I wrote this guide for my friend Iain who’s off to NYC this week, but thought I might as well blog it too. So I added in my favourite girly places (as I didn’t think Iain would be bothered about those, but you might!) I’ve tried to keep it short and sweet… but cramming a week of New York into a tiny number of words is somewhat of a challenge!
I would also like to thank my wonderful friends Liz (@LadyBowers) and Catherine for exploring the city with me on my …

It’s me who is my enemy
Me who beats me up
Me who makes the monsters
Me who strips my confidence.
~ Paula Cole, “Me,” This Fire

My blog yesterday was worthwhile. Getting everything out of my head onto (virtual) paper helped me to see what is holding me back and causing this feeling of “meh” as I like to call it.
When everything came crashing down last October I realised my confidence had evaporated. But because of my determination to turn things around and get on with things I had to find a way …

When you aren’t sure what to blog then there are always Twitter trending topics to give you ideas. I will not be blogging on #twittercrush. It was #in10years that caught my attention. To be honest I don’t have a clue where I will be in 10 years time. Apart from hopefully being paid to write stuff, I’m more than happy to see where life takes me. Ten years ago I don’t know exactly where I thought I would be now. I know it was most definitely not here.
In fact today …

On account that after two days in York both my feet and brain are asleep I thought I would do another photo blog with a taster of the images I caught in York Minster today.
Sadly, as with Durham Cathedral (but without the excuse of a bad back), I didn’t feel I got nearly as much as I should have done from this glorious cathedral. It didn’t help that I forgot to bring my tripod, meaning I missed out on quite a few shots in darker parts of the minster. Once …

After yesterdays blog I ironically felt like Cinderella this evening. Knowing I had to be back in my hotel, blog written and published by midnight to keep up my pact to myself.
As it so happens after the delights of the Ghost Hunt (and the cute/funny/slightly scary tour guide) I found myself in the Evil Eye Lounge, sampling their cocktails and really proving to myself how much of a lightweight I am these days. Now I am back in my hotel with cup of tea (complicated when tipsy with a strange …

I had a big old lie in today. Following that I read for a while. I meditated. I lazed about until 1pm.
I’ve also done a bit of tidying and cleaning. Enough to have a less chaotic environment and make the remaining tasks a little less daunting.
And I’ve cooked. Made a gorgeous homemade soup.
And I’ve been to Body Balance. Which did me the world of good as I found thanks to working out all week my Tai Chi and Yoga poses flowed much better than usual.
And I’ve chilled some more in …

Technically ‘we are’ not going. I am. But Cliff Richard didn’t write a song about going on holiday on your own.

I’m going on holiday. Although my holiday plan is going to plan in theory, the desired effect isn’t exactly kicking in. I’m not feeling fabulous after exercising. Meditation isn’t having its usual cheering effect. I’m still at home. I’m unable to chill out because of all the things that need doing around the flat. In short I’m trying to be positive and happy, but a fortnight of holiday without a …

I have two weeks and three days off work and as I’m not headed off on holiday it is a rare opportunity to have buckets of time for myself. Come the 1st September I don’t want to realize I’ve spent over a fortnight in my pajamas having achieved nothing.
At the same time it is not about putting pressure on myself to achieve the unachievable and fill every second of every day. I sometimes have the problem of wanting to do everything now, and feeling very disappointed when 90% of it …

The worst thing about a holiday is the returning to work bit. I coped with the three nights of having unsettling dreams about work (probably the whole anxiety/stress from working to hard thing!) so decided that for the remainder of the week I would be proactive in avoiding anything to do with work. It is in fact impossible for me to avoid EVERYTHING to do with work because it would involve becoming a hermit and not going near my front door for the entire week as I work in an …