
March was a particularly busy month as my husband and I had to make a return trip to the UK, which was met with its own challenges but we are used to those now. But it does mean that work has to be planned in advance, and then there is the catching up to do when you get back. We were without the usual fripperies of online life and made do with a pay as you go mobile phone to keep in touch with UK people. Sighing a huge sigh of relief when our vehicle wheels touched French tarmac and headed for the toll roads back to our pocket of peace and tranquillity. Talk about hit the ground running! Neither of us had stopped for breath throughout March.
Fortunately, some much needed 'me' time was planned onto my calendar in the form of a 'pamper' day at Michael William Hairdressing in Chef Boutonne. After an extremely fast paced Friday the day before, I questioned whether I should be taking some time out for me and use the Saturday to do some serious catching up with 'more important things'.
On arrival to Michael William Hairdressing premises on Saturday 29th March, I was asked a really important question by Laura, who goes to great lengths to put on these pamper days. "On a scale of 1-10, how much do you need today?" The number 12 left my lips in a nanosecond.
With bucks fizz at the ready, it was time to take advantage of 'me' time. It was during my meditation moment that I realised just how important the day was. Lying on the couch I reflected on the month of March, I had packed a lot in... trip to the UK, house on the market, house sold, the ensuing paperwork, organising of Les Dames networking, 12 hour #Facebook Day, birthdays, anniversaries , and that was on top of a busy day job. Not to mention the day to day, week by week housekeeping duties and gardening! Since moving to France 18 months ago, I have not taken any time out for 'me'. I regularly take a trip to my favourite hair salon and will walk for miles with dogs down white tracks absorbing the nature around, but cannot remember the last time I painted my nails!
So I thank Laura from Michael William Hairdressing and Nicky from Nails by Nicola for pouring sanity over my Saturday and giving me the opportunity of some 'me' time, that yes while we live in laid back rural France, where the pace of life is slower, if you are not living your life at that slower pace, something will eventually give.
An all work and no play approach may have been de rigeur for life in England, but from now on, I will be making the most of the French bank holidays and making sure that my pedicured 'pieds' get the attention they deserve!
Do you take time out to spend on you? If so, what do you do? What's your 'me' time?