Thursday 10th October is World Mental Health and Happiness Day. I thought there was no better time to talk about my own mental health and what makes me happy.
Happiness Day
family
Five things I love about Autumn
Autumn could definitely be the top contender for my favourite season.
Planning Ahead in the Financial Sense
Growing up and especially through my twenties I was always very sensible with money. In fact some might say too sensible!
I always had a part time job and saved really hard for things that I wanted probably the most significant examples of this is when I saved to go travelling across America after graduating or when I payed the first mortgage instalment on my own apartment when I was in my early twenties. Fast forward a few years and things have changed with having a family to support and think about.
Villa on the French Riviera
Two weeks ago we travelled to the South of France to celebrate my mother in laws special birthday. The number will remain anonymous of course…but ask anyone in Villefranche Sur Mer and they will tell you as Olivia did happen to mention to everyone and their dog (literally) what age Granny was on that faithful occasion!
Hurry up but slow down
I’m hoping this doesn’t just sound like one big rant and hopefully someone out there can sympathize with me…please…anyone…let me explain.
When I wake up in the morning my first thought is always the same, I have xx amount of minutes to have a shower and then Olivia will be up. Once I jump in the shower it is usually just a few minutes until her little face is pressed up against the glass “Mummy, Mummy did I have a big sleep?” ” Yes Olivia now hurry up and go to the toilet so we can get ready for school.”
Day trip to Cannes
While staying in Theoule Sur Mer we were just a 15 minute train journey from Cannes. I have always wanted to go and see all the super yachts and the glamorous boutiques so after splashing out a whopping €5 on our 4 train tickets..and that was 1st class of course, it was an early start to catch the train.
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Holidays on the French Riviera
After much deliberation this year we finally decided on the South of France for our holidays. We started looking at different locations last year even before Zanna was born and we knew after last years holiday in Salou we didn’t want to do a package holiday. It just wasn’t for us this year. Maybe in a couple of years it will suit the girls better but at the minute Olivia just loves being outside running around so we knew we wanted a beach location and an apartment close at hand. That is exactly what we got when we booked Theoule Sur Mer.
Sister Sister
When you find out you are pregnant and expecting your second child you do really worry about how the first will take it. I’m guessing which way it swings can depend on both their age and understanding of what is going on along with the personality of the child. When we found out there was another Henning on the way we were pretty confident Olivia would take it well. She’s fiercely independent, moves to the beat of her own drum and couldn’t really care about much else including another baby but nonetheless we included her in everything during the pregnancy just incase though in the hope she would understand the big change that was about to take place.
A mum who enjoys work…NEVER?!
I have read numerous blogs and posts lately about ladies that are due around the same time as me that are bursting to be off on maternity leave and are done with work and ready to put their feet up. While I do feel like this at times and I am definitely ready to put my feet up I am actually going to miss my 3 days in work. Simply put I skip into work on a Tuesday. It’s not because I cant wait to get rid of my daughter although you may think this after my last post about Olivia (read here) 🙂 I actually enjoy my job and the people who I work with. The adult conversation can be a lifesaver at times.
Life Lately
The last few weeks have been extremely busy for us as a family with plenty more coming up but what I really want to talk about is as parents have seen so many changes in Olivia in the last maybe 2 months that have knocked us for six. I genuinely thought we had got away with the “terrible twos” but they have struck with a vengeance that we just were not prepared for!