Pilot, Wife
and Expat life
what goes up, must come down
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

Friday, 12 August 2016

Out of the fog



A post from rainy Thailand, at the moment with my work schedule my time at home with my girls is precious so I get much more done on layovers!

A while ago I wrote a blogpost that I subsequently deleted. Not for any reason other than it was not "right". I don't mean that it was illegal or rude or anything like that but it just didn't feel like it should be there. It was written when I was probably at my very lowest point after having my second baby, I was in a fog, in a slump and really questioning my sanity.
Ill post the poem that I wrote at the time:

*************************************************************************

Two beautiful souls brought into this world
Their first breaths, their smiles, a sight to behold
A gift some say, and they would be right
Though sometimes forgotten in the middle of the night
Not one to return or refund or swap
Not one you can buy in any old shop

But here they are and at what cost
Do we ever stop to ask what we have lost
I bare the scars from each today
Some go, some fade, but some will stay
Externally for all to see
Tiger stripes on a mummy tummy

No longer just me but a wife and a Mother
Life forever altered in a way like no other
Body, spirit, mind all changed
It's still worth the losses for all that we've gained
But who am I? And where am I going?
The mental scars are the ones not showing

Born again, a new persona to try
Head up, stomach in and try not to cry
The days on repeat, not a moment alone
No peace or space in your very own home
When I emerge from the fog, finally free

Will I know who I am? Will I still be me?

********************************************************

Most mothers will recognise the feelings in this one, and the post essentially focused around not knowing who I was any more. It was sad, dark and not something that I wanted to keep and certainly something I never wanted my girls to read. The thoughts and concerns in the poem are real though and a softer version of how I was emotionally so I don't mind sharing that.

Yesterday was the day that I realised that these fears aren't there any more. Neither is the fog. I cannot tell you what a relief it is. The cliche of stepping out of the shadow and feeling the sun on your face is ringing in my ears right now but only because it is SO true! My littlest is nearly 8 months old and I only now can say..

I AM BACK!!!!!!

I can't pin point the exact moment it happened or what specifically snapped me out of it. Trust me I wish I could because I would want to replicate it for any mum who ever felt remotely like I did. I think writing this blog helped, having something that was mine away from the chaos and noise of young children. I know it's not for everyone, some people interested in the flying side probably hate the mum side and vice versa, but that is the way it goes. You can't label someone and assume that their entire life conforms to that label. So for all the different facets of my personality, life and being you will find a different kind of post.
I told you I was doing the C9 cleanse too, and the results have been amazing. That and a Brazilian blow out and I am not entirely sure which has been more life changing...! I was so impressed with the C9 that I have continued on with the next plan which is the FIT 1 and even more incredibly have decided to start selling the Forever living products too (in my spare time... as you do...). I am not someone who gets excited by fitness or creams but this has definitely captured my interest. I am looking forward to seeing where it goes.


So now I go back to the question in the poem... "when I emerge from the fog, finally free, will I know who I am? Will I still be me?"

Well, the answer is most definitely NO and I never expected that answer to make me so happy! Of course I am still me, but by no means the same "me" and isn't that fantastic?! I am someone's mother, someone's daughter, someone's wife, someone's employee... but I am also just someone
I get to decide who and after so long of feeling like I had no identity or had no choice in the matter, that is an incredibly liberating thought.




Monday, 1 August 2016

Taking responsibility


It is very hard sometimes as a mum to remember that you exist. I mean that dead seriously because when all day is spent with your toddler acting like you are her personal slave, the baby needing almost constant holding because her teeth hurt and your husband needing his own time to "get stuff done" there isn't really a lot of time left for you.

There is only one person who can change that though and that is exactly what I have realised and decided to do something about. I am fed up coming last... ALL the time! Sometimes you need to be selfish and by that I do not mean ignoring your children, husband, house, family, job and suddenly turning into a "me, me, me" nightmare or as we call them here a "Jumeirah Jane". It is difficult to describe what a Jumeirah Jane is as people will read jealously into any description I give. Trust me it is not the case. Anyone who can roll out of bed at 10am and head straight to the gym for 2 hours while their maid has been up since 6am with the kids does not warrant jealously at all. Yes they have perfect hair, nails, boob jobs, clothes... they go to pilates, bikrum yoga, a massage and facial each week but they are missing the point. They are mothers and yet someone else is consistently bringing up their children while they flounce about pretending to be something they are not.

