The Joys of the Weekend

It is the weekend and had a lovely Saturday as Henry and I was up and played some rugby, been to his swimming lesson and went to Hampton Court and so scenic. We were going to have a look around Hampton Court Palace but it was a bit expensive and only had a short time so we walked along the river for a bit, had a coffee and then made our way back. I find doing different things at the weekend to what you do in the week, so satisfying, because it can be boring and feel we chose a good day because it was still warm enough to not have to put a lot of  layers on and not wear a coat. 

Then my son was given a toy plane to play with and then practiced he words via a board which has a lot of words on, and really good idea as Henry words and sentences are getting better and doing these types of learning will help him to communicate, which he still needs support with and with kids, that I learned as a kid myself and being a mum, it can take time. Never limit what your kids learn as often I have done that, where I have underestimated of what my son knows. He knows a lot, more than he often won't let on, and it has to be when it suits him. 

Sunday for me was good too as I like to take my son out in the mornings so we can both burn off some energy and it really helps me to stay fit. I saw a toddler club going on and parents out playing football and where we go, everyone is so friendly and just good to get outdoors, as it was still quite warm for this time of the year (Autumn) and then back to his home he lives with his dad in Epsom and Sundays are a relaxing day, but like to catch up on things and finished my next Newsletter which I going to post and then I had redo my profile statement on my LinkedIn and so chasing up any loose ends. 

I hope you had a good weekend too. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Typical London Gal 

  

A week of low energy/want more good habits in my life

It is another Friday and the beginning of Strictly come dancing and it was the launch show and finding out who the celebrities will be partnered with and already I have chosen who I think will be the winner, but gonna keep it to myself, I may revel it later and but if you have too, which couple? You can leave the comment below. 

I feel this week took a lot of energy to get back in writing my blogs and videos, and I have put up some new videos, a few on my main channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUDFIqjVKLy7NhtcR6Hy0Tg and on my Educational Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW6X7xXVFoaToqlDpGLTtSg/featured

So if you'd like to check this out then do so, and I am still doing my Autumn Reset and have written some new blogs on my blog site, Everyone can build a castle, and going to be doing more videos. 

I like the fact that it makes me feel that I am working towards new opportunities and helps me let go of items that no longer suits me, like certain shoes or a habit that I want to get rid of, like resisting to do a workout at home, and really want to get back in doing this and then the moment comes and all I think about is writing my book, my blogs, travelling to wait in for my return from school and so gonna find a slot to do a home workout. 

Walking each day makes a differences and using the Crosstrainer in Epsom, but want to work on my arms and do some flour exercises again to give me more strength and be more toned. 

Any form of exercise is important I feel because of how I feel afterwards, and I know many of you can relate to that, but it's getting it done. 

So, gonna say goodnight as it is nighttime for me in the UK and so I will be blogging again over the weekend and the beginning of next week. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Typical London Gal   

Getting back to normality

It is now the 21st September 2022 and yes, the normality is back officially as I am struggling to get stuff done because of the last weeks events with the Queen passing away, and I still think it is taking it's time to sink in.

Today I saw the headlines on Lorraine, about King Charles the 3rd changing the monarchy and feel apprehensive about it and will this be the end? Are we ready for the changes now that the Queen has gone and will it inflict our relationships we have with other countries. 

I wonder how the Royal Family hold themselves together when someone so Iconic is no longer there and things will never be the same again. Change can be hard and think the last ten days was more overwhelming to me more than I realised, and trying to get back to normal was a struggle for me today. 

How have you found it? Leave a comment below. 

It never was going to be easy the passing of anyone in our lives but someone who was so iconic gone and feels like a hard blow to the stomach and the worry as I write that is sneaking in me, in my stomach. 

I did manage to get some stuff done today, like I put some bags away, filmed a Truth about parenting video which will go up tomorrow. You can find my channel under the name Typical London Gal Carrie Holmes, if you'd like to check it out. 

I am filming what I like to wear in a week as I do have some new pieces that I wanted to show and worked on my book a blog, and so I have been somewhat productive but at a very slow pace. 

So, I will be ending this blog and so many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Typical London Gal  

Reflecting on the Queens Funeral

It is Tuesday the 20th September 2022 and want to reflect on the Queen's Funeral and filmed a chat video which I am going to edit tonight, talking about the funeral and going to film, as it works better, in the mornings and so really was an amazing seen. All those soldiers and the way the Royal Family conducted themselves, was just incredible and so glad I watched it and did feel a sense of loss, when her coffin was going down in St George's Chapel in Windsor, with the bag pipes. Just so final, and I really had to put effort to hold myself together as it reminded me of when I tried to stay strong at my dad's funeral and the final moment blowing a kiss at him in his coffin, which was closed, but it was a feeling "This is really happening and he is gone". 

