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The Power of Silence
Hello and welcome to my blog. I’ve always been good at filling the silence. In fact, as it happens, when I’m nervous, I can be remarkably good at it. Put me in a room with people I don’t know, and I can suddenly find myself talking before my brain has caught up. I’ve often thought…
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Beyond Our Comfort Zone: Hiking in Gran Canaria
Jamie and I love to hike. We’d hiked in Andalucía, and we both agreed it had been the best holiday we’d ever taken. That made us slightly nervous about booking another walking holiday. What if it wasn’t as good? So, was it? Read on, and I’ll reveal all. An early flight meant a 3.30 am…
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Are We Losing The Ability To Cope?
In a fast-paced world built for instant convenience, are we losing our resilience?
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10 Habits That Keep Us Fit and Healthy Over 50
A little while ago, I wrote a blog called The Only Three Skincare Products You’ll Ever Need. It has had my highest viewing figures ever—more than 12,000 so far. The Only Three Skincare Products You’ll Ever Need Another question I’m asked regularly is, “How do you keep fit?” So, I thought I’d share my own personal story. Most…
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6 Simple Sentences That Changed the Way I See Life
Hello and welcome to my blog. Sometimes, a sentence really catches my attention. It’s not necessarily because it’s clever or deep, but because it resonates with something I’ve been learning the hard way over the years. I’ve collected a handful of these over my life— small lightbulb moments that arrived at exactly the right time:…
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Understanding The Autoimmune Disease Behind My Story
If you’ve arrived here after reading my blog, I Knew Something Was Wrong: Twenty Years to Be Heard, you may be wondering exactly what Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is and why it took so long to diagnose. The short answer? Ankylosing Spondylitis is one of many autoimmune diseases, and like many autoimmune conditions, it can be surprisingly…
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I Knew Something Was Wrong: Twenty Years To Be Heard!
Many people live with symptoms they can’t explain. Pain. Fatigue. Stiffness. Brain fog. Strange flare-ups that come and go without warning. They visit doctors, undergo tests, and leave appointments with more questions than answers. They’re told it’s stress. Age. Hormones. Anxiety. Poor posture. Overwork. Sometimes they’re told nothing is wrong at all. Related posts: Understanding…
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What Fear Really Does to Us And How to Take Back Control
The moment my car started spinning across the M25, I was certain it was over. A lorry had veered into my lane and slammed into me. Within seconds, I was out of control—heart racing, mind spiralling, bracing for impact. The car was written off. Somehow, I walked away. But the fear didn’t. Related posts: Get…
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Stop Pretending You’re Fine: How Opening Up Will Make You a Better Leader, Team Player, Partner, and Friend
I recently experienced vulnerability. It was such a powerful emotion that it inspired me to write this blog. Before we continue, I want to share a story with you. A few years ago, a friend called me after losing her job. Instead of the usual “I’m fine”, she said, “Andrea, I’m struggling, I feel like…
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New Zealand In 28 Days: The Only Road Trip Itinerary You’ll Ever Need
I didn’t understand how special New Zealand was until we started driving through it. Four weeks on the road, driving nearly 5,000km, this country surprised us every day, and somewhere between the early-morning starts, the scenic drives, and the amazing hikes, it completely stole our hearts. Related posts: The Rugged Mountains of Alicante Chasing Alpine…