In the 18 months or so since my life took a rather unexpected turn, and I found myself 31 and single, I’ve mused multiple alternatives in terms of how to find a new track, a new inspiration, something to focus on, help me pick myself up and put my future first.

Some of you have been lucky (loose sense!) enough to have been accosted by me, probably in the pub, with a version of my “what next?” spreadsheet, and I thought it might be interesting to revisit some of those ideas, what (or who!) inspired them in me, and why they were ultimately rejected by whomever I was consulting at the time, and crucially my father’s view on them as prospects or not.  Not that he makes my decisions but I highly respect his opinion; if you don’t ask up front he does tend to make it very clear later on, plus I am nothing if not predictable in many ways – so feedback from those who know me is definitely worth giving some weight.

In a vague order of consideration:

1) Riviera Radio – I never fancied a backpack and roughing it the other side of the world, wearing walking boots day after day, and having to possibly endure spiders, rather – since I was about 18 – I’ve toyed with how much fun it would be to work for Riviera Radio for a bit.  My French is very rusty GCSE level, but it’s expat radio, so that’s fine!  And I love to chat, so, whilst at first it might be slightly intimidating, if they had a “it’s your first day, you’re allowed a glass of wine” rule I think I’d find my stride!  And as far as my appalling very cheesy and dated taste in music, that’s pretty much all they play – it’s not really moved on much since it was cassettes out of someone’s garage in Monaco.  This was never really given much favour by anyone I mentioned it to, but then again my ability to talk and enjoyment of a bit of a Shania Sunday isn’t going anywhere, so maybe one day.

2) A bar in Lanzarote – This also is still a bit of a pipe dream, and I’m not writing it off further down the line, especially if the sailing plan goes awry.  Last year as part of project focus-on-Maddie I took myself on six solo holidays to the Canaries; it’s somewhere I enjoy to be – it’s sunny and extremely affordable!  When a quick Google search presented a bar for sale just down the road from my favourite hotel for €47,000, that seemed like the answer!!  Daddy said no.  Not until I was 40, before then, by his reckoning, I would be bored; the arguments that I couldn’t possibly be bored because I’d have a bar to keep me busy, it would be sunny and I could run every day etc didn’t sway him at all, this one was stamped: tabled.

3) New Zealand – A couple of years ago one of my very best friends moved back to New Zealand and visiting her was somewhat of an epiphany.  Often you go away and say “Oh, I could live here!” but actually after five days you’re confused by the tipping, getting sick of the rich/odd food, and missing familiar sights and sounds, or it’s too rural and you’ll hurt someone if you can’t get back to civilisation and hang out surrounded by people you don’t have to talk to.  New Zealand is not like that.  It’s legitimately somewhere I could go and stay and feel at home from day one; what I’d do work wise, I have no idea, but Auckland is a financial centre…  Downside: it’s very far.  And spiders.

4) Event Planning – I love events and I love making plans, so this seemed like a winner of a combination – so much so that as soon as I suggested the idea my father registered a company in my name with company house.  I applied for a six month intensive course, but the next one wasn’t due to start for eight months, and I was very aware I would probably have to go unpaid for a prolonged period until I fostered a reputation.  And there it stalled.  I still pay the annual company fee, so, once again, not abandoned forever, just not right now.

To be continued……