October 2024 – Life Is Not A Race

Bonjour lecteurs! Now more than ever, it seems that winter is on its way. Once more, it’s time to reflect on October 2024. But while I did my monthly review, I got to realise that it was very slow. I looked at my targets and I have not done much towards them last month. It felt so disappointing. However, while I was looking for pictures to add to my new monthly highlights, I saw many smiles and so many more memories with my boys. So here it is! Life is not a race and there will be times when you feel like you have not achieved much… And yet, when you look deeper into it, you’ll see that you made some progress.

Enjoying Slow Moments

If you read my September 2024 recap, you will see that I am very much about living life to its fullest. I like having things in the diary and plan days out with the boys.

Funnily enough, both my parents are quite homey people. Je suis l’opposé and I feel like something is missing if we are at home.

But the start of October 2024 proved to be slow and it was good!

I enjoyed days at home, walks in the area and seeing Stanley at the Harvest Festival school show. There was nothing glam, it was all about small events that just made me smile, like watching a good movie, read a book, or have a nice candle in the house.

Recently, I bought one in TK Maxx (have not shopped there in years!) and it brightens up dark evenings with such a cosy smell!

School & Fun

The second week arrived with an exciting project with Uniqlo. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know how much we LOVE that brand!

I was so excited to work on this project and see first hand the new shop at the Westfield Shopping Centre in West London.

Here her fun came… She was in town with her baby and she was happy! J’adore le shopping and having days out in London with him.

But we also had a good Parents’ Evening so that was lovely. I also made it to the Marlowe Theatre for a couple of gorgeous shows. Once more, if you are in Kent like us, you have to check its shows. It’s like being on the West End, except that you are in the heart of Kent…

I also caught up with my friend A for a massage at a local spa. It was divine and such a beautiful afternoon, chatting  and bouncing idées around a hot cup of tea.

French Passport

The following week of October 2024, I managed to book an appointment at the French Consulate to renew my passport.

I hate doing admin jobs like this, hence why I left it to the last minute so that we can go back to France for Christmas… Oops! Bien sûr my train was delayed so I nearly missed it…

But it’s all done and I will soon be the happy owner of a new French passport featuring a middle aged woman on it!

I am not worried or scared to get old. It’s part of life and a natural cycle I suppose. But it’s scary to think how fast time goes by! Nearly a decade ago, we were in NYC, I was pregnant with Stanley and we had very different life in London…

Scream If You Wanna Go Faster

As soon as Stanley broke up for half-term (2 weeks off…), some big deadlines landed and it was a real struggle to do it all.

In between my job, the blog and keeping up with him at home, there was not much time left for anything else.

We’ve had many days at home, me trying to cram as much work as possible in between going to the playground and 3 meals a day.

It was boring and repetitive at times, but what else can you do? There are times when I think that it would actually be easier if I was no working from home.

The guilt is the worst when I actually have to work and he has to entertain himself. He’s usually quite content to do it, but there are times when I feel like I am letting him down and it’s not good enough.

Last Week

While most kids were starting their half-term the last week of October 2024 and parents were delighted to have some quality time with their cherubs, I had already done over a week with him at home and quite frankly, I had had enough.

I was supposed to go to Manchester, but it did not happen. Nevertheless, we made it to Battersea Power Station for a fun day out in town and we even made it to the launch party of the new Ivy Restaurant in Canterbury. Now, that was fun!

We also enjoyed a full week of swimming and it was so lovely to see all the progress he’s made since his last crash course.

Days were filled with a sporty mornings before going back home, doing some work until lunch, followed by a mix of walks and playing at home.

Halloween was a quiet affair, but we loved exploring Dover Castle in its spooky attire.

Anything to go out and get some fresh air! Not so bad after all…

October 2024 – Life Is Not a Race

If you asked me a few days ago what I made of October 2024, I would have said that it was not un succés.

I was multitasking too much during the second half. Quite frankly, I did not feel like I was making any progress in my life.

I had to put on the side some of my priorités to do the rest and it was ever so frustrated.

My body obviously took the hit as I was not looking after myself properly. I felt agitated most of it and even now, it’s like I am constantly playing catch up.

More than ever, October 2024 reminded me that we can’t always have it all: a career, a happy family, the lovely home, a hot body and all the fun that goes in the middle…

There are time when I just feel like I am ticking many boring boxes and I get no pleasure out of it.

So Much More

But now that I am writing those lines and adding some photos, I see many happy memories. I may have put aside my targets for a few weeks, but it was worth it in the end.

Deep down, I know that winter is coming and I am very much a summer gal. I am dreading the cold months, forcing myself to go for walks etc. But I must remember that keeping active will help me mentally so much. I am not good without a project and there is so much that I want to achieve.

And yet, we have so little time… I came to realise that I have so much already. My life might not be parfaite, but I am a very lucky person in so many ways. So instead of feeling down and deflated, I must look at the bright side and all the good things I have achieved already. After all, I have so many years ahead of me and it’s never too late to start something new or go after your dreams…

Et voilà, October 2024 is truly over and we are all thinking about Xmas now.

What did you do for Halloween? What are your plans for the end of the year?

 

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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