50 is the new 35?
As we grow older, we often find ourselves reflecting on the past and contemplating the future. Ive began to reassess my priorities and consider how I want to spend my time. Turning 50 is a significant milestone that marks a new chapter of my life.
While I am known for my interior design work, I wanted to take this opportunity to shift focus and discuss something more personal: my lifestyle. For the past 19 years, I have devoted myself to being a mother, and it has been a rewarding and fulfilling experience. However, as my children have grown older, I realise that it's time to shift my attention to myself and explore new opportunities.
One thing that I am particularly excited about is the idea of weekends away. There is something rejuvenating about stepping out of our usual routines and exploring new destinations. Whether it's a spa retreat, a beach vacation, or a cosy cabin in the woods, weekends away offer a chance to relax, recharge, and reconnect with ourselves.
So, while turning 50 may feel daunting to some, I am embracing this new chapter of my life with open arms. I look forward to the adventures that lie ahead and the opportunity to prioritise my own happiness and wellbeing.
I have compiled a list of activities that I would like to experience in the not too distant future:
Visit the Golden Bridge in Vietnam, a remarkable bridge held up by a pair of giant stone hands that resemble those of a god.
Take a hot air balloon ride which could be anywhere but flying over Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah would be amazing.
Plan a weekend getaway with friends for some much-needed rest and relaxation (Ive just returned from Malaga which I will tell you about further down).
Witness the beauty of the northern lights. Unfortunately, I missed a recent opportunity to see them when they were visible over the northeast of England.
Although I have always wanted to go micro lighting, my previous back surgery makes it impossible so an alternative to this would be a helicopter ride over New York City.
I could extend this list of exciting activities, I want to share with you the highlights of my recent girls' weekend away in Malaga. I went with a friend of over 25 years, we enjoyed a three-night stay that offered us the perfect amount of time to explore the city. We stayed at the Barcelo Malaga, which is situated just 10 minutes away from the city centre and beach. Its proximity to the railway station made getting around the city very convenient.
The hotel's lobby is a spectacle to behold, featuring a six-meter-high stainless steel slide that we couldn't resist trying out a few times. The seating areas were furnished with turquoise velvet booths, each adorned with an antique gold lamp resembling three cymbals stacked upon one another. The booths' bottoms were also in gold, but the pièce de résistance was the hanging lights shaped like tears in different colours. The mosaic pink and purple-tiled floor was a work of art in itself.
Our equally stunning room was where we checked in before heading straight out to the beach for authentic paella, which was undoubtedly the best I've tasted. I'm not sure if it was the dish's actual taste or the euphoria of being away that made it so memorable.
The following day, we visited the Castillo de Gibralfaro, a 1300s Moorish castle and fortress ruins atop Mount Gibralfaro. The scenery was breathtaking, and an ice-cold lager was a welcome reward after climbing all those steps (we did 20,000 that day). Malaga's marina is another must-visit, with its abundance of super yachts, which must have cost a fortune.
The city centre was immaculately clean, and I fell in love with the lifestyle in Malaga. They truly know how to take it easy, with late-night walks and dinners at 11 pm. Our favourite restaurant was El Pimpi, a local establishment filled with locals, and we were the only English-speaking people there. We were told that Antonio Banderas frequented the top floor of the building, but alas, he wasn't there the night we visited.
Overall, I was captivated by Malaga and would recommend it to anyone. I'm already planning my next trip in June, as you're only 50 once.
If you enjoyed reading this why not check out my blog on the ideal home show in London.
