I was full of positivity at the start of September, ready for the summer to be over and looking forward to all my birthday celebrations, our holiday to the Lakes and plans we had throughout the month. Overall I would say all the good things outweigh the negatives, but the new local restrictions have really put a dampener on my mood. I know they’re needed, but I’m so fed up of it all. Can I have my life back now please? But it was still been a good month overall, so here’s what I got up to.

So my month began with our weeks holiday to the Lake District. I absolutely loved it, it was so good to get away and enjoy a very beautiful change of scenery. Our cottage was gorgeous, I had so many people ask about it that I got a blog post on it up pretty quickly. Have a read all about Mirefoot here.

It was so nice to get up each morning for a coffee on the balcony or terrace, followed by a visit to the on site private spa and then a day walking, eating and drinking. I will forever thank my past self for choosing to do a UK holiday this year. I brought back some pretty good stuff as well including a bottle of Lakes gin, and a face mask from the Bath House in Ambleside. I’ve shared some of the best Lake District products to buy here.

Once home we were straight into a crazy busy weekend, including a Disney fancy dress party for our friends little girls 1st birthday party. We had a lot of fun dressing up as the Genie and Princess Jasmine, and the party was fab.

On the Sunday we were invited up to Close House for Sunday lunch, and I received a tour of the accommodation on offer up there too. I really enjoyed our afternoon up there, the rooms are beautiful, and so are the private lodges. Have a full look at all of them in my Close House blog post here. I’m hoping to get back up there for another Sunday lunch over the next couple of months as it was so good.

The week of my birthday was mixed, as this was when the new restrictions were announced for the North East, but it didn’t actually impact my birthday plans too much. The night before I had a family meal at Allards, which was the last opportunity we had for mixing with other households.

On my actual birthday I went to Beau Monde Spa in Lucker, Northumberland for the day, and I LOVED it. I hadn’t heard of them previously but the spa was beautiful, and as I said in my full review here the treatment was one of the best I’ve experienced at a spa. If you’re looking for a half or full spa day without staying over I would really recommend them.

Kieran and I had two amazing meals for my birthday celebrations, we went to Muddler the evening of my birthday for sushi, and then Saltwater Fish Company on the Friday for lunch. Both meals were excellent, as they always are from both restaurants.

That weekend we went glamping with some friends just before the new rules kicked in, which we could still do as we were seperate households and bookings anyway. Again, it was great to just get away and have an outdoorsy weekend with good weather and cute little glamping huts in Teesdale.

From the point of returning from that trip I definitely felt a bit deflated. After a fun couple of weeks to start the month off it was hard going back to not seeing anyone, and my birthday drinks out with the girls had to be cancelled.

I wish Boris had just gone full on with not being allowed to mix anywhere from the start, rather than messing about with ‘guidance’ rules that nobody paid attention to. If he had we would be two weeks into it and hopefully two weeks closer to it ending rather than all the uncertainty and further restrictions we are dealing with now.

Kieran and I went up to the quayside on Saturday, for a walk and a drink in the Broad Chare – the first time we’ve been since everywhere reopened. I’ve booked Sunday lunch there in a few weeks time, as I’d be devastated if somewhere like that closed.

On Sunday I went on a solo press trip with Scotland Starts Here, up to the Scottish Borders. I spent three days exploring the region, doing all sorts of activities and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s just so close to us that I don’t know why we haven’t seen more of it, and I stayed in some beautiful hotels.

I have plenty blogs coming on that trip, so they should be out in the next couple of weeks.

If you haven’t yet also take a look at the post I shared yesterday on things to do during the Autumn months. I have very few plans at the moment, which is unlike me but I’m going to use the time to try get a bit healthier again.

Really trying to stay positive, but I hope these new restrictions have an impact sooner rather than later. I’m taking the attitude of whatever they want now lets stick to it so we get Christmas with our families.

Hope you have a great October!