I actually feel sorry for women who can't or don't enjoy their childrens childhood. Yes sometimes toddlers make you want to scream and pull your hair out and punch something, but it is all instantly forgotten the moment they say "I love you Mummy, I always always love you" or blow teething-baby raspberries in your face at the exact moment you are about to lose it. I struggle to leave my girls with anyone else because I know I am missing out on the moments. I could give great chunks of the day (and night) away no issue but you never know when one of those beautiful gem of a moments might occur that all add up to you realising how very lucky you are and makes your heart grow that little bit more. That's usually the moment I end up writing my silly poems about because my memory is so horrific that I don't want to forget them.

Anyway, back to the point (can you tell I've just experienced one of those moments..!! I'm all rose tinted glasses again..!). The point is I decided to do something about me not existing or at least existing but not in the way I would like. I am taking responsibility... for ME!

I have organised or done a few things here and there, and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks because it is what I want to do with my time. It also doesn't mean that my time is time without my family although sometimes that is exactly what you need! Some are small, like solo coffee with a friend where you can actually have an uninterrupted conversation, or a brazilian blowout (which by the way is utterly amazing and I did not expect it to work so well!) and others are more important like getting healthy and getting a better more positive outlook. Today is day 1 of the C9 detox and I already feel much better. The aloe gel is absolutely vile and the fibre supplement nearly made me throw up but I am determined to stick with it and see it through. I am currently sitting staring at the last aloe shot of the day which I have already put it off drinking for an hour and am fighting an internal battle to force myself to have it but if I want honest results then I best stick to the plan! I promise I'll share my thoughts at the end, maybe even the before and after if it's good!



As far as a more positive outlook goes that is mostly internal, however one thing does bring me instantly down and that is feeling trapped or wasting days. My husband does not like the heat (wrong country to be living in!!) so during the summer he barely sets foot outside, the AC is turned down and the curtains get closed early to keep the sun out. I'm not blaming him but sometimes I find it difficult to break out of that. Now at least I realise I just need to make plans to get the girls and I, and S if he wishes, out and into the fresh (hairdryer like) air more often. E has started back at swimming lessons in our pool and we spent the morning today at the beach with friends. There is definitely something about a bit of sunshine on your face making you feel a whole lot healthier and better inside.

I am certainly looking forward to seeing what changes my realisation brings but for now I really can't put off this aloe shot much longer. If only it was tequila!



Wednesday, 27 July 2016

A "break"

I arrived home from Copenhagen at 2am and crashed into bed, hastily pushing earplugs in to avoid being woken by C at all. My husband got up with the girls and I finally emerged at around 10am feeling barely human. We decided to go out for lunch which in hindsight was a seriously bad idea. I was tired from the flight, S was tired having had a broken night with C and my eldest decided that she was going to bring out the big gun tantrums specially for Mummy's return. I know it is her trying to make sense of and deal with the current changes but that doesn't always make it any easier to handle.
It is incredibly frustrating when all you want to do is have fun with her but she is whinging and whining and suddenly jealous of her sister and generally resisting anything that would actually make the day enjoyable. S then had to go to bed early to be up later that night to go to work himself.

That day is what we call a 'changeover day', it's not really a day off together as we really only have a few hours as one lands and one departs, and now I see that it is also going to be a change over day for the girls too. A day where they adjust to whichever one of us has suddenly returned and wonder when the other is leaving. Without them really knowing it I believe this is what causes them to play up, not sleep, have tantrums etc. Both S and I have found that they are much better a day later so either they are better with just one of us around or they have got over whatever caused the upset on the "changeover day".

For us its difficult as we don't really get a break. We get straight into the broken nights and sometimes tiring days that come with being a parent without ever really catching up from the lost sleep thanks to the flying. I remember when I went back to work after having E that I tried to do everything, I would land at all hours of the night and then get up with her at 6am and power through until her naps. It's not living and it wasn't fun I can tell you that. Sleep deprivation is toxic. It makes you snappy, argumentative, unhappy and a generally unpleasant person. It makes you eat badly, have bad habits, not want to do anything... it can very easily take over and you will hardly even realise how bad it has become because you are just surviving. I have promised myself that I will try not go down that road again. I will nap when I can, sleep in when I have to and try to stay on top of it. It means relying on other people a lot more (which is something I find hard to do) but for the sake of my sanity, my marriage and the girls, it is a necessary evil.

