At the end of each month (or the beginning of the next!) I like to look back on the highs and lows of the month. 

February was a challenging month for so many people. 

When countries are at war, it can be challenging to know how to help. Yet we feel this overwhelming sense that we need to do something. Whilst I’m trying to make sure I don’t consume too much news at the moment, it’s impossible to shy away from what’s happening in Ukraine, and nor do I think we should. We need to be aware of what’s going on in the world. However, it’s also important to set boundaries to safeguard our mental health. 

Closer to home, we had a couple of storms batter the UK in February. We found ourselves with a red weather warning looming over Kingston. Red weather warnings in the UK are incredibly rare. Whilst there were a few trees down locally, we managed to get through it relatively unscathed. Sadly others weren’t so lucky. 

February has been a surprisingly busy month socially. It’s been great to get out seeing family, friends, clients and former colleagues.

It’s also been a busy month work-wise, with a couple of clients heading towards new service launch dates and a growing client base. I’ve also been busy working behind the scenes on my new homepage. I had hoped this would be ready by the beginning of March, but it’s not quite there yet. Whilst I’m not seeking perfection, I do want it to be in a place where I feel proud to show it off. 

Here’s a look back at some of my highlights from February:

Date Day

February saw me and my boyfriend celebrate three years together. The next couple of months are busy for us both workwise, so we made plans to spend a day together before life got too crazy! 

We did what we do best – brunch, movie, dinner! We began the day with brunch at The Breakfast Club, followed by watching Moonfall at the Cinema. We then finished the day with a cheeky Nando’s! 

I can highly recommend Moonfall if you haven’t seen it yet! We were lucky enough to see it in a 4DX cinema which was the craziest experience! We were thrown around in our seats so much I found bruises afterwards! Thankfully, it was worth it! 

I started taking medication for anxiety

After seeking help for anxiety in January, I initially declined medication, opting for therapy instead. However, as there is such a long wait to see a therapist, I went back on my decision and started taking Sertraline at the beginning of February.  

I initially experienced some weird and wonderful side effects but since my body has adjusted to the medication, so has my mind. I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful it feels to start using the rational part of my brain again! I also feel calmer than I have in a long time. It’s made me realise that I’ve been suffering for far longer than I convinced myself I had. 

Walking in the Surrey Countryside

I was able to join my Meetup group for two lovely walks this month in the Surrey countryside. 

The first walk began in neighbouring village Claygate, whilst the second walk started deep in Surrey, at Hydon Heath.

We were lucky with the weather on both walks, albeit the ground was incredibly boggy from the rain we’ve had since the start of the year. There were also quite a few obstacles in our way during the Hydon Heath walk following the storms earlier in the month!

A day out in Winchester

Before Christmas, I’d arranged to meet up with one of my clients and her assistant to have a Christmas meal. As we are all freelancers/self-employed, we missed not having big corporate Christmas parties, so we decided to arrange our own. Sadly, I had to cancel due to a family funeral.

We re-scheduled the meal for February, and it gave us all something nice to look forward to.

We agreed to meet in Winchester as they both live out that way, and it’s relatively straightforward for me to get there by train. 

My old boss also happens to live in Winchester, and as it was half-term, we also agreed to catch up whilst I was in town. 

After catching up with my old boss over a lemon & ginger tea, I met up with my client and her assistant for a lovely lunch in the Ivy. Whilst I knew my client before I started working for her, I hadn’t seen her since I started working for her because of covid. 

The day I travelled was also the first day we no longer had to wear facemasks on the train! As I started my journey in an empty carriage, it felt liberating not having to wear a mask. It was a different story on the way back. Getting into a warm, stuffy, busy carriage, I decided to reacquaint myself with my facemask. I think it will take a while to adjust to not wearing one!

Dunstable Downs

The last time I saw my family, they all had covid! Somehow I had escaped catching it despite being on day two of a four-day stay with them! 

Last weekend, we managed to get back together for an afternoon in the Dunstable Downs in Bedfordshire. The only time I’d been to the Downs before was on a visit to Whipsnade Zoo! 

It was a perfect location to meet up as it is roughly halfway between where we all live. We had lunch in the cafe before braving the winds and watching the gliders taking off from the foot of the Downs. 

It was great to see everyone again, and hopefully, I’ll be heading back up to the Shire to spend some more time with them soon. 

Persuasion

The last day of the month took me to the Rose Theatre in Kingston with one of the ladies I’ve met through my walking group. She’d managed to get two free tickets to see a modern adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. I loved getting dressed up to head out on a Monday night! The production was brilliant. Who would ever have thought to put Jane Austen and a foam party in the same sentence!

Check out the video below to find out more about the adaptation. 

That’s about it from me this month. 

It’s hard not to get bogged down in the shitty situation in Eastern Europe, but don’t forget, there is a lot of good happening in the world too. 

Let me know in the comments below how February was for you.