walk…

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Local life: The Sugar Pine Walk

Local life: The Sugar Pine Walk

It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen it, I still find snow utterly magical. There’s something just so wonderful about watching giant flakes quietly descending from the sky and settling on the land below, turning it into a wintry wonderland.

When I spotted on the weather forecast last week the possibility of snow this weekend past, I got a little excited.  So on Sunday, Adam and I decided to head for the hills to see if we could spot any…

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How to choose the right workout for you

How to choose the right workout for you

After an almost 18 month hiatus, I returned to the gym last week and boy, did it feel good!

I’d been a regular gym goer in the years leading up to my move to England, but I decided to forgo that part of my weekly routine while I was abroad as I didn’t have the same level of disposable income as I’d had previously and was planning to travel frequently.

I decided to use that break away to take a look at my exercise philosophy and work out what was going to fit in best with lifestyle…

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Bush galore

Bush galore

The Great British institution of going for a ‘Sunday walk’ was one of those cultural norms that I wholeheartedly embraced when I was living in England. If you’ve been around here for a while, you’ll know I’m an avid fan of a good old ramble and since I’ve returned to Australia, it’s something I’ve been meaning to continue.

Wagga Wagga was blessed with an exceptionally mild summer’s weekend not that long ago, so Adam and I decided to take advantage of the sub 30 degree celsius weather and go for a walk…

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Welcome to the Western Cape

Welcome to the Western Cape

After Adam and I left England we didn’t fly straight back to Australia.  We took a detour via South Africa so we could attend the wedding of some friends – another international couple. Although Nick and Christel live near Oxford, they chose South Africa (Christel’s home country) to celebrate their nuptials.

In the days afterward, the newlyweds graciously played tour guides, showing us the Western Cape – a truly spectacular part of the continent…

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A postcard from Iceland, part four

A postcard from Iceland, part four

To me, the Snæfellnes Peninsula on the west coast of Iceland felt like the set for a post-apocalyptic western movie. Vast open plains in rich browns and reds dotted with mountains dusted with snow, that from a distance resembled Viennetta ice cream.  A robot on a horse with a rifle slung across his back could’ve cantered past me and I wouldn’t have thought it looked out of place at all…

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