Showing my boarding card I took a deep breath and headed towards the plane, feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves. I still couldn’t quite believe what I was doing. At 52, this was my first solo trip abroad in three decades – something I never would have contemplated just a few years ago.
For years my life revolved around my family. My husband Andrew worked as an IT sales manager, while I worked as a freelance editor and juggled raising our two children. We spent many happy years going on family holidays, including to Spain and Bulgaria. Even when the kids grew up and were old enough to fend for themselves at home, Andrew and I enjoyed breaks in Croatia, Malta and New York.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
I often thought back to my younger days, when I’d had the time and freedom to channel my creativity with dance classes of all genres. For a few years, I taught dance classes for adults which I loved, but the pandemic put a stop to that. Meanwhile, I chatted to like-minded people who spoke about having left their creativity behind as they moved into adulthood and raising their families.
This story is from the June 03, 2024 edition of WOMAN'S OWN.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 03, 2024 edition of WOMAN'S OWN.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
FAST & THRIFTY DINNERS
Filling family meals to save you time and money
ARE VIRAL FITNESS TRENDS WORTH THE HYPE?
Keen to know if the workouts she sees online can actually make her fitter, Rachel Tompkins, 44, gives them a try
GO OUT OF SEASON
While some European cities seem to go into hibernation over winter, others just get better in the colder months
MY LIFE IN MUSIC
Monica Cafferky, 55, reveals how certain tunes bring back special memories
THE DECISION THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
After trying diets without success, Breanne Concannon, 31, was left feeling hopeless
MY TOY ΒΟΥ KEEPS ME YOUNG
For Trish Hughes, 44, the thrills of being married to a man 20 years younger is worth all the judgement
'THAT'S NOT MY BABY'
Lying in the hospital bed, my husband Michael had tears of happiness in his eyes as he showed me a photo on his phone. 'Here she is,' he said proudly. 'This is our beautiful baby girl.'I stared at the photo and shook my head. 'No, that's not my baby,' I said. 'There must be a mistake.'It was August 2010 and I'd not long before had an emergency caesarean. I'd not had a chance to see Winnie when she arrived as she'd been whisked away for tests because she was nearly two months premature.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Hayley, 45, has her son to thank for crucial evidence
'I'D LOVE TO DO EASTENDERS'
Loose Women's Linda Robson on the daytime show, dating and her next career move
Beckhams INSIDE THEIR PROPERTY EMPIRE
We take a look at the power couple's posh pads
