If you’re new to my blog, I like to finish each month (or start the next month) with a look back at the month just gone. It allows me to reflect on the highs and the lows of the last few weeks and is a great way to remember some of the adventures I’ve had.

I’m not entirely sure where the last month has gone, but here we are in July, the middle of the UK summer and still in partial lockdown. Thankfully we’re now able to meet family and friends, and our sporting calendar is back, which has meant plenty of football with England heading into the semi-finals at the Euro’s (do we dare start to dream??) and the return of Wimbledon for the first time since 2019!

June was another mixed bag. I started the month off in the Shire visiting mum and dad, and that’s where we pick things up as I look back on June.

Preventable Injuries

Spending a week at home with my parents came at the perfect time. Having spent all weekend in lockdown away from family and friends, ending the spring surrounded by family was just what I needed. 

As much as I class myself as someone who’s quite active, some days when I’m working from home, I struggle to get my step count in, averaging around 5k steps rather than the recommended 10k. However, before heading home for the week, I found myself creating time to walk somewhere between 8k-10k per day. I was starting to really feel the difference in how I felt.

I knew there was a chance when I went back home, my new routine would slip, so I started to plan some walks before I left for the Shire. 

My plan started well. The weather was gorgeous that week which gave me an added dose of motivation. On Day 2, I chose fashion over practicality and wore the wrong trainers for walking. When I returned home, I had a lovely open wound on the back of my heel. 

To cut a very long story short, I ended up having to wear flip flops for the next two weeks because my wound got so disgusting and my foot so swollen that I couldn’t put my trainers on! 

Call me stubborn (or stupid) but, I continued to try to walk 10,000 steps a day, wearing flip flops! Which left me with an even worse injury and needing to borrow some crutches for a couple of days!

This put pay to a lot of the plans I’d made for the early part of the month. Days out with friends had to be changed and walks cancelled. 

Thankfully most of my injuries have now healed, but what a nightmare it turned out to be for a silly mistake that I could’ve easily avoided had I just worn sensible footwear!

Stepping Back in Time

One of my favourite parts of my old job was getting to help out at our Cup Finals. 

This year I was invited back to help, and I couldn’t say no! After all, who wouldn’t want the opportunity to watch live sport again after the 18 months we’ve just endured!?! 

I had two great days back on the ticket gate, immersing myself back into local grassroots football. It was good to catch up with members of the team and to watch some live football.

Exploring Surrey

I’ve not been able to do quite so many walks this month due to my silly injury, but thankfully towards the end of the month, I managed to get back out and explore. 

Some of the places I visited in June included Norbury Park, RHS Wisley, Bushy Park, and a lovely walk with my walking group around Ripley (Surrey) and the River Wey.

Playing Host

After 18 months without any respite, my brothers care home finally allowed him to go in for a weekend which gave my parents a well-deserved break.

I was over the moon that they wanted to spend their first free weekend in over a year, coming to visit me in Kingston. 

As I live in a flat with no lift, it’s almost impossible for them to come down and visit with my brother. 

It was so good to see my parents, even if it was just for a couple of days. I was able to show them around Kingston, and we tried out lot’s of different eating places and cafes I hadn’t been to before, which I loved doing as much as they did!

9 Years Gone

At the end of the month, it was the ninth anniversary since my best friend left us. Grief is a strange feeling to process. Every year it feels different. This year it felt particularly tough. I don’t know if it’s because it’s the tenth anniversary next year, and I could feel that looming, or whether it was always going to feel tough this year.

Every year, I find myself flashing back to the moment I found out. I think that phone call will haunt me forever. 

In other ways, I guess it makes me reflect on where I was at the time and how far I’ve come since. 

I know she would be incredibly proud of me. She would be so proud that I’m making a life for myself away from my home town, and I know she would be so proud of the fact I’ve started my own business.

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Before I wrap up for this month, I want to leave you with a quote I saw today whilst I was out for a walk which struck a chord with me:

What were your highs and lows from last month?

Whatever June has thrown at you, don’t forget that life is short. Enjoy every moment, and don’t forget to chase your dreams.