Summer Mindfulness

 

Summer sometimes gets a bit too hot these days, but there is still plenty to enjoy. Summer holidays and Summer outings have long been highlights in the year, even when they have been a bit thin on the ground like they were in 2020. The postcard below celebrates the 25 holidays I enjoyed with my parents and daughter from 2006 to 2020.

The Ghost Station

I have always found the London Underground fascinating, the deep tunnels, the map that isn't really a map but a diagram, the Labyrinth Art designs which all London Underground stations possess. Above is an underground poem I rediscovered in my great clear out at the end of 2018. Below are a couple of my own London Underground inspired designs.

Travel Therapy

Sometimes it's just good to get away. My favourite week in my life was my week alone in New York. I like travelling alone to cities. I travelled alone around Europe. My first taste of Paris was on my own, it can be lonely, but if you enjoy your own company it's great. I love my own company and love solitude, but often I am accompanied by my mother and daughter, who generally need a holiday, so they come with me. Often we are just travelling around Great Britain, but that's fine, there's plenty to see here. It's especially nice at the seaside, but also our cities and countryside are good too. Holidays are great for gaining a new perspective on life, for practising mindful meditation, for doing something different, for just having a break from the norm.

A tale of three cities

From a young age I was brought up on the idea that London, Paris and New York were the most glamourous, happening cities in the world. That's probably not true anymore, if it ever was, but I think they are still, all three, worth at least a brief visit. These are some further thoughts on these three great cities.

London

I've been living in London for over 50 years. There is something liberating about a city. You can quite easily feel lost and anonymous, but people, food and shelter never feel far away. These days I seek solitude and freedom in the middle of a city, amongst strangers. Some of my favourite places and things to do in London can be found by following my London links.

Paris

I have visited Paris about five times in my life, first in 1990 and lastly in 2015. Over those twenty-five years, much has stayed the same. Paris is romantic and edgy and everything in between. I have fond memories of it. To find out more about me and Paris, please follow my Paris links.



New York

Possibly the best week of my life was the week I spent in New York in 2017, just before I turned 50. It was quite a tiring time, I was out sight-seeing from 8.30 in the morning until 8.30 in the evening. I saw everything I wanted to see and feel I don't need to go back. You can find out more about my 5B450 and NYC adventures by using the search bar and the link.

Eat Pray Love holidays revisited

 

I was attempting to go away at least three times in 2020, to Belfast, to Brighton and to Cromer. Needless to say planning any holidays in 2020 quickly became very difficult and what should have happened in one year, actually took three.

Eat - Cromer - August 2020

We were lucky to have got away anywhere at all in 2020, so the week we got to stay in Cromer was all that bit more special and I cherish that week away very much, even though we only had takeaway pizza to eat every evening.

Pray - Belfast - June 2021

This holiday was cancelled twice in 2020 so it was a great relief to get here in 2021. It was exciting to fly in an aeroplane once more and to finally visit this remarkable fourth UK capital city.

Love - Brighton - April 2022

We visited Brighton last in 2017 so it was exciting to find out how it had changed in the past five years. I have visited Brighton regularly since I was alittle girl, so it feels like visitng an old, dear friend everytime I go.

One thing the Eat Pray Love holiday saga has taught me is that it is much better to be just organising two holidays a year rather than three. I am aiming on going on two holidays a year, one far and one near, in the upcoming future.

 

Seaside Reflection

 

It occured to me, a few months ago, that if we managed to get to our 2021 holiday destination of Felixstowe then we would be able to celebrate twelve consecutive years of holidays by the sea. During these twelve years we also managed a trip to Brugge which included some time spent on the Belgium coast and my visit to New York City which included an outing to Coney Island. I love being by the seaside and it has been good to focus on these special times which help me through the darker, colder days of winter.

The Missing Links 2021

Covid19 has continued to wreak havoc with planned visits this year. These are the places I have been concentrating my efforts on getting to in 2021.

The House Gardens in Spring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We didn't visit the House Gardens at all in Spring 2020, due to the first Covid19 lockdown. I was determined to visit them in Spring 2021. We visited them once in March, once in April and twice in May and very beautiful they were.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crane Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I visited this park when I was very young. It lingered in my mind and I was very pleased to revisit it in 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Belfast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One and a half years since first booking our Belfast trip, it was a relief to get there in June 2021. I found Belfast to be enjoyable, intriguing and slightly old-fashioned. I particularly enjoyed the Titanic quarter by the River Lagan and the sightseeing bus tour.

 

Japanese Garden @ Regent's Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We visited this place on a summer’s Saturday in June. It was very crowded and a bit fraught. But I was pleased to have made it here at last.

 

 

Westfield Park, Shepherds Bush

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We used to go to Westfield just to look at the shops, but on recent visits I have become intrigued with the urban park that is being developed there. Plus, we can enjoy a latte in one of the many cafes and visit a real life book shop.

 

The V&A Museum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amy and I both agreed that the V&A was our favourite museum in London. We hope to enjoy an unrestricted visit here before the end of the year.