Lessons Learned and Day 1 of Bristol trip

I am starting this post in Bristol airport. I am awaiting my flight home after a wonderful long weekend away. Bristol is a great city in south west of England, and I love to visit friends there.

I arrived over on Thursday evening, and it was lovely to be driving into Bristol with the view of the Clifton suspension bridge, then across The Downs to see my friends’ new home. It is hard to believe it is nearly 5 years since we lived here.

On Friday morning we went to a charity breakfast at Bordeaux Quay to raise money for Hopes Place, and increase awareness about Post Natal Depression (PPD in US). Over 70 attended for a delicious breakfast, shopping opportunities and to hear Hazel and the other co-host speak. Among the variety of items on sale were these delicious cupcakes.

What was most weird was that my 3 of my closest friends from my time in Bristol were all there, and while I was living in Bristol they never actually met!

A new charity for specialist PND (PPD) nurses called Bluebells nurses is being launched, so the most delicious cupcakes were on sale, all in shades of blues and lilacs. I bought a few to share, and the glitter on top made them seem even more decadent and delicious.

Later when we were all cleared up we went for lunch and some retail therapy in “the Triangle” area, with the bead shop being my main port of call.

After a very relaxing afternoon, we even managed a little more shopping at Cribbs Causeway including the Hobby Craft store and my favourite John Lewis.

So my lessons learned this week

1. It is great to keep making the effort not to lose touch with friends who no longer live close by.

2. I would love to live in a 1930’s house with lots of original features, but only if I can take my kitchen with me. I loved this original doorbell.

3. It is so important to keep talking about PND (PDD) – the more it is discussed openly, the less stigma there will be, and it will be so much easier to ask for help.

4. When you go to one of 8 brasserie restaurants owned by a famous chef, although the chances of seeing him/talking to him may be very remote…..IT CAN HAPPEN …… will post more about it on Day 3 of my trip! Be sure to come back. Of course you may not have a clue who he is, but I will forgive you….just!

5. Much as I love my family, it was a lovely 3 day break when the only person you are responsible for is yourself!

6. It is great to be home again too – there’s no place like home 🙂

7. It can be good to cry! I made a digital layout for a friend of her twin daughters as a surprise, and it made her cry….in a good way. Here is the layout.

For more great lessons, visit Jo-Lynne at Musings of a Housewife.

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19 Comments

  1. Beautiful post, you’re absolutely right its very important to stay in touch with friends. Time passes by so quickly and before you know it a long time has passed and it can become difficult to reconnect.

    I’m glad your trip went well and hope that life allows you as many trips as you need:)

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  2. Oh I loved this post and your pictures. The cupcakes looked yummy and I loved the “retail therapy” comment! I’ll have to use that. Hee! Hee!
    Hugs
    Kim

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  6. A getaway is always nice but it’s even better to come home. Absence really does make a heart grow fonder. Glad you had a great visit.

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  8. I love old homes too. We restored an 1845 home in Georgia that was so cool. I hated to sell it and move. Beatuiful pictures

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  9. Beautiful photos and great lessons learned! 🙂 I love the doorbell too, I wonder if it would be strange to put it on my 1973 house? 🙂
    Blessings!

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  12. What wonderful lessons! I love having friends in different places, and it is so true that it is worth the effort to stay in touch. Glad you had a good weekend and are thankful to be home now.

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  13. Seems you had a wonderful time – the pictures are great!! To come home and to have a home is such a beautiful thing!

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  15. Glad you had a great trip.
    I wonder if you passed my house on your way to Cribbs-probably not!

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  16. Loved this post! It was so fun and insightful. I’m so glad you were able to reconnect with friends. You are right, it is definitely worth the effort. Just curious, as I have had to work through PPD, what got you interested in working for this? I can’t wait to work through the links you’ve provided.

    Bethany

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  17. Its so fun to sit here and eat my lunch while traveling through England with you…

    I am glad to hear you are helping to open up communication about PPD. I didn’t really understand it until two of dear friends suffered very dramatically, they are better now, but it was certainly a very concerning time for them! It is important that people talk about it!

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  18. lovely sights! It would sure be great to have a funky doorbell like that one..

    Stopping by from SITS to say “hi” and welcome. I know that you will enjoy being a part of this vibrant community of bloggers!
    carma 🙂

    Reply

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