Yesterday we arrived back home after six nights away. Since we couldn’t fly while Ian is still recovering from his ruptured Achilles, we decided to embrace the opportunity for a UK road trip — and it turned out to be exactly what we needed.
We started our journey in Chipping Norton, on the edge of the Cotswolds, spending our first night at Heythrop Park Hotel. From there, we travelled further southwest into Somerset, where we stayed for four nights in a beautiful lodge with our own private hot tub. Our final stop was Lincoln, a gentle pause on the way back to our Teesside home.
The whole honeymoon was blissful. We soaked up each other’s company, good food, cider, champagne, warm evenings in the hot tub — and, of course, plenty of intimacy that deepened our connection as husband and wife just that little bit more.
We laughed. We put the world to rights. We talked about the future — our hopes, our dreams, and even some of the things that scare us. Although we’d holidayed together before, this was the longest we’d been away since moving in together around 21 months ago. We knew we needed to leave everything behind — the kids, the dog, the house, work, and everyone else's expectations — and just be. Be together, in the moment, with nothing pulling us in opposite directions.
And with that stillness came reflection.
Something Shifted
Time away like this — full of deep conversations, new places, fresh ideas, and memories of where we've come from — was always going to stir something meaningful. We talked openly and honestly about the things we haven’t had time for, the parts of life that had started to weigh us down, and what we truly want from our first year of marriage.
We saw how tired and frustrated we’d become from constantly accommodating everyone else. We realised that we need to start living more intentionally — slowing down, setting boundaries, and prioritising ourselves.
We agreed that if we want wine to taste better, we’ll need to spend more on it.
That a bigger bed isn’t the answer — we like falling asleep close.
That we need time alone together, without the (adult) kids around.
That we need to say “no” more often, without guilt or made-up excuses.
That we’re not running a café — and the rest of the household can look after themselves.
We realised we have to be a bit more selfish — in the healthiest way — so we can protect the space we've built as a couple.
And from all of this came a new intention.
We decided to create a ritual for our married life — a way to begin each day with calm and connection.
Using our outdoor space.
We had thrived having a beautiful outdoor space at the lodge. We had breakfasts and coffees on the decking, relaxed in the hot tub, and enjoyed food and drinks as the sun set.
It created moments to pause, and just be — present with each other, away from the distractions of our phones, hobbies, or the busyness of everyday life.
So we made a pact. We decided we’d bring that same energy home with us.
While we don’t have a hot tub, we’ve bought new garden furniture and a pergola to sit under. This is now our space — a place to share quiet conversation, gentle touch, and natural intimacy, before the world starts pulling us in different directions again.
It’s not grand or complicated, but it’s ours. A small, daily reminder of the life we’re choosing to build together — one morning coffee or evening drink at a time.
This honeymoon was more than a break. It was a reset. A grounding. A reconnection not just with each other, but with ourselves.
And it’s only the beginning.
Fergs 🖤
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