November 2024 – Life Is What You Make Of It

Bonjour lecteurs! Christmas is coming! It might not officiellement be Winter yet, but it’s truly been feeling like it lately! It’s cold and miserable and it certainly does not help the mood sometimes. But I am still optimistic that the rest of 2024 will be brilliant! After all, November 2024 has been full of fun times. I was looking back at my photos to write my last monthly highlights and I realised that we did so much yet again…You know me, I am not much of a homey person but I am so looking forward to going to France and see my family for Noël. We have just over a week before I switch off for the holidays and I have so much to do still! How are you doing? This time of the year can be overwhelming at times. But hang in there and it will soon be Christmas with all the good food and lots of relaxation…

Starting The Month At The V&A

Our life might be very much in Kent but I have always remained a Londoner at heart. So it was certainly exciting to start November 2024 in town.

I took Stanley to my fav musée in London, the V&A Museum.

I am not sure if it’s because it’s in Kensington, the Frenchiest area in town, but there is something très spécial about it.

We had so much fun exploring the collections, before walking in the area and stopping by Paul for a very French jambon-fromage sandwich and a giant macaron…

More Fun In London

Moments like that are just magical. We are always in our element when we are in London. I think like me, he loves the buzz of it all.

So it was lovely to be back in London the weekend after for more adventures. After seeing Paddington 3 at the cinema with his girlfriend (his first date ever!), we made it to the Twist Museum for the 50th birthday of Rubik’s Cube.

But also a walk around Russel Square where I felt nostalgique about my uni days there… I also made it to town for my first ever event as a freelance social manager and it was a great succés.

Family Life

It’s funny how life goes sometimes. Last year, this exact week, I was actually thinking about leaving my job in retail to give this freelance life a go again and I had so many doubts. But I don’t regret my décision so far. 2024 has been a year full of learning and now more, than ever, I know it was the best decision for my me and my family!

November 2024 was also full of beautiful walks and adventures in Kent, surrounded by the tree and yellow leaves everywhere. It looked so pretty! To think that now, it’s all gone and Nature is resting for a few months before going back to life in Spring, it’s just so bizarre. But so goes the life cycle and I think more and more that humans are also creatures that follow a similar cyclical pattern.

It’s even more obvious now that I work for myself. I have more time for workouts and mindfulness. I also feel that I have a better balance with life and work and it’s all for the best.

Weekend in Eastbourne

But enough life reflections! I am sure you will agree on some aspects and maybe not on others. After all, everyone has a unique experience.

Personnellement, I love nothing more than a weekend away in the country and our family stay at the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne was just parfait!

We loved walking along the beach despite the wind. British seaside resorts are often over-looked.

We all love to flight abroad and escape the routine, but I find Victorian seaside towns like Eastbourne so charming and cute. It must be the foreigner in me… I am not sure, but I always come home happy and more serene after going to the beach.

Mind you, the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne is far from being your average hotel. We truly had a grandiose weekend.

Starting The Christmas Fun

To follow such a beautiful break, we started with the fun of the festivities.

Indeed, we made it to London again to try the famous Grinchmas bus, singing along ‘Last Christmas’ with yummy cakes and tea while driving on a bus in London.

We also explored Hyde Park and Apsley House, the home of Wellington, before making it to the InterContinental Park Lane for its delicious Sunday Brunch.

It was just sumptuous in the sun. He played in the park and I just sip into that moment…

Carrying on the Xmas fun, we also made it to the Ivy Brasserie in Canterbury to try their festive menu. Bien sûr, we had our Christmas hats on!

Family Traditions

To finish November 2024, we carried on our family traditions at this time of the year. We visited some family in Bromley and it was strange to walk around a town where I lived for 10 years.

Sure, it was full of Christmas magic and the town was packed with shoppers eager to be organisés with their Christmas shopping, but we realised it had not changed much over the last 6 years… I often wonder what our life would have looked like if we did not leave London. Maybe it is nostalgia and I am getting old?! But deep down, I know that our life is in Kent and that we are happy here.

We went back to Eastwell Manor where Grumpy Boyfriend played the piano and I dreamed of a Frenchie cottage in the country, sitting by the fireplace with a good glass of wine while he was playing Chopin or Debussy.

But we also made it back to Leeds Castle and its annual Xmas Lights trails. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL, especially the Nutcracker  exhibition in the castle. It was truly magical. I know I say that every year, but they excelled it once more!

Pantomime & Uniqlo

We also checked out the last Pantomime at the Marlowe Theatre for another fun night. I never really understood the attractions of those shows before (it’s such a British tradition). But it’s the second production I have seen at this theatre and I must say that I was blown away. We had so much fun!

And like every year, we worked with Uniqlo for its Christmas campaign, which was very exciting too. We absolutely LOVE this shop and I always get some bits from the HEATTECH range. It’s perfect to keep warm but also stylish.

Visiting Cambridge

Finalement, we made it to Cambridge the last weekend of November 2024. It was so busy! I know it’s probably one of the most populaires cities in the UK but quelle surprise!

We had a lovely time at the Belfry Hotel, made with some yummy food but also a relaxing time at the pool.

We even stopped by Wimpole Estate and I could not recommend this place more. Such a beauty and so much to do with kids! It was l’aventure parfaite to finish November 2024 well.

November 2024 – Life Is What You Make Of It

Because of the nature of my job, January is usually quiet and I always want to make the most of it at the end of the year. November and December are always busy with many press days and places to review. Looking back, it seems a bit crazy and some might think it is a bit over the top.

But when I look back at our life and the way it was even before Stanley, it was already like that, full of social events and parties. I was never the kind to have a quiet one at the weekend.

It might look all glam on here and my Insta page, but to be honnête, most days are actually quite common, on my laptop, working, going for a daily walk and picking him up from school before cooking dinner etc.

Life is what you make of it, so do what makes you happy so that you don’t have any regrets. I can’t stop but think about this quote “The only things we truly regret in life are the chances we didn’t take”. Always take your chances and seize opportunities while they are there.

I will certainly keep this one in mind while preparing for 2025. Yes, already thinking about what I want to achieve next year, and you?

What are your plans for the end of the year and Xmas? Will you host or will you be a guest?

 

I can’t wait to go to France and forget about work (I will not even pack my laptop and will stay away from my phone as much as possible. Hurrah!).

Joyeux Noël! 🎄🎄

 

 

Disclosure: This post might feature some sponsored content I recently published but it is merely a list of my highlights of the month! This a post where I share some reflections as a mum in the country and London. I hope it will inspire you to get on more family adventures.

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