Journal Entry 4 | 1 November 2019

Things have been moving so fast recently that I actually have to keep my calendar open in a separate tab just so I can cross-reference where I’ve actually been and what I’ve been up to. It feels a bit like I’ve been going at full-speed since I left for my month-long Eurotrip way back at the beginning of July, with just a couple of brief pauses to cry or celebrate here and there.

My last journal entry was…hang on, let me check…it was on the 13th of September! So much for weekly updates. But to be fair, I have had some truly monumental experiences in the past few weeks, which have left me with little time or motivation to blog – including deciding to move to Kenya and becoming engaged!

Without going into far too much personal detail (as I am generally wont to do), I’m sure it was obvious to regular readers that I was going through a very difficult time a few months ago. I was recovering from a depression, my historically very solid relationship with the love of my life was taking some hard knocks, and I was genuinely just feeling very sad.

It’s hard to imagine that just 12 weeks ago Keenan and I were trying to figure out where we could bend and what would break us (both as people and our relationship) and now we’re getting married. But if there’s one thing my admittedly sporadic relationship with my yoga practice has taught me, it’s to sit in discomfort when it’s necessary and breathe deep to help you get through uncomfortable positions – which is a very real departure from my natural instinct; hold your breath and avoid discomfort at all costs.

Here’s a quick-fire look at what’s been going on in my life since my last Journal Entry back in mid-September:

• We spent the weekend at the magnificent Opstal cottages out in the Slanghoek Valley! I’ve got a full blog post coming, but honestly, if you’re looking for a spot to spend a romantic weekend away, staring at the sunset from your personal wood-fired hot tub, I’ve found it! This place is really really stunning. Have a look at some pictures from our weekend here.
• There’s an event in my calendar on the 20th of September labelled “Keen & Nats celebration” but I literally have no memory of what it could have been?
• I spent a week in Thailand, which is coming to the blog soon! There’s a link to my first post about the trip a little lower in this post. If you’ve always thought of Thailand as a beach destination, please read this post! I want to show you all the beautiful stuff I saw up North!
• Keenan and I got engaged! Yay! I’ve shared more about that on my blog already, so please go read it if you need to believe in love again.
• I went to Rocking The Daisies with my friend Roxanne as a guest of Visa and let me tell you, it was LUSH (they literally sent a Merc to drive us to the festival). I hadn’t been to the festival in a few years so I was totally blown away by the glow-up. There were so many amazing lounges and bars and brand activations and the glamping facility was actually nicer than my apartment. If you feel like you’re too old or too bougie for festivals now, I think the 5-star glamping set-up, which comes with electric blankets even (!), might convince you otherwise. You may even catch the glamping bug and check out https://www.autofinanceonline.co.uk/buying-used-motorhome/ to see how you can get yourself in a motorhome to take you on your holidays!
• I had the opportunity to host another TBA Escapes tour, which was especially special knowing I’m going to be leaving Cape Town soon. There are some pictures from my week with the group on my Instagram feed, but I particularly like this one.

Ok I think that brings up to date. Any anyway, we are moving to Kenya! And we are engaged! That’s a lot of wonderful news to process at once, I’m sure you can imagine, so I am dealing with the excitement in the best way I know how to – by creating numerous spreadsheets and lists and planning and planning and planning some more.

I will be sharing more news about our upcoming move soon, but for now I’m still trying to catch up on my whirlwind trip to Thailand, which I have lots to tell you about! I spent a week in Northern Thailand, visiting Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Bangkok and so far I’ve only gotten through my Chiang Rai content, so please read it here. More coming soon!