When almost a year of no blog posts feels like a hot minute! Damn. How are you all doing? I know it’s been so long since I visited here but the world of blogging has definitely changed since I hit publish on my very first post in October 2008. 14 years ago… I almost can’t believe it. My weekly blog posts have been replaced with mostly instagram posts and stories, and I’m sure that’s the same for a lot of the old school bloggers who I met on blogspot many moons ago.
So rather than feeling guilty that I’ve neglected my blog, I need to remember that social media has changed so much in recent years. Little Blog Of Horrors morphed to Hello Rogue, which now mostly lives on instagram and the long winded catch ups I used to do on here are much more now “on the go” (aka while the kids nap… when I’m in the queue for the food shop… while I’m grabbing 5 minutes of peace on the loo) I don’t know why this only clicked with me very recently, but it feels like a huge weight off my shoulders not beating myself up on a monthly basis about not posting on here anymore – while I’m actually posting the content in a different way on another platform.
Last week was my weekly domain renewal and I started thinking about whether there was any point me keeping this site anymore. I came to the conclusion that there is no way I could give up this domain, this space, this diary of my life for the last 14 years. £10 a month is a small price to pay to have this little corner of the internet frozen in time (for as long as I can afford/would like it to be)
Anyways, enough about that! Sorry for brain dumping. Where have I been since my last blog post in March 2021? So much has happened, the time has absolutely flown in (runaway train style) but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve been working non stop as an Art Director, and really trying to better myself, how I lead a team, and my skills/knowledge. A big project I worked on last year called Karen Pirie should be hitting your screens soon and I’m super excited for everyone to see it. I currently have a few weeks off until my next job so I’m really planning some real R&R (and let’s face it, probably lots of life admin? We love to see it!) Pete’s coffee shop is also going from strength to strength and I’m so unbelievably proud of him.
We now have a 2 year old and a 4 year old… say what! The kids are thriving at nursery which is amazing. It’s been hella tough juggling full time work and two little people but me and Pete make a great team and we’ve got a good flow going on. Reuben and Juno are hilarious, they light up our life on a daily basis. They push us to the edge a lot of the time… but also push us to be the best versions of ourselves that we could possibly be. I spent years wishing I had thicker skin and more of a back bone, and my god this is the best gift these kids have given to me. Something about becoming a Mum which just fires you up from the inside out. You lose yourself and then you find yourself. I can’t thank these little humans enough for testing me, loving me, and showing me what I am really capable of.
Family wise – we bought a house last year! We are loving our new home and having more space. The house needs completely redecorated but that’s a job for when we have more time (and more money, lol) It will happen soon, but right now we’re just keeping our heads above water and settling in. I’m loving living closer to my family and friends especially. When it comes to raising kids, it takes a village right? Reuben will start primary school here next year and will be enrolling in P1 with his best friend (one of my besties little ones) My Papa was diagnosed with vascular dementia a few years ago now, and in recent months his condition has progressively worsened. This afternoon I’m going up to hospital to see him. Our family are really rallying round right now to make him as comfortable as possible and to support my gran. He should be getting out of hospital soon, he had some seizures last week which apparently are quite common for dementia patients. If anyone reading this has any experience of loved ones suffering from Dementia and would be happy to share any words of advice or comfort then I would really appreciate the solidarity right now.
With three weeks off before my next job I’m gonna try make as much use of the time as possible. Spend quality time with my Papa and family, work on some sketchup tutorials to freshen me up before the next gig, get tattooed, dye my hair, spring clean the house, and try catch up on ZZZ’s as much as humanly possible. Also thinking about booking the kids first holiday for when I finish up in August – if anyone has any good suggestions that would fly from Glasgow?! I’ve been super close to burn out for the last few months, ended up increasing my meds and booking in for councilling (which is this week actually) because my body and my brain are screaming out for a wee MOT. I know a lot of my to do list sounds mega simple but selfish given what is going on in the world right now. I’m good, I’m happy, I’m healthy. I just want to be one less person for my friends or family to be worrying about while we’re all trying to navigate this absolute shitstorm of a year.
I hope you’re good? Always ending on a positive note… and to embrace the mantra “Do no harm, but take no shit”
Ayden x