Really what I want to do is fly my parents out to Dubai, find them a nice villa/apartment to live in and have Grandparents around to play, help, cuddle and love when I am unable to. There is something so different about it being family looking after the girls and it takes most of the guilt away when you do have to leave them. Distance from family is absolutely the worst part of being an expat, and it has become even more upsetting now the girls are around.

Tomorrow is yet another changeover day, my husband and I have only had 4 proper days off together this month and it looks like it will be the much the same in August. I find that I am always looking into the future and not in the rose tinted glasses way but in the "how many days will we see each other, when are the girls left alone, is anyone around to help and can we change any flights" way. It's already the end of August in my head and I am already stressing about the fact that every weekend next month the girls will be on their own. There has to be a way to to make this work better, surely we can't be the only people in this situation!

I used to joke that I am a "stayathome-working-married-single-parent" but it's one of those 'jokes' that isn't actually that funny when it is reality. As great as equality and women rights and our right to work and all that is, it hasn't half piled the pressure on women to be everything all at once to everyone. If I stay at home with my kids then I've "wasted" my hard work and career, if I stick with the career then I'm not fully mothering my kids. Even if I had the choice right now, I'm not 100% sure what I would choose to do. On a slightly bizarre final note, why aren't men called "working dads?"... seems not everything has caught up with the whole "equality" thing just yet....! More on that later!


Wednesday, 20 July 2016

First flight

Well, I can honestly say that was fun!
Yesterday was the first time I had flown an aeroplane in nearly 14 months, it just happened to be the worlds largest commercial aeroplane and the first time I had ever flown it! Hello A380, I think you and I are going to be friends.


If anyone wants to know what it's like to fly the enormous beast... fly any other aircraft and you're there. No seriously. In terms of the actual way it handles and behaves it feels like it should be half the weight, and once the flight deck door closes you do tend to forget what's behind it. The cockpit is something else though, it is much like any other Airbus, but refined. It's like all the little niggles that didn't quite work in the other planes have been ironed out, someone who cares about ergonomics has definitely been involved in it's design and it just works. The curser ball is very instinctive and even though I have only been in a few simulators and one flight I am already used to the fact that there are no buttons attached to the flight management computer and that the entire aircraft is programmed and run like a laptop! Use the cursor... type with the keyboard. Job done.

Luckily for me the training Captain was fairly relaxed, there isn't really a whole lot of training topics you can talk about on a flight that is only 1 hour and 15 minutes long and a similar length on the way back. He was well aware how long I had been away and also that I have been with the company for 5 years and so he just let me get on with it which was nice. Other people have had a few issues with landing the 380, I'm not really sure why, but I imagine that they are just thinking too hard about it. I flew into Kuwait, it was ridiculously hot, and I landed it like I would any other aircraft and it seemed to work. I am not stupid enough to say that I don't see it being a problem as any good pilot will agree, landings tend to go through phases. You have some absolutely awesome ones and then a run of it not quite working. It's just how it goes. Anyone who tells you they have never messed up a landing is either lying or has been playing flight simulator at home and isn't a real pilot!

The only time I really saw a difference from other aeroplanes was during the walk around. I will happily admit that I couldn't keep the ridiculous grin off my face. IT IS HUGE and walking around outside 100% confirms it. It has an 80m wingspan, 22 enormous wheels and 4 ridiculously large engines. I actually text a friend saying I could happily move into and live in the space provided inside one engine, and I'm not joking.

Some of the 22 wheels

As much as the aircraft is big, new and fancy it wasn't really the most interesting thing about the day. What I found most enjoyable was that I was able to be somebody I had long forgotten about. I wasn't covered in sick up, being clambered on, being asked 10,000 times what I was doing and I didn't have to go to the bathroom to get 5 minutes peace. I was able to be someone other than "Mummy" and I am not going to lie, it was nice. I love my daughters more than anything in the world don't get me wrong but I haven't had a break from them both in over 7 months and the eldest one in nearly a year. I have got up through the night with them both every night for nearly 7 months. I hadn't left them with anyone else for longer than a few hours and even when I did I felt horribly guilty. Yesterday was a bit stressful leaving the house, my husband was sick and so went back to bed, E was quite upset that I was going to work and C hasn't been sleeping well and is teething so all in all I ended up with a rushed 30 mins to get the work done I needed to do and get out of the door.

Once I was in the car on the way to work I realised how quiet it was, how I didn't really have a choice to go or not and so there wasn't anything I could feel guilty about. I'm sure you'll laugh when I say that I suddenly felt like I had different skin on. The banter on the flight deck started immediately and continued the entire duty and it's something I didn't even realise I missed. I am however now acutely aware of how much of "me" I have lost along the way. It's good to be reminded that there is more to me than "Mummy" and that I don't have to choose to be one or the other, I'm hoping the two can co-exsist.
We will just have to wait and see, in the meantime, I have some small people needing my attention..



"Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, and sometimes, in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself"

Sunday, 17 July 2016

Tales of a 2 year old

As I've mentioned a few times now, my eldest daughter tends to keep us on our toes. She was born intelligent, no I am not boasting or biased, it's just a fact. Her intelligence has absolutely nothing to do with me, I can guarantee that! She was also born with ants in her pants, she literally cannot keep still. When I was pregnant with her I used to say it was like having a ninja octopus growing inside me, I had bruised ribs for weeks and have a video that clearly shows her jumping on the bed.. from inside my womb. Freaky doesn't even cover it.

The first day she was born she stayed awake for over 8 hours and as we didn't really know any different we just assumed this was the beginning of the normal baby induced sleep deprivation. It didn't take us long however to figure out that actually our little one week old was suffering from a serious case of FOMO (fear of missing out). Any noise, any movement, anything at all would stop her sleeping or eating and excuse the over sharing but my nipples were raw from her suddenly pulling off them to spin around and see what was going on, she actually tore one at one point and as soon as her first tooth came through I decided I wasn't risking it any more!

When she was a little older and we were trying the whole "put her in the cot half asleep and let her fall asleep herself" malarky we were despairing at how someone so small could fight sleep for so bloody long! She moved so much and so continuously that we had to pin her down to give her a fighting chance of going to sleep. I have pictures from the baby cam that look like major child abuse is going on as you can't tell that the hands are only gently holding her still rather than in a vice like grip, even so it could take 30-40 minutes holding her still for her to finally drift off. I used to think it was something I had done, was I too quiet at the beginning, did I let her fall asleep feeding too often, did I not do the pat-pat shh-shh correctly... A few people have tried to blame me for it, and thank god we have had another one since because otherwise I might have thought they were right. Now at least I am well aware that it had absolutely NOTHING to do with me!

Our second one sleeps like an absolute angel so far, I cannot tell you the difference. It's like I've been awarded a prize for dealing with all the sleep issues that the first one (still) has! Put the second one in the cot and off she goes all by herself without so much as a squeak. She sleeps in the car seat, in the pram, in her cot, on the sofa, in 35 degree heat... she's even fallen asleep mid playing on her play mat. Don't even try to tell it's because we are more relaxed with the second one or anything like that because I will only say to you over and over again.... There is no way I could have got it SO wrong in the first 24 hours of E's life that a brand new day old baby would stay awake for 8 hours. Not a chance.

So with all that said, we now have this intelligent, hyperactive, inquisitive 2 year old who still has major FOMO. She drives me absolutely crazy on a daily basis, mainly because at the moment her favourite question is "what are you doing?" which sounds so benign until its the 40th time she's asked it in the space of an hour and you're still doing the same thing you were when it started. I have resorted to asking her what she thinks I'm doing and most of the time she answers correctly, then asks again anyway. She's also going through the horrific phase of wanting whatever it is she said two minutes ago that she didn't want. We have endless conversations that go:

"Can you get ready for the bath please"
"No thank you, I don't want a bath" (yes she is very polite and always says please and thank you!)
"You don't want a bath? Ok, would you like a shower?"
"NO!!!! (starts crying) I want to get in the bath!!!"

It's not so much the terrible twos more like the terrible indecisions! 

Some days she has us in hysterics with the things she comes out with. When in England earlier this year we were out in the forest and a HUGE horse walked towards us, without thinking I said "woah, hello big boy" which went totally unnoticed by her, or so I thought. A few weeks ago my husband walked into the kitchen to be greeted with a deadpan "Hello big boy" from our 2 year old. He stoically managed to keep a straight face and breeze on past it.
A few days ago she asked him "Daddy like big girls?" it took us so much by surprise that neither of us could help but fall about laughing. I know I've put on a bit of weight but it did make me wonder what he had been saying! It turned out she was asking if he liked the song "big girls don't cry" but it did take us a while to get to the bottom of that one!

