My girls

Feeling totes emosh writing this as I sit in the airport to go home.

In fact, it wasn’t even supposed to be a blog post but it got a bit long to be an Instagram or Facebook post!

I can’t believe I’m saying this but this was my first proper girls trip in more than 15 years.

15 YEARS!!!!!

I can barely remember the person I was 15 years ago… so much has happened since then.

Back then

Back then I travelled alone more. I certainly never travelled with Things.

I never had to worry about people behaving themselves in aeroplanes or if a Thing was going to need the loo just as we were taxiing for takeoff.

I only worried about the critical stuff – money, tickets and passport. I didn’t travel with 2,394,209 snacks in my bag or an outfit change for each member of the family. I didn’t carry someone else’s iPad or have to give them my bread rolls and yoghurt because they wouldn’t eat anything else from the plane food offering.

Like I say… I can barely remember the person I was 15 years ago

I don’t get to travel alone that often

Since having the Things, I’ve only travelled for other people’s special occasions – weddings, hen nights and funerals.

And then…

Almost a year ago, these lovely girls and I decided we needed a girls trip. A bit giddy on champagne and giddy with the excitement of having almost all of us together again and we decided that 2019 was the year we just had to do a girls’ trip.

We planned and scheduled. Doodle polls went out and were adjusted. It took almost 12 months of planning just to get a date we could all do.

Then we planned and booked. I think there was only 1 place in the whole of Europe that we could all get to AND get some sun.

And then we waited

We had wobbles about leaving the Things of all ages not to mention other family members. And finally it was here. For most of the 3 nights we were only 9 – missing someone each time. But for 8 glorious hours all 9 of us were together.

I’ve known these girls for over 20 years

These are the girls who move heaven and earth to see me whenever I am home. We don’t speak as often as we should but we are always there for each other. We may not always know what’s going on in each other’s day to day lives but in terms of relationships that stand the tests of time and distance, these are up there with the best of them.

I didn’t feel like I needed a break but this trip has done me the world of good.

I’ve spent 3 days not thinking or worrying about anyone else.

I’ve slept.

I’ve rested.

I’ve sunbathed.

I’ve eaten and drank.

I’ve had heart to hearts.

I’ve reminisced.

I’ve laughed.

I’ve reconnected.

I’m going home having remembered who I was.

I feel like me again

I didn’t even think I didn’t feel like me before we came away but my goodness I feel like me now.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, my lovely girls, for a truly amazing trip.

I love you all xx