It has taken a global pandemic to get me blogging again!
So as I say life happened and my blogging got put on the back burner.
Since May 2019 my job relocated me back from Dubai to London. I was lucky enough to get some time off to settle back into London life and catch up with family and friends before going back in work.
I was strategic in my move and had a goal set to purchase and own my own home before the end of the year, build on my career and mindfully manage my well being and continuously maintain my wellness journey.
As I embarked on a new work project back in London I found myself invigorated with passion, drive, focus and excitement for my industry in hospitality and a new energy that consumed me. I have always work in the hospitality industry, it’s people, challenges, diversity and scope of work keeps it interesting. Before I knew it I was immersed into my new role and headed up a new restaurant opening.
I spent the weekends off during the summer training for the Berlin Marathon and house hunting. By mid August I found a perfect apartment that suited my needs and within budget. A beautiful 2 bedroom apartment with a river view along the a Thames finally brick and mortar to call my home.
Juggling work with a house purchase and training took up most of my time. The balance got lost along the way. When September came I was cramming all my goals into the same month. The over whelming feelings of stress and anxiety began to take over. I ignored it and pushed myself hard physically and mentally.
I completed the apartment purchase on Thursday 5th September and moved at the weekend and unpacked the things I needed on a daily basis and left every unpacked for weeks. After the weekend we got keys to the restaurant and was on site on Monday 9th September. My days and nights were spent with my team setting up shop and preparing for the opening. Marathon training got lost along the way and I managed to squeeze in my long run 2 weeks before the race in time for tapering. I was not in marathon ready shape and getting a personal best was going to be out of the question. I simply had not put in the training.
Friday 27th Sept I went to work and took an early evening flight to Berlin. I managed to get a good night sleep as I hadn’t been sleeping much with the restaurant opening and working the long hours. I woke up and took my time and as usual went to explore the city on foot with a light jog before collecting my race bib at the expo. As the training didn’t go to plan I knew my goal was to finish and cross the finishing line. I did my usual race day prep and had and early night. Woke up Sunday ready for race and the weather forecast rain. I didn’t really pack for the rain and after the Tokyo marathon I knew a cold wet race day would be a big challenge. I called reception for a bin bag and packed a shower cap from the bathroom. These two items saved my race. It was the coldest wettest Berlin Marathon on record. I wore the bin bag and shower cap once the rain came which kept me dry. I didn’t get a lot of compliments and looks with the shower cap. I didn’t care I was dry and warm. The race was a bit of a blur I remember just thinking about work. We were due to open for our first lunch service on Monday when I returned from Berlin. I even took a few calls during the race from the builders on site. I did manage to cross the finish line and it was more of a sense of relief than achievement. I wasn’t prepared fully or engaged fully on this race but was glad it was over. I finally got my Abbott World Major Marathon 5th star. The next morning I got the early morning red eye flight back to London and straight into work with my suite case.
My next goal was work and get the restaurant opened and fully operational. We achieved this with some delays but non the less business was operating and in fully swing. As work began to settle down I began to put my work life balance back into play.
Over the winter months I spent time trying to get back into my fitness routine and hoping with my network to get a spot in the Boston Marathon. Finally got to unpack my boxes and settle into my apartment and managed to get some well earned time off over Christmas to spend with my family in the Lake District.
I was looking forward to the New Year, New Decade, New Goals however within weeks of the 2020 new year I find myself redundant in the middle of a global Covid-19 pandemic and United Kingdom in lockdown.
Life happens.
Stay Safe.
Chrissy x
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