SO I FELL IN LOVE AGAIN

Who doesn't love that feeling you get when you fall in love when your heart skips a beat every time they walk into the room. When you get butterflies in your stomach just thinking of them and giddy in their presence. It's one of life's free gifts it never gets old and it makes you feel alive. 

I didn't think it was possible to feel like this every day and for the feeling to become more and more intense as the days went on. 

No one mentioned that having a child was like getting to fall in love all over again and that every day you wake up and you look at what you created and can't believe it's real. I've had the luxury and luck of getting to bring up my daughter and spend the majority of my time with her. I've had the luxury of being able to travel With her.  I've had the luxury of being able to watch her develop and put my hand on my heart and say 'yes ive done the best job I could'. I have gotten to get to know my daughter inside out and form a bond so strong I could never have imagined in a hundred years it possible. I've gotten to experience something that I will never ever take for granted as it was a gift that every day I will thank my blessing for. I've got the  luxury of having a child that doesn't like routine or structure as much as I don't. Who is happy to wake up in her buggy in the pub in Italy and get up chat and wait while I finish my cocktail. I've got a child that surprises me every day with new jokes and fun she has created. For all of this I'm thankful and all of which make me love her more and more. 

Over the last two weeks in Italy, I've luckily had little stress and little to do. So I've gotten to spend quality time with the love of my life. We have laughed constantly and joked and chatted. 

We took a day trip to Naples and enjoyed octopus, bruschetta and cafe nocello. We went to my favorite cafe in Salerno for a canolli and have checked, double checked and triple checked every shop inside out in Cava. We went to Alessia's first Italian Birthday party, for her cousin's 4th birthday.

Last night while we were out on a Saturday night I noticed again that many people were out with their children in Prams asleep and some awake. It is normal it is made the norm. People don't have strangers look after their children at home and Also, just dont have an extra 50 euro to add to their night. They just bring them out. It is normalised, it is important to go out, socialize and not feel trapped and locked in because you have a child. Like In India there were cots in restaurants to allow your child sleep while you ate. As I walked home at 1am I couldn't have felt happier, I had a couple of carefree hours and then Alessia woke reminding me that I had to get up the next morning and that once I finished and enjoyed the end of my passion fruit mojito it was time to go. 

I have fallen in love again and I Will be forever grateful for this experience. 

FREEFUN, ITALY, CAVA, NAPLES, AMALFI

Don't sweat the small things

As Christmas came and went so did my itchy feet where to Next? Maybe everyone is the same, but I love an adventure, I love the thrill of not knowing, riding along watching the world go by. 

Before I had Alessia, I was in London And I cherished every last minute of my busy tube rides and long six day weeks. Thinking this was the end, I was settled no more adventures so I drank it in and was not prepared to let a moment slip by without fully appreciating my independence. But what I didn't realize was that the adventure was only beginning. 

As myself and Alessia embarked on yet another trip I felt the familiar feeling in my stomach I get each time I reach the airport like a junkie getting my fix. 

Although sleep deprivation had taken the better of me and I had booked my flight with the wrong surname. With eight hours to my flight when I found out I scoured the internet to find out what could be done. After not taking my flight the week previous for a number of reasons It wasn't  going to happen again. I tried to book a new flight, but it wouldn't work so instead I took the two hours sleep that were left and thought, as always, it would work out. 

I always believe things will work out as they are meant to, with the right attitude.So with a positive attitude and too many bags we made our way to the Ryanair desk to plead our case. I was beyond shocked, there was little pleading to be done and they were changing my name there and then. No charge mentioned, then as luck would have it one of the girls behind the desk knew me, from Jo jingles a children's music group myself and Alessia attended. I couldn't believe it. We were off and not a penny to pay. With a spring in my step I went through security and I felt so lucky.

 As always Alessia had been the perfect travel Companion, a pleasure a distraction and great company. As I arrived in Rome and took the bus from the airport to termini station, I sat with Alessia in my arms. My heart melted and I felt a sense of completeness, my adventures were so much better now. 

I looked forward to teaching her all about the history of Italy, the art the architecture the food and culture. We had two hours to kill At the train station so we did what we girls love to do, try on clothes we were happy not to buy, we just enjoyed the fun of trying on different outfits. 

I had so much gratitude for all this precious time I had with Alessia. Life was good, I had even managed to teach my first yoga class and had many more to come.


FREEFUN DUBLIN-ROME

i no longer make decisions that are best for me

As I get ready for yet another adventure. Another plane and numerous trains. I contemplate, am I doing exactly what I want to do. The answer is no, of course I'm not, but I'm 

Doing what is best for Alessia and me. What is best for me on my own unfortunately isn't what is best for  everyone. I find people constantly questioning my actions, but nobody ever really knows why any one person is doing any one thing, so it is best to leave people do what suits them and make their own mistakes. 

I loved Christmas with my gorgeous daughter, it was lovely watching her open presents And enjoy the company and the music.

 I think Dancing was her favorite thing to do as she would hand my mum

Her Yuke and say more more, or demand my parents play another duet on guitar  and Yuke, 

She loved Christmas dinner as it consisted of two of her favorite things prawns and calamari and smoked mackerel pate. 

Of course, when you have a child your nights are simpliar you don't party till six am well, 

I don't anyway, as I couldn't function getting up after half hour sleep. Or I just don't go out as many evenings. You take turns and you only stay out a couple of hours. Alessia still gets awful upset if she wakes and I'm not there so I always go home if she wakes. Theses are my decisions with my reasons. They are not right or wrong, they are just personal to me. My choices are not solely mine at this stage of my life. I can't decide to go out every night as I like to socialize and that's what makes me feel good. I can go out early or bring Alessia asleep in the buggy or in my case run home  when when needed if I manage to get a baby sitter.

 But life chances with a child, you are no longer your top priority your child is. So life decisions becoming confusing as you're making them too

Suit someone else while also trying not to leave yourself out of the equation. So when people wonder and question your actions, they are not always as simple as black and white. As the days draw closer to going back to the Amalfi coast, I am

So happy at how well I practice mindfulness day by day and am thankful that I've enjoyed my daughters life rather than question it, while thinking about what is best for us both.

FREEFUN SKERRIES IRELAND CHRISTMAS 2016