Having to carry on after that was hard and really was moving and Prince William and Kate's children, George and Charlotte were fantastic and honestly it couldn't have gone any better. 

I still having fully digested it and feel a little like, "Did that all really happen?" and feel like it will be a long time to adjust for it to register, and feel that it reminds us all to have a life full of fun and adventure and feel the Queen did that. She did have her hard times like we all have but she still did her duty and never forgot who she was. 

A lot of people wanting to see her laid to rest in Westminster Hall marked how she was admired by others and for some of us the last Queen we will ever know and I know many have said this and I have too in yesterday's blog but it's true. I had to pay my respects and glad I did. It felt like it was my duty as an English born to do so as she was my Queen in that I will find it strange for a while having a King, and keep the monarchy going. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Typical London Gal 

   

Such Memorable event/Queen Elizabeth II is laid to rest and be with her family one final time

Today it was the Queens funeral and had a bouts of wanting to cry but held it together. I think the Royal Family kept their dignity and been so focused on making sure they held themselves together. I know there were a few moments, like in Ireland that I didn't see but saw on Youtube, my mum talking about it, where King Charles had issues with the pen he was using to sign, but we all get agitated, and he has had to take on a lot. You can't underestimate what it means being the King of England and be in charge of the Commonwealth and he is human. 

There were moments where it looked like he would cry, as when they lowered the coffin in St George's Chapel, he looked red faced and sad, and when I see a man crying or sad it gets to me more, than a seeing a woman get upset, and I got to say when Queen's coffin was being lowered, got to me too, but I held it together. 

I tried to stay strong at my dad's funeral but it was at the end that final moment to blowing a kiss to my dad in his coffin that got me and I let it out. Death is hard to think about and you know it will happen to us all, but it still means it is devastating and I think all in all the whole event has been memorable and seeing people travelling over to England to see it, has hit home to me how one person can bring people together and that is what has happened and been very peaceful. 

I know there have still been some sad events, like those Police officers getting stabbed, but it hasn't taken over and shows what work the Police do to help stop crime. Seeing the soldiers shows how organized the Royal Family and their staff are, in making sure it all goes to plan. It did, and will be an event that kids will be able to tell their kids one day and that she could be the last Queen of England many of us will ever know and now we have a King. 

It will be a long time before we see a Royal Wedding again, and it was enlightening to witness this week events leading towards the funeral and the way people have queued to see her and I hope there are more good times ahead and that we welcome King Charles III to continue on Monarchy and more celebrations, and less funerals. 

RIP Queen Elizabeth II God Save the King.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X

Typical London Gal  

End of a era, passing of our Queen RIP

It is Sunday again and been a busy day. I got up made Henry's breakfast and even though I did get a chance to watch TV, my son wanted to play rugby, then get dressed and wanted to go back to his Dad's by train and then had to pick up order from M&S, for my son for school. 

Tomorrow it the Queens state funeral and it going to be a emotional day and want to dress nice for the occasion and see it. The loss of the Queen reminds me of when my nan died. It felt like an end to a era, and it a massive transition. It reminds me of how time is so precious, so I know it can be tiring when playing rugby the mornings I still do it, because I want to have fun with my son, as once that time goes it is gone. 

I do be life after death and that we do see each other again, but then I think what if you don't? Is this the final time that we see eachother? I battle with this, but like to think that we do see our love ones again because it makes not fearful when it comes to my time to pass away. 

My son is unaware of what is going on but going to write him a letter for when he gets older to remind and I have been doing this from when he was born. There has been a gap of me keeping this up to do this, but going to continue on. 

It is going to be a massive change to the world and many kid's may not remember and so it is good to mark the occasion but in a respectful manner, and I applaud everyone for the way it has been people queuing for ours to see her coffin to honour her at Westminster Haul as she may be the last Queen we will ever know. 

I am going to film a video of what I wore this week and show some new items, as I feel this will help me get over the fact that the Queen has gone, and I know people may say "She's is just an elderly lady" being a royalist it is more than that. As a kid I was fascinated by them and loved the whole thought of being a princess one day, and wanted a Royal Wedding and the Queen did so much and so it for me is going to a sad day and so need something to help fix the sadness for me. 

There are plans in doing a new haul video for this quarter as there are some bits I want to get and it will be a Poundland haul or a stationary haul, and so check out my main channel if this is he first blog you have on this blog site: Typical London Gal Carrie Holmes 

So share you views and how you gonna feel about tomorrow, you can leave a comment below.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X

Typical London Gal 
 

Sharing my thoughts about losing a parent

So it is a new Tuesday and I feel tired already with the getting up early this week. I have been doing another training course and so won't be blogging or vlogging much this week, but I will try. 

