I always have a lot of questions about accommodati I always have a lot of questions about accommodation when we stay anywhere as a family so I thought I’d share this little tour of our room at @windjammerlanding which was a pretty perfect place to stay.

It’s the ‘Ocean View Two Bedroom’ which was like a little house, with an upstairs and downstairs, built into the hillside. Both rooms had outdoor space and their own shower rooms. Such a great option for a family.
A little photo dump from our holiday in St Lucia. A little photo dump from our holiday in St Lucia. We’ve been back a few days now but still miss the heat, the food, the pool, the constant sounds of wildlife and the lovely people. It was such a great holiday and I’m sure we’ll be back one day.
And just like that, Athena is 12! What a joy it is And just like that, Athena is 12! What a joy it is watching her grow and what a wonderful young woman she is becoming. We could not be more proud. Love you Pickle, have a great birthday.
We’ve just got back from two glorious weeks in S We’ve just got back from two glorious weeks in St Lucia staying at @windjammerlanding and it was just the holiday we needed. Two weeks of sunshine and relaxation in what must be one of the most beautiful islands in the world. 

We can’t wait to go back again in the future. Here’s just a little snippet of our trip.
AD - Press Tickets | We had such a nice day at @na AD - Press Tickets | We had such a nice day at @national_motor_museum despite the rain! The children loved the Little Beaulieu play area and we loved exploring the National Motor Museum and Top Gear exhibit before having a ride on the monorail! We went on an old open topped bus, explored the Beaulieu Manor House and loved the gardens. 
Beaulieu is always a great day out - whatever the weather. This summer they have a whole ‘Summer of Fun’ planned, with activities most days - parades, bird shows and hundreds of sculptures within the grounds too. If you’re looking for a day out this summer definitely think about heading to Beaulieu.
AD - Press Tickets | Tonight we took the kids to t AD - Press Tickets | Tonight we took the kids to their first concert - but it was so much more than just a concert! @abbavoyage is incredible. With CGI ABBA and a live band, it’s like being at an ABBA concert 40 years ago but with modern lighting, effects and sound. ABBA look and sound real, it’s a mind blowing experience.
The set includes all the songs you know and love as well as a few less familiar ones.
You can’t take photos during the show which actually made a refreshing change. A whole arena focused purely on the show and soaking up the moment. It’s definitely something the four of us will always remember.
Now, I’m off to sing Dancing Queen all the way home.
AD - Press Trip | We had such a great day at @phdo AD - Press Trip | We had such a great day at @phdockyard today. They have a fantastic Ultimate Explorer ticket that lets you visit all the attractions as many times as you like for 12 months - and after a day at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard we can see that you need more than one day to really do everything!

We explored HMS Warrior, HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Exhibition - which is incredible! We also saw where ships are built and restored and spent time in Action Stations where the kids climbed and did an assault course.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is such a fun, educational day out with something for all ages - we can’t wait to go on their harbour tours next time we visit!
AD | WIN!! Would you love to win a holiday? To cel AD | WIN!! Would you love to win a holiday? To celebrate #100YearOfARoads National Highways have launched their #ARoadsToSummer competition! It's all about celebrating summer holiday moments, time together, fun in the sun, days out and more.

So why not be in it to win it? To enter, all you have to do is send @nationalhways a DM on here with a photo or video of your favourite holiday moments. You can also comment on their Facebook or Twitter #ARoadsToSummer posts with your holiday photos. I've shared a few of our favourite photos to give you some inspiration.

The best six entries will each win a £500 @nationaltrust holidays voucher! SO what are you waiting for? Dig out your favourite holiday photos or take some new ones to share!

The #ARoadsToSummer competition runs from 24 July to 10 September 2023. Winners will be announced in September 2023.

Good luck!
Oh these two! Every day I feel lucky to have them. Oh these two! Every day I feel lucky to have them. As school draws to a close at lunchtime, I’m looking forward to a whole summer with them. My favourite people.

They’ve both had a great year at school this year. Troy’s first without his sister by his side and Athena’s first at secondary school. 

They both had great reports, always did their best and have made some really lovely new friends this year. I could not be more proud of them.

Now, let’s go and enjoy the next six weeks before school starts all over again!
  • Reviews
  • Recipes
    • Slow Cooker Fudge Recipes
    • Christmas Recipes
    • Easter Recipes
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • All Recipes
  • Travel
  • Blog
  • About
  • Featured In…
  • Work With Me/Contact
  • Reviews
  • Recipes
  • Travel

What the Redhead said

The Future's Bright, The Future's Ginger

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • As Featured In…
  • Work with Me

Milestones · May 29, 2019

A Letter to Myself, 10 Years Ago, on my Wedding Day

29th May 2009

Oh Donna

Just look at you. 24 and so beautiful in your dress. You’ve been up for hours for hair and makeup and you didn’t really sleep last night. But you still look as lovely as you had hoped. The hair stylist ends up putting your veil in back to front and having to change it just before you leave for the church, it means your hair comes undone so much earlier than it should have – and that will still annoy you ten years later.

