Marriage, Mackerel & Middle-Aged Gardening Dreams 🌿🍷
🎉 We made it — 26 years married!
I mean, we’ve survived a quarter of a century together and a greenhouse build. If that’s not worthy of a celebration (and a cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc), I don’t know what is.
Let’s backtrack slightly. The greenhouse.
Apparently “takes 8 hours with two people.”
So, obviously, I left him to it.
Not once did I offer to help.
Not once did I ask how it was going.
Not once did I even look in the general direction of the chaos.
I sat quietly out of the way, headphones in, audiobook on, sipping my water (yes, actual water 💧).
Zero damage. Zero arguments. Zero garden-tool-related injuries.
Marriage tip: sometimes the most loving thing you can do is… stay the hell out of the way. 😂
💑 Anniversary Joy (and an Excuse to Eat Oysters)
To celebrate surviving another year (and a DIY test of emotional resilience), we headed into London for a bit of indulgence.
Dinner at my favourite fish restaurant in Borough Market — full of fresh oysters, divine seafood, and absolutely zero guilt.
Then onto the O2 to see Michael Ball & Alfie Boe.
10/10 for vocals. 11/10 for romantic nostalgia.
It felt like being serenaded by two men who actually know how to use a washing machine without being asked.
A magical night. 💕
🏋️♀️ Movement, Muscles & Midlife Motivation
One gym session this week.
A couple of lovely swims + jacuzzi floats.
Step count bolstered by garden centre wanderings.
(Why is everything so tempting in those shops? I went in for one bag of compost and left with a potting table, new seeds, and a strong urge to start fermenting beetroot.)
But here's the mindset shift:
A year ago, I wouldn’t have chosen to move more.
Now, I do it not because I “should,” but because it genuinely helps me feel better.
Stronger. Fitter. More in control. More me.
🥚 Easter Drama Incoming…
Good Friday arrived and so did a very huffy husband.
Why?
Because, dear reader…
There. Were. No. Hot. Cross. Buns. 😱
The betrayal. The sadness. The fury.
Wait till Easter Sunday when there are no chocolate eggs either.
My fridge is full of sparkling water and Greek yoghurt.
Let him rage. I’m in my balanced era. ✨😂
✍️ Journalling This Week – Turning Moments into Memories
Sometimes it’s the ordinary days — the ones with fish dinners, garden centre trips, and grumpy bun-less husbands — that form the tapestry of a life well lived.
Here are this week’s journal prompts to reflect on midlife, love, and letting go of perfection:
🖋 What are three small moments I want to remember from this week, and why?
🖋 How can I celebrate progress — even when the scales barely move?
🖋 What does “balance” look like for me in this season of life?
(And yes, you can answer these while reclining in the jacuzzi.)
⚖️ Weigh-In Update: Slow, Steady & Still Showing Up
Weight loss this week: 0.9lbs 🎉
Not earth-shattering. Not dramatic.
But in a week filled with celebrations, wine, seafood, a few pub lunches, and absolutely no food guilt, this feels like a big win.
I’m not chasing speed anymore.
I’m building something sustainable.
💬 Final Thought:
Sometimes transformation doesn’t look like huge leaps.
It looks like:
💗 Letting someone build a greenhouse alone and not micromanaging.
💪 Going to the gym even when it’s intimidating.
🧘♀️ Saying “no” to Easter chocolate and “yes” to your goals.
📖 Journalling through it all, because you know change starts on the inside first.
You don’t need perfect days.
You just need to keep showing up — with grace, humour, and the occasional potting table.
Helen x
Still married. Still moving. Still becoming.