I want to film a parenting video and so if not filmed in the week it will be at the weekend and want to do a skincare one too, so got many videos planned. It was good to go up London on Sunday and want to do the same this weekend, but there will be a lot blocked off getting nearer to Buckingham Palace, but thinking about going up to the Southbank in London, so my son gets to see the London Eye, which he is obsessed with. 

It still feels a bit strange with the change of monarchy and that the Queen has passed away. It is always strange when someone has been in your life for a long time and then that's it, but like I said I am going to think of it as "She's putting her feet up at last" and still with us in spirit. 

I remember when my Nan died and it was such a loss, because she was the last of the generation of that side of my family and took a while to adjust. She was a massive part of my life and was the centre point on that side of my family. 

When you lose a parent it can be such a blow. I never got to see my dad before he died and it still hits me sometimes, and wished I had a chance to see him again, but he is with my nan no longer unwell, because speaking to my brother who did see him, told me and he knew Henry my son, I just wished that they had met. 

I see a lot of dad in my son, and seeing pictures of when my dad was a boy, Henry does look so like him and have told Henry about him. I was writing letters to give to Henry when he is over so going to do a new one for him. Kids can be so unaware of life events, such as the passing of relatives, that it is still important to talk about it and explain it to them.

So I am going to finish and I am still doing my Autumn Reset, where I like to sort out my life for the new academic year and there are a few videos of that on my main channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUDFIqjVKLy7NhtcR6Hy0Tg and my blogs are on my site: https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com 

RIP Your Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth I God save the King. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Typical London Gal 

Paying our respects to the Queen and now we have a King

Today, Sunday the 11th September 2022, me my son, my mum and step date went up to Westminster, London, to Buckingham Palace to pay our respects. I do have some videos to go up, but feel bad putting these up now but I will be add a tribute to the Queen as put it together and I will do a chat video soon and will let you know when this is up. 

It feels strange still, seeing all of the events over the Queen passing and King Charles becoming the King and seeing the other members of the family looking at the tributes made. How do you deal with grief as it feels that there is no such thing of having a day off, being a Royal and have to be professional all of the time, yet they are still human and going to celebrate the Queens life and going to have Henry my son send a card to new Monarchy and give him our support. 

This I feel, has bought people together and it was nice seeing William and Kate with Meghan and Harry yesterday at Windsor seeing the tributes and speaking to the members of the public and really marks how we as a nation and the world, feel about these change of events. 

Noone ever knows when someone is going to leave this world, and neither did the Queen but they do prepare for it and have done so, but it is still hard and heart breaking at the same time. As a kid I got to stand in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, once with my mum's school, where she works, which was my Secondary School, but this was before then, and it was the Trooping of the Colour. I don't remember it too much, but saw the Queen and other members and feel so happy that I got to witness this event and the Queen even visited my school Grey Coats. After I had finished my secondary school, but my mum got to meet her and are memories that is a once in a lifetime. 

My son wrote the Queen this year, to congratulate her on her Platinum Jubilee, and he got a lovely card from her Majesty and something he can treasure for years to come. 

I do feel it is important to talk to your kids about the Royal Family as people travel from miles to see them and so is something to be proud of, as an English Girl and a Londoner. 

So lets celebrate our Queen along with her son The King. 

See you soon you highness and God Save the king. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Typical London Gal    

Queen to a King, RIP Her Majesty and King of England

It is Friday and yes, the Queen has died and feel a little strange today. I have had a little cry and trying still taking it in. What a wonderful woman she was and I have written new blog on my site: Wife, Mum and Monarch if you'd like to read it. 

So as I write the blog I am listening to music and yes it is Brother hood of man, save all your kisses, a song that I used to sing to my son as a baby when changing his nappy. I am not going to think of the Queen as gone, but that as I write in the blog above, "Putting her feet up at last" as she did so much up until yesterday and now is with her husband again, her mum and her sister. 

I know it is going to feel strange, but now we have a King and I bet for King Charles it will be strange for him too and its hard to adjust to change. We may not like it, but it has to, to keep the world revolving. I will be crying when she is laid to rest and on Saturday, tomorrow I want to go up to Buckingham Palace and lay some flowers. 

Thinking of the Royal Family I do feel some proudness that I come from London and English, because not all countries have a Royal Family, and people travel far far away to visiting their homes, and so feel nostalgic. It is going to take time I feel for the world not just England and help celebrate that we have a new King, who I think will do his mother proud. I was very negative once upon a time, because of Princess Diana, but a lot has changed because of that and feel that wounds can heal. 