A Letter to Myself, 10 Years Ago, on my Wedding Day

This day is a huge day for you. You were never going to get married, you didn’t see the point until you met Dave. You’d never known anyone to have a marriage that ended in anything other than divorce and you didn’t want that in your life. But then you met Dave and everything changed. He gave you the prospect of a future that before then you had never dared to even hope for.

You have the house – and the cats – and you’re now getting married before you bring children into the equation. You’re being all traditional – and even getting married in a church! You asked the vicar for a wedding with as little God as possible in it and I think you’ll be happy with how everything turns out. The sun shines, you get burnt shoulders and you have a beautiful day – but it goes by far too quickly. It’s a day that you’ll remember forever though, so many moments so vivid even so many years down the line.

When Dave proposed – in a hotel in Basingstoke and not in the middle of Tatooine in Tunisia as he had planned – you threw yourself into planning the wedding. A venue was booked, a photographer, videographer, a fancy car, flowers and a dress bought. You went to legs, bums and tums classes religiously – and went to the pub for a burger after every one. You were so comfortable in your skin and you were so blissfully happy.

A Letter to Myself, 10 Years Ago, on my Wedding Day

You spend your wedding day surrounded by friends and family. You may be surprised to hear that not many of the people at your wedding will be in your life in years to come. Friends drift away, people’s lives take them in different directions and Grandpa Laurie died a few years later too. You will always treasure the photo of him chasing your brother across the grass later today.

A Letter to Myself, 10 Years Ago, on my Wedding Day

But, your life after ten years of marriage is so, so full. Fuller than it has ever been. You and Dave made such solid foundations for your future together. You move house next year and have your first baby the year after, making sure your debts are all paid off before your maternity leave finishes.

Another baby follows and you both work so hard to provide for your family, make the house a home and be as strong together as you possibly can. Married life isn’t easy Donna and it has definitely had it’s ups and downs over the last ten years. You and Dave would hardly recognise yourselves in ten years time as those people who said I do all those years ago. You are both so different, you have grown so much and you are parents now. You’re a mummy, something you never expected to be.

The next ten years go so fast Donna. Dave spends years working shifts and eventually changes job roles to work standard hours and it’s a great move for your family but so hard for you. You, on the other hand, have two stints of maternity leave in quick succession and build up your own business to become self employed. Can you believe it? Donna who works in the bank, opening accounts, giving mortgage quotes and selling loans ends up being Donna who works from her dining table, dealing with clients and doing the schools runs. I knew you wouldn’t believe it, it isn’t something that has even entered your mind.

In ten years you will have such a busy life. You will always be going somewhere, always doing something and you will have two incredible little people by your side – and Dave holding your hand along the way.

Your life is something you have worked so hard to build. You were determined not to repeat history, to do things differently and to be a good role model for your children. Well, you have succeeded. But it hasn’t all been plain sailing.

A Letter to Myself, 10 Years Ago, on my Wedding Day

If I could give you one piece of advice for your married life together, it would be to focus on experiences and making memories rather than material things. Go out, do things and live life. You and Dave have a whole life together to look forward to, spend it doing all the things, all the time. Say yes a lot more and grab life with both hands. You don’t need big cars, a huge house or designer clothes. Just be you and be happy with having enough.

Whatever you do, Dave will be right there by your side. You two are good together, you are best friends and even ten years down the line that hasn’t changed. You are good for each other, you work well together and you are pretty good parents too.

You and Dave will have been together for five years by now, when you get married and ten years later will feel like a lifetime. But, it’s really just one more chapter – and you have a whole book left to write.

Enjoy your time together, enjoy every year and make sure you make time for each other. Each year will blur into the next but make sure you always sit together – at opposite ends of the sofa, with your feet on his lap. Make sure you always send messages to chat through the day and make sure that you don’t take each other, and your life together, for granted. In 2009 and still in 2019, your life is good, together.

Have a fantastic wedding day Donna. You will look amazing, you will feel on top of the world and you will end the day crying because you don’t want it to be over yet. But remember, the best is yet to come.

With love,

Donna

A Letter to Myself, 10 Years Ago, on my Wedding Day

In: Milestones

You’ll Also Love

40 Before I’m 40 – Update February 2021
Little Man's 1st BirthdayLittle Man’s 1st Birthday
Head shot32 Things I Have Learnt Whilst Being 32

Comments

  1. Alice Spake says

    May 30, 2019 at 8:41 am

    Oh Donna, this was so lovely to read xx

    Reply
  2. Susan K Mann says

    May 31, 2019 at 9:23 pm

    Aww that’s so lovely x

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

An Exciting Announcement – Studio Ambassador! | AD

About Me
Hi everyone! I'm Donna. Mummy. Blogger. Social Media Manager. Traveller. Lover of stars, rainbows and gin. Firm believer that tea and cake can fix most things.

Sign up for Emails

looking for something?

Reader Favourites

Privacy Policy | Disclosure

Copyright © 2023 What the Redhead said · Theme by 17th Avenue