As we edge closer to the middle of the year, I thought it was about time I sat back and reviewed my 2021 goals to see how they are progressing. Mid-year is a good time to reflect on your goals and to check whether we need to make any significant changes to them as we…
Category: Travel
The Law of Attraction
Have you ever felt an overwhelming desire to go somewhere or do something you’ve never done before? I’m not talking about a desire to go somewhere just because it looks nice. I’m talking about an overwhelming pull to go somewhere or do something.
Mental Health Awareness Week
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK this week.
Mental health is something we all have. Everyone has a different level of physical health, and it’s the same for our mental health, too.
I’ve had a front row seat watching family and friends who’ve suffered from poor mental health since my teens.
My Top 5 Places to Visit in India
On 23rd December 2019, I found myself at London Gatwick Airport about to board a flight to India. India had been on my mind a lot in the few years prior to my trip. I couldn’t get away from this nagging feeling that I had to go. So on a whim, in May 2019, I…
Albufeira
Yesterday was my first full day in Portugal. I’m staying 4km outside of old town Albufeira, and with my solo trip being out of season, many of the shops and restaurants nearby were still closed. Having decided to head into central Albufeira, aiming for the old town, I could either take a taxi, a local bus or walk the 4km from my hotel into Albufeira.
My Top 5 Moments from 2020
We all know that 2020 hasn’t exactly been the best year. It’s had a lot of low points, but it’s really important to keep the good moments in our minds too. Thankfully, the year hasn’t been a complete write-off. Amongst the lows, there have been some highs and, if nothing else, plenty of lessons learnt….
Claremont Landscape Garden
During a week off work earlier this month, I paid a visit to Claremont Landscape Garden, a Grade 1, 18th century listed garden, close to the village of Esher, in Surrey. I’d never been before, but after a week of job hunting and sitting in front of my laptop, I decided it was time to get out and about for some fresh air and to have a little explore.
Ham House
As Autumn began to arrive in suburbia, I decided it was time to get my walking boots back on. I was looking forward to getting out and exploring my new surroundings. I started searching for walks online and came across a route starting at Kingston railway station. The route would take me along the Thames Path to Ham House & Gardens, heading back to Kingston via Richmond Park.
Mini Break to the Sussex Coast
Two weekends ago, I loaded up the car with my weekend bags, and headed off down the A3 to the Sussex Coast. I was all set to meet my family around lunchtime in Bognor Regis, before checking into Church Farm Caravan Holiday Park for the weekend. We’d been due to have a family weekend away…
Moving House Whilst Going Through Redundancy
Five weeks ago I moved from Battersea to Kingston Upon Thames. For those of you who are not too familiar with London, that equates to moving from the city centre to the suburbs. City life had driven me and my boyfriend (who spent most of his time keeping me company during lockdown) crazy during the…
Finding Respite for my Muddled Mind in Holland Park
This weekend, I found myself with some alone time. I needed some space and time to think, reflect and soak up the late October sunshine. I headed to the local market yesterday thinking I would stop by to look for some upcoming birthday presents. The market was celebrating its own birthday and was busier than normal.
Friendship
This post was originally published on 6th October 2018 and updated on 9th August 2020. I’ve been thinking a lot about friendship lately and what it means to me. I don’t have a large circle of friends, more pockets of friends whom I’ve met at different stages in my life. There are those I’ve known…
Crash and Burn
Why is it that I always crash and burn by the time my annual leave arrives? Over time, I’ve come to realise that if I don’t take a significant break from work every 12 weeks, I struggle to function. Yet, despite knowing that, I still end up feeling burnt out by the time my leave…
The Wombles of Wimbledon
With my neighbourhood starting to feel like it’s part of Eastenders, yesterday I visited Wimbledon Common for some peace. Recently, I’ve been questioning whether I should move further out of London, so I can live a quieter life. These are just a handful of things that have happened in my street recently…
Goa, Mumbai, London – Days 14 to 16
This blog post is a particularly special one for me. Not only does it bring me to the end of my diary reflecting back on my first trip to Asia, and more specifically to India, it’s also time to celebrate, as this is my 100th blog post since the journey of The Mindful Musings of…
Goa – Day 13
Another night, another overnight train adventure Before arriving in Goa, it was time to embark on another overnight train journey. We were slightly better prepared for this one, and travelled in much more comfortable clothes. Our taxis also managed to pull up right next to the station, so there would be no walking across the…
Mumbai – Day 12
Day 12 was Chu and Eric’s last day with us. They had been the most wonderful company throughout the trip. They had so many interesting stories to tell, but were also keen to learn from each of us and to hear about our experiences too. They had become our ‘India’ mum and dad for many…
Mumbai – Day 11
Bleary eyed, we arrived into Mumbai on the overnight train, 12 hours after leaving Falna. Hot, sweaty, and still wearing clothes from the day before, we jumped into our awaiting taxi’s, and headed into Central Mumbai, where we would be staying at the Hotel Royal Castle. Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay), is India’s largest city…
Overnight Train to Mumbai – Day 10
A date with a Palm Reader… Day 10, and we woke up to another beautiful day in Udaipur. With only 5 days until I would be back in London, it felt like the end of the trip was getting ever closer. With this having been the longest trip I had taken so far, I wasn’t…
Udaipur – Day 9
It’s been difficult to start writing about India again with a pandemic hanging over us like a lead weight. So far there have been over 3,605 deaths in the UK, and we face social distancing measures. Meanwhile, the Indian government have taken a much stricter approach, by imposing a 21 day lockdown throughout the entire country,…
Udaipur – Day 8
Tensions Rising Day 8 – New Years Eve. What should’ve been a fantastic end to 2019, instead, marked the day that cracks started to show within our group. I guess when you have 14 people travelling together for a considerable period of time, with varying amounts of sleep, sickness, and enjoyment, it’s only a matter…
Pushkar – Day 7
Day 7 in India started with a squinty eyed 5am wake up call. It was time to layer up and head out to our awaiting tuk tuks, which would be driving us through the quiet back streets of Pushkar to the base of Ratnagiri Hill, whereby Savitri Temple sits at its peak. We would be…
Lost and Found in India
Hello Annual Leave, What an absolute pleasure it is to see you! 2020 has been a funny old year so far, so it’s nice to have 5 days off work, catching up with sleep, life admin and making plans for the next couple of months. After spending much of last year planning and prepping for…
Pushkar – Day 6
Before I arrived in India, two of the places I was most looking forward to visiting were Pushkar and Udaipur. When I booked the trip, I hadn’t heard of either of them before, but the more I read about them, the more I was looking forward to visiting them. I was sad to be leaving…
Jaipur – Day 5
Amber Fort Day 5 in India began with a tuk tuk ride over to the stunning Amber Fort, which lies 11km to the northeast of Jaipur. Construction of the Fort began in 1592 by the Rajput commander of Akbar’s army, Maharaja Man Singh, and was financed by war booty. This absolutely stunning fort, built from…