Sometimes it's hard to remember that she is only just 2, and I always get upset when I realise that I have been expecting a bit much from her and not letting her just act/be her age. Other times, I am painfully reminded of her age and the vulnerability that it brings, especially now when so much in her little world is changing. She woke me up countless times the other night and I decided to try to get to the bottom of it. Instead of getting annoyed I hugged her and talked to her. When her sleepy little voice said "mummy going away again? now?" my heart could easily have shattered for her. She had been so fine about me going to work and had made barely any fuss each time that I hadn't even thought that it was affecting her at all. The night before this one I had put her to bed and had left for work before she woke up, so now each time she goes to bed she is wondering if I'll be there in the morning. Thats a lot of worry for such a little person.

All I can do is keep trying to talk to her. I have never and will never lie to her, so if I have to go to work I will tell her thats the case, I won't be slipping out while she's sleeping without telling her, or leaving while she is distracted. As I say to her every time and she repeats to me, "Mummy always comes back" and for now, that will have to do.



Friday, 15 July 2016

A letter to my friends

Dear Friend,

Im sorry I haven't called you, that I haven't been around. You must feel that I've neglected you and I don't blame you at all for that. We used to meet for coffee, lunch, drinks and wander the shops together if we fancied it. I had time, life was slow, it was easy to say "lets meet up", "lets do something".

I can't explain my life to you, the days just whizz on by, it's constant chaos in my head, like shouting that you can't contain, can't stop and can't quieten down. I'm already thinking about next week, when am I here, when am I gone, who is taking E to nursery, will I ever get my hair done. It doesn't stop at night, I'm seeing spiders in the bed, catching clocks that aren't falling, putting a dummy in, taking a blanket off, what time do I leave for work in the morning? It's a huge jumble of everything right now and that includes you of course. I wonder what you're up to, are you happy, are you content, I wish that I had called you, or even sent a text, I'm sorry that I didn't but please know that I thought to.
I haven't forgotten about you and I do care about your day.

Some days you hear from me more than others, a gentle plea from a friend in need, please pop in if you can. My babies will be alone you see, not for one hour, one afternoon or even one day. They are alone and stuck in the house, this time for two days, next time maybe more. I know I haven't been there for you and you deserve so much more, but please don't leave me now. I hope you know that if you ever needed me I would be there, no questions asked, no matter how busy, I’d hide the body, I’ll drive you home, I’ll listen to your sorrows.. just call me, don't forget about me because I am here and I care.

I know things will settle and be easier to handle, we will go for lunch, for a drink or two, you watch, I promise, I’ll be back soon.

Tuesday, 12 July 2016

A poem for little people



As I walk away you're crying
You don't want me to go
I always hate to leave you
I really hope you know 

Someone else will hug you
And tell you it's ok
That Mummy will be home soon
But maybe not today

You'll play up and be cheeky
Or maybe good as gold
But when you need some help
It's not my hand you'll hold

My mind is on my work
But my heart is there with you
I'm sorry I can't be there
in everything you do

I'll hear about it later
I'll nod and smile and say
"I'm so glad they were ok
And had a lovely day"

Inside my heart will break
just a little bit each time
I won’t admit to anyone
that really I'm not fine

I'm sure you won’t remember
it will just be normal
only my head and heart
will stay in constant turmoil

I don’t want you forgetting
“Mummy always comes back”
It's important that you know that
for when you see me pack

I'll slip in during the night
or just as you awake
or as you’re eating dinner
or a naughty slice of cake

whatever time it is
you always get a kiss
so you know that Mummy's home

and that Mummy got her wish.

Sunday, 3 July 2016

More training

I went back to work after maternity leave for one day before being told that I was no longer going to be flying the A330/340 but would now be moving over to the A380. Everyone else in the word would be over the moon at this, but for us it just creates a whole new bucket of stress. Each and every time I go to work I will be gone for minimum 3 days. My husband is also on the A380 so the same applies to him. Now tell me, when the horrific day comes that we both get sent away at the same time... can you picture yourself leaving a 2 year old and a 7 month old for 3 maybe more days at a time without EITHER parent in the country???

No. I can't either. Its insane.

That thought alone is causing me serious anxiety right now, and although a very good friend of mine has said she will help me out, it doesn't really take the sting out of it. I am just going to have to pray and hope that it doesn't happen for a long time and not until the girls are a bit more grown up. Fat chance I think. Does it class as child abuse? In the UK now they have started allowing children to prosecute their parents for "emotional neglect"... Im pretty sure being left without a parent for that long (of course there will be an adult with them lets just state that now before anyone jumps to any ridiculous conclusions) could qualify as emotional neglect?!

It doesn't bare thinking about right now and as a mum you always jump to the "what if's" and I can tell you that it has given me some horrific nightmares.

