Bon anniversaire! I hope you’re having a wonderful time away! In homage to you, I am enjoying a croissant for breakfast in the garden, instead of al desko ☺️🥐🇫🇷
Joyeux anniversaire Hannah! Wonderful list. I did something similar for my birthday last year and really enjoyed putting all of those little things that make life better into a list. Enjoy the rest of your trip to France. My French roots are from Burgundy (Côte d'Or) and I love this part of France. If you get the chance to visit l'Abbaye de Fontenay which very near where my parents live, it's definitely worth seeing.
Merci Océane! Until I looked on the map, I hadn’t realised how big Côte d’Or is! We were staying in the far south eastern reaches by the Saône in Seurre. I have put l’Abbaye de Fontenay firmly on the list for next time we visit that area, which will almost certainly happen!
Hope you had a lovely birthday 🎂 I think you did the right thing by going away somewhere you love to feed your soul. I can relate to a lot of your learning points especially regarding the need to be doing something you enjoy, even if it's part time. Also it is harder to make friends as you get older, and if you move location for marriage like I did it can be lonely. I volunteered to get involved in a literary festival and it has opened up new friendships and I am pursuing something I love. Volunteering has its pluses. 👍👍
Thanks Lucy, I did have such a nice day. I was back to teaching today and I had a smile on my face all day with the memories of last week; it really did feed my soul ☺️
Volunteering is a great idea. It's something I've thought about more recently and you make an excellent point that it's a way to make new friends through shared interests.
Happy Birthday from a fellow 40 year old who just discovered the beauty of rural France (I was there last week!). This is a great list, I concur that tea and color are life. :)
I love the Loire! My best and oldest friend lives in a tiny village near to Angers and we visit regularly. Beautiful landscapes, excellent wine and fabulous produce 🥰🧡🇫🇷
Thanks so much Hege! I keep hearing people say that the 40s are a great decade. I guess we have a much better idea of who we are and what makes us happy? I’m excited to find out.
Happy birthday Hannah! Such a fun, gorgeous and practical list - thank for sharing! Hope you're having a lovely weekend 🥐🍷
ps on the alarm clock - if you don't already have something similar - would really recommend with with a timed 'wake up light'. It makes such a difference, especially in winter! x
Thanks Emma! Have you got something special planned for your birthday? I think it feels like quite a transformative/transitional time for lots of us. I’m excited to see what the next years bring us 🙌🏻
Yeah tbh it’s hit me in a way that I didn’t see coming. I’m having a lovely meal with close friends then a bit of a party. My partner is planning a surprise trip which should be lovely. I think transitional is definitely the word.
Bon anniversaire! I hope you’re having a wonderful time away! In homage to you, I am enjoying a croissant for breakfast in the garden, instead of al desko ☺️🥐🇫🇷
I LOVE your list and resonate with a lot of it ❤️
Thanks Naomi! Your croissant in the garden sounds perfect 🤩
Wonderful and inspiring! Happiest of birthdays to you, Hannah!
Thank you so much Maria 🧡
Joyeux anniversaire Hannah! Wonderful list. I did something similar for my birthday last year and really enjoyed putting all of those little things that make life better into a list. Enjoy the rest of your trip to France. My French roots are from Burgundy (Côte d'Or) and I love this part of France. If you get the chance to visit l'Abbaye de Fontenay which very near where my parents live, it's definitely worth seeing.
Merci Océane! Until I looked on the map, I hadn’t realised how big Côte d’Or is! We were staying in the far south eastern reaches by the Saône in Seurre. I have put l’Abbaye de Fontenay firmly on the list for next time we visit that area, which will almost certainly happen!
lovely tips ,this resonates🥳congrats
Thanks so much Chris!
Happy Birthday! Looks like a lovely trip to your happy place and some very interesting tidbits. 💕
Thanks so much Susi! I was definitely in my happy place in France.
Yesterday I had my close family round for a little party which was really lovely and felt like my birthday has kept going on!
What a joy to read your list and look at your pictures. So happy to be part of your community here on Substack ❤️
And I am so happy to have connected with you here, my friend! 🥰
I love this list, 15. And 16 especially. 🌱… and I also love writing in purple fountain pen ink 🖋️
Thanks so much for reading and commenting Leila! I stocked up on different coloured ink recently and purple is going to be my next colour choice!
Hope you had a lovely birthday 🎂 I think you did the right thing by going away somewhere you love to feed your soul. I can relate to a lot of your learning points especially regarding the need to be doing something you enjoy, even if it's part time. Also it is harder to make friends as you get older, and if you move location for marriage like I did it can be lonely. I volunteered to get involved in a literary festival and it has opened up new friendships and I am pursuing something I love. Volunteering has its pluses. 👍👍
Thanks Lucy, I did have such a nice day. I was back to teaching today and I had a smile on my face all day with the memories of last week; it really did feed my soul ☺️
Volunteering is a great idea. It's something I've thought about more recently and you make an excellent point that it's a way to make new friends through shared interests.
Happy Birthday Hanny. Here’s to all the good things in life to come!
Thanks so much Lynette! I'm feeling positive about these next years to come 😊
Happy Birthday from a fellow 40 year old who just discovered the beauty of rural France (I was there last week!). This is a great list, I concur that tea and color are life. :)
Hi Helen! Thank you for the birthday wishes. I’m so happy you discovered rural France too. Whereabouts were you?
The Loire Valley, gorgeous. Now I have to figure out a way to live my life in a small village subsisting on croissants and wine.
I love the Loire! My best and oldest friend lives in a tiny village near to Angers and we visit regularly. Beautiful landscapes, excellent wine and fabulous produce 🥰🧡🇫🇷
Happy belated 40th Hannah! I’m just behind you at 38. I believe the 40s are the greatest of decades. May it be your best one yet! ✨🥳
Thanks so much Hege! I keep hearing people say that the 40s are a great decade. I guess we have a much better idea of who we are and what makes us happy? I’m excited to find out.
I agree. Me too! ✨
Happy birthday Hannah! Such a fun, gorgeous and practical list - thank for sharing! Hope you're having a lovely weekend 🥐🍷
ps on the alarm clock - if you don't already have something similar - would really recommend with with a timed 'wake up light'. It makes such a difference, especially in winter! x
Thanks so much Lauren!
I will check out those clocks as I definitely need a little more help getting out of bed in the winter 😊x
I feel like I could have written about 80% of this… in two weeks time when I turn 40. Haha. Have an amazing birthday.
Thanks Emma! Have you got something special planned for your birthday? I think it feels like quite a transformative/transitional time for lots of us. I’m excited to see what the next years bring us 🙌🏻
Yeah tbh it’s hit me in a way that I didn’t see coming. I’m having a lovely meal with close friends then a bit of a party. My partner is planning a surprise trip which should be lovely. I think transitional is definitely the word.
Love the idea of a surprise trip, that will be exciting not knowing where you're going!
Happy Birthday Hannah 🍷🧀🍾 Have a lovely time in France 💙🤍❤️
Thanks Emy! It was such a lovely break. Back home to real life now 😬 but another France trip is being planned for August 😅
Happy birthday! 🎉
Thanks so much Amy! x
Happy birthday! Your list is so nourishing! I too gave up the high heeled shoes when I left teaching. 💕🌻
Thanks Clare! Just need to make that final leap away from teaching completely next… flat shoes forever!!