So I am off now but I will back over the weekend and so if I don't get a chance to write tomorrow, I will again on Sunday. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Typical London Gal 

 

First day of the new school year

Yes another daily blog. The first Monday of the school term 2022 has begun and wasn't a bad day. I loved the fact that I can now listen to music again from my phone, from Youtube, and now I am home and ready to do it all again tomorrow. 

Tomorrow I will be catching the train as it is quicker and so going to read some of my book, and continue my Autumn reset and start to sort through every part of my life that needs sorting out. I wrote down all the tasks I need to get done that need finishing and getting that done. 

I have to clear out my main google account and getting this done, and going to spend time a lot of time clearing out emails, documents on my google docs and my photos and videos. 

I need to sort out my documents on my laptop and glad to start lowering the load and have brand new start now we are entering into a new season. I will film some videos to document it along with blogs on my site https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com

I filmed my introductory video and this will be up tomorrow, on my main channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUDFIqjVKLy7NhtcR6Hy0Tg

So now I will heading to bed, I do like working late in the evening and saves me time for tomorrow and planning in doing a new Skincare video and there is some skincare products I want to talk about and want to film for my other channels too, and do a parenting and fashion video this week too, so watch out for those. 

I will enrolling onto a new course in childcare and so looking forward to it, and looking forward to visiting my son's school, to find what our son will be learning being in year 4, and I will share a blog on my other parenting site: https://theparentingadventuresthebirthofmyson.wordpress.com 

So, see you perhaps in tomorrow's blog or Wednesday, see how this week goes but will be making an effort to blog each day as I enjoy writing a daily blog, and I hope you like them too. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Typical London Gal  

Last weekend of the school holidays 2022

So my plan to write on this blog everyday has not been done, so I think I am going to write a blog at the end of the week and at the beginning, but I know that this will change too. I find it hard to stick to these plans, and is because I over estimate what I can get done, and trying to break the habit. 

It becomes a pattern, and I know it is a pattern I need to stop, but still have good productive week and at the minute have started a Autumn Reset to sort to my life out as we are in a new academic year. 

I want to sort out areas that really need to be done and so going to go through what I am working on and what needs to be completed. I write a blog today for my Autumn Reset, check my blog out: https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com 

I write about finish tasks and so that is what this month, September is going to be about. 

Tomorrow my son returns to school for the Autumn term and so it means me changing my work schedule, and feel ready for it and the School Summer holidays was fun and glad to be able to read my book whilst travelling again, now the school term is back on.

Today we, my son, I and his dad went to see a Rugby League game and have missed it. I want to take Henry to other sport events and so going to see if we can go again before the rugby league season finishes. 

It is good that the football is back on and watched Match of the day this morning and so would be good to go to a match again, even if it is lower league, but my son is moving over to liking rugby more. 

Kids change their mind a lot so next week it could be totally different, but trying to keep tabs of what his is into, he loves trains a lot still and watching planes fly over, his favourite programmes are Peter Rabbit, Justin's house and Topsy and Tim. 

I will be doing an update blog on my son soon, check it out: https://theparentingadventuresthebirthofmyson.wordpress.com 

So going to go now and start my week on a bang, even though already feeling tired. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Typical London Gal 

Sorting my life out

So I am gonna try and post each day on here as it is daily blog and want to write everyday. I feel empty when I don't and like reaching out. Henry my son is at a kids club today and tomorrow. So gonna use up the time I have wisely. 

I do have an appointment today, but it is later on and going to be finding a

birthday gift and cards as it is my nieces birthday coming up.

This time of year can more busier than the School summer holidays, because of birthdays including my sons and so going to be planning ahead. It means getting ready for the the colder months and resetting for the change of season. I want to put together and create another Life Coaching course of the content I put together for the Life coaching programmes, "2022 Project" and "The Summer Project 2022" and want to put together more printables. 

I am going to be planning my schedule again and be ready for the school routine again and need to sort some stuff out. I want to sort through my clothes again, and see what I can get rid off at my old home in Epsom and going through my large storage bin I have in my room, which I have been putting off and use the folders to file it all and get rid of items I no longer need. 

When it comes to documents it is worth keeping such as bank statements but I tend to like many do it all online, so it is going to be items that are just trying to sell items to me and keep anything to do with my bills and my banking. I want to keep hold of medical records for myself and my son Henry. I want to have one folder dedicated to my health and my other docs too from my employment status and just getting bits organized so I am not searching through piles and piles of paper. 

So why not come with me on this project I am going to work on and have a clear too. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Typical London Gal