So, Im trying to just get through one day at a time at the moment and not think too far into the future. Head in the books again and back in the simulator with an elderly captain who seems incapable of working computers. Not a problem unless you plan on flying an aeroplane that is run entirely with computers.... oh. I'll give him his dues though he is like an eagle in the air, but the sloth on the ground is starting to wear thin.

I'm off sick today, the girls have had horrible stomach bugs and seems I was doomed to catch it eventually. It is not pleasant at all. Ive lost 4kgs over night and so far no sign of it slowing. When I do feel better I have to make up the lost sim on a day off and so will end up doing 4 simulators in a row, which is pretty hardcore on a new aircraft. It doesn't help that S will be in Sydney at the time so Ill be attempting to get my preparation done around nappy changes and 2 year old tantrums. I can't wait.

Back to the books now before the girls and S get back from the mall. Then its the rollercoaster of bedtime and I'll be ready to pass out myself. Fingers crossed no more being sick though!


Thursday, 31 March 2016

Two already??

This week my little girl turns 2. I can't quite believe it. I feel like it was only two seconds ago I was pregnant with her.. Oh no wait, that was the littler one..!

It makes me think about how I was feeling at this moment 2 years ago. Pregnancy throws all sorts of emotions and hormones your way but the last week was just so overwhelming for me.

Granted at the time I was still up a ladder painting the nursery, doing all the paperwork for my mother-in-laws new house and generally missing my mum. It was a contentious issue during my pregnancy whether my mum could be here shortly after the birth, my husband categorically said no. He couldn't understand why my mum should be here and his shouldn't. I think he gets it more now, men unfortunately always seem to see and understand things like that later.

That's beside the point though. The point is that you suddenly realise that this thing you've been nurturing and loving and already worrying about is suddenly going to be here, out.. And mobile. I had real trouble handing her over to other people, apparently that's quite normal and I'm not the only one, but I do remember the exact moment I realised it would have to happen. Of course I wrote a poem about it.

So as we come up to her second birthday here is my poem for my then beautiful unborn Pigeon.

Today your mine
But who knows tomorrow
The thought of sharing you
Fills me with sorrow

Your wriggles and kicks
Are mine to behold
And no one else notices
Unless they've been told

At night time daddy
gets kicked in the ear
And for him I'm happy
Your arrival is near

But You'll always be
My sweet little pigeon
Who gets the hiccups
And gives me indigestion

I can feel you moving now
And it makes me smile
You're running out of space
But we still have a while

Soon People will want
To Cuddle and coo
And it won't be as easy
As just me and you

Our now special bond
Will grow further apart
Until one day
Someone else steals your heart

But remember little pigeon
That I loved you first
So much so
I thought I would burst

You're the closest to my heart
That anyone could be
And I'll always remember
When it was just you and me x



Friday, 25 March 2016

Let us begin... (again)

I write little poems. I always have. It's a way I find to release the thoughts in my head and keep them somewhere else for a while, it keeps them organised I find. I also like looking back and feeling how I was feeling when I wrote each one. I have a horrific memory, I usually only remember things if there is a picture of it and so this is another way of trying to remember.

It's not the usual way to start a blog, it's also not how I planned to! Then again, this isn't the start. This blog existed before, in another time and another place, a time when I very much needed it, but we will get to that later. So although this is the first post it is not the start, it is the rebirth!

This is an evolving poem, I first wrote it four years ago and have added to it since. I know which bits were from then and which for now, some parts are more relevant now than others but they all matter in some way, so I have never deleted a verse only added, and may continue to in the future. 

By a moon and star lit pool
Six years ago today
You asked me to be yours
And took my breath away

A year later we were married
Though not everybody knew
A simple little service
We shared with just a few

Off into the sunset
We set forth on our own
Finding in a desert land
A place we now call home

That year we did it all again
The dress, the suit, the flowers
And got to go on honeymoon
And face the monsoon showers

A boat, a house, a change of fleet
We gave it all a whirl
we soon became a family of three
With a beautiful baby girl

Last year big birthdays for us both
In Vegas with our friends
And the shock arrival of number two
Before the year was at its end

Now two is four and life has changed
In ways we never guessed
Each day filled with our little girls
With which we are so blessed

On this day, where will we be
In all the years to come
So much still lies in front of us
So much we haven't done

Wherever life will take us
Our footsteps in the sand
We'll walk the path together
Strolling hand in hand

And yet we will remember
Six years ago today
For It was the day you asked me
And I gave my heart away.
💕


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