Strong theme of leader loneliness in our uni chat this morning 😔 Great to find the camaraderie; concerning so many of us battle these feelings.

Does anyone in my network do freelance website design? If so, please DM me 🙂

One week of wearing spark clear aligners to straighten my teeth, and I’m pleased to report zero pain, and nobody has noticed changes to my speech (even in pretty big presentations) 🦷 Let’s hope it continues that way! 🩵

Just had to write one of the most difficult messages I’ve ever sent at work 💛 It’s one of those moments that grounds you, and reconnects to the knowledge that we work with humans not robots. AI will never replace good managers; it simply cannot replicate humanity and empathy.

So excited to compete at the World Music Championships next year, amongst the best of the best 🤩 what an incredible line up of bands!

Not long until it’s time to install the festive variation: jingle bells in the boot ✨

For the past six months I’ve had a tambourine in the boot of my car that jingles every time I go over a speed bump, and I think this is the kind of everyday whimsy we all need more of in 2025.

Made a will today using the excellent Farewill service. It was quick, simple, and not at all morbid. Hopefully it won’t be needed for a very long time, but it’s best to be prepared 👍🏻

Ready to put October behind me. It’s been a horrible month. Bring on November and cosy, wintery vibes.

Nick’s love of lasagne is so endearing #CelebrityTraitors

FINALLY #CelebrityTraitors

Local pharmacies are awesome. Walked into mine at 12.45pm to ask if they do private flu jabs. They offered me an appointment at 1.30pm same day. 45 minutes between booking and service - that’s faster than some deliveroos I’ve had! 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

Why are so many people texting/tagging me in posts about the Louvre heist? 😅 I am back in the UK now, promise 😉 💎

The first cup of tea after getting home from holiday hits differently 🫖

✨ “The surest way to rejuvenate is to believe in wonderful things” ✨

Just home from a gorgeous 3 day solo trip to Paris ✨ A change of scene was exactly what I needed to process the work stress, the uni acclimatisation stress, and a series of domestic disasters. I can’t get over how relaxed my face looks in pictures now vs a week ago. Enjoying it while it lasts 😌

I don't have any excuse these days but have been glad to sponsor this event when in that world. Show me a volunteer-led event where people come together with open minds about how to do their job better *on a weekend* in any other sector. Kudos to all involved. ❤️

Back home after another fabulous week in London, placing 3rd at the National Finals 🥉 This was my seventh appearance at the RAH, and it never gets old! An honour to step onto this iconic stage once again 🤩 Finished off the weekend with family dinner ❤️

@radiobeartime.com what are you doing in Gloucester? 🐻

Title defence day 💪🏻

Things I’m holding onto this week: * even on my worst days, I can do some useful things * I have so much love in my life, and my loved ones have come out strong to bat for me in the past couple of weeks * I have dragged myself out of low ebbs before and can do it again 💛 #selfcompassion

One of our lectures last week was on self-compassion, and in that vein I’m trying to be kind to myself as I get back into the day job. 📸 from my post-work grounding walk, enjoying the change of seasons

“Select all squares containing J D Salinger books” - CAPTCHA in the Rye.

Not me watching the F1 and being triggered by seeing the logos of multiple large US SaaS companies who I no longer work with 👀

Another day, another reason to share the ‘it’s ok’ poster 😄 Making things open = not reinventing the wheel gds.blog.gov.uk/2016/05/25/i...

I’m burned out, grieving, my boiler is failing, and my washing machine has just flooded the kitchen floor. Where’s the life reset button? 🥲

Thank you for your lovely messages about Toby ❤️ I am exhausted from crying, but so very grateful for my wonderful support team of friends and family, and I’m very slowly returning to myself x

On Monday night I said a sudden and unexpected goodbye to my tiny little friend. Toby brought so much joy to my life for 18 months, and I wish we’d had more time 🖤 I’m heartbroken, but once I’ve had time to heal I’ll be back at the shelter finding a new cat to provide a wonderful life for 🤍

Oh thank goodness, I can finally sleep ⛳️

13 months - the entirety of my time in this job - we’ve been working towards a singular goal. Now we’ve launched our new system and are moving into live support mode, I’m trying to reset some healthy/resilient habits. Lunchtime park walks are back on my priority list 😌🌳☀️

Mega Monday! Spent the day in Exeter 👩🏻‍🎓 and this evening back in Gloucester preparing for Nationals finals 🥁 Such an energising start to the week 🤩

What a glorious day in Exeter! ☀️ I’m here for one day only to meet some peers on the senior leader apprenticeship 👩🏻‍🎓

Well jel of friends off to SDinGov today. Alas a system launch and university induction is enough for one week 🥲😂

Five weeks post-covid and I finally have enough physical energy back to go for a lunchtime walk. I’ve missed this 😌🌳☀️

Massive day for our team. Couldn’t be prouder 💛💙

Tomorrow is a momentous day for our team! Tired and wired 🤩🤣

First home game of the season last night. Delighted to see the rugby lads have (mostly) abandoned the mullet

It’s the most wonderful time of the year 😁 No, not Christmas. The day when it’s cold enough to wear jumpers again! 🧶

Most used GIF of the week:

Running on caffeine, sugar and adrenaline rn. Final push 🚀

Today we attempt to win the biggest prize in banding. Bring it on!

The most important news from today's reshuffle:

The price of wanting to make significant change is that you have to be patient. The lofty goals take a long time to achieve, they need persistence and resilience and a few tears shed along the way.

Thursday Murder Club = so bad it’s good

Love this post on working in the open from Tash Willcocks - tash-willcocks.medium.com/so-wait-what... ...and the drawing are 😍

“If you are going to make any decisions, take any leadership actions at all, live a fulfilling life, then you are going to be wrong. The goal then is the ability to admit that you have done so and use that information to move forward”. Really enjoying Stacey Abrams’s take on boldness 📖

If covid recovery is good for anything, it’s needlework productivity. Too tired to move so I’m cracking on with projects… Charles le Clarc helmet recently finished for a special birthday ❤️ Klimt ‘The Kiss’ nearly ¼ done.

Alright friends, what are your favourite tomato recipes? I’ve got more cherry tomatoes now than I can eat fresh! 😍🍅

On a 5 hour coach across the country 🚌 There are still tickets available for our concert at Snape Maltings tonight, if any of my followers happen to live close by 😄 www.brittenpearsarts.org/events/brill...

Cheese and tomato focaccia, with tomatoes from the garden (a yellow variety) 😋