I don't want to jinx it, but I think we've finally been let out of weather prison.
The sun has been shining, everyone suddenly seems happier, and for the first time in months I've remembered what it's like to leave the house without packing a raincoat "just in case."
After a lovely bank holiday weekend, this week has been all about podcasts, editing, filming, editing some more... and desperately trying to convince myself that staring at a laptop while the sun is shining counts as productivity.
Spoiler alert: it doesn't.
The bank holiday weekend kicked off with a family wedding party, which was absolutely brilliant. There was music, dancing, drinks, family gossip, and enough sugar-fuelled children running around to keep everyone on their toes.
It was actually at this wedding that I finally discovered why my children are so feral.
For years I've questioned where they get it from.
Me? Surely not.
Then I watched John dancing with Indie whilst using her hair like a mop head and suddenly everything made sense.
Case closed.
The mystery has been solved.
The children are innocent.
Saturday took me over to Leigh-on-Sea where I met up with an old work colleague and good friend. You know those friendships where you can go months without seeing each other but pick up exactly where you left off? It was one of those.
A coffee turned into lunch.
Lunch turned into a proper catch-up.
And before I knew it, several hours had disappeared discussing life, work, children, and all the other things women somehow manage to cover in one conversation.
Then came Bank Holiday Monday.
Or as I like to call it: Mum's Annual General Meeting.
I met up with a few lovely ladies for cocktails and a gossip in a beer garden while the sun continued to perform miracles across the UK.
There is something so therapeutic about sitting outside with friends, people-watching, sharing stories, putting the world to rights and laughing until your stomach hurts.
Meanwhile, John spent most of the afternoon mourning West Ham's relegation.
I say mourning.
It was more of a prolonged sulk.
Every now and then I'd get an update on football-related devastation while I was sipping cocktails and discussing far more important matters.
Like who has the best SPF.
And whether everyone else's children are also permanently sticky.
The answer, for the record, is yes.
This week itself has been a whirlwind of Storme Diaries.
Podcast filming.
Podcast editing.
Podcast planning.
Podcast everything.
It's funny because when people listen to a podcast they hear an hour-long conversation.
What they don't see is the preparation, filming, editing, uploading, scheduling, tweaking, overthinking and second-guessing that happens behind the scenes.
But honestly? I'm loving every minute of it.
Every episode feels like another step forward and I'm still having those little pinch-me moments that this thing I've talked about for so long is actually happening.
This week was extra special because John finally joined me for a couples podcast.
Now, if you've ever tried to have a serious conversation with your partner whilst microphones are pointed at you both, you'll know it's an experience.
One minute you're discussing relationships and parenting.
The next you're trying not to laugh because they've said something ridiculous.
Or because they're pulling faces behind the camera.
Needless to say, there were a few moments that didn't exactly go according to plan.
Which probably makes it even better.
And throughout it all, the sunshine has continued.
Honestly, if the UK looked like this all year round, we'd be unstoppable.
People would be friendlier.
The parks would be fuller.
Nobody would complain quite so much.
Well... maybe that's pushing it.
We're British after all.
But there is something about sunshine that makes life feel a little lighter.
The kids are happier.
The evenings feel longer.
And suddenly everyone remembers they own a garden.
After spending the bank holiday sorting ours out, I've found myself making excuses to sit outside whenever possible, even if it's just with a coffee for ten minutes before the next job, meeting, nursery run or podcast edit.
Because these are the moments I want to remember.
The busy weeks.
The sunny evenings.
The laughter with friends.
The family weddings.
The ridiculous dance moves.
The football sulks.
The little bits of life that don't seem important at the time but somehow become the memories we talk about years later.
So for now, I'm embracing the sunshine, enjoying the chaos, and pretending this weather is here to stay.
A girl can dream, can't she? ☀️🤍