10 things you didn’t know about me!

I was recently tagged by Blog By Baby to share 10 things you might not already know about me. At first, I thought, “Oh, this will be easy; I love a good natter!” But when I sat down to write, I realised how tricky it is to think of new things I haven’t already shared. Anyway, after a bit of pondering, here goes…

1. My Middle Name
   My middle name is Samantha, and when I was younger, I absolutely adored it. In fact, I loved it so much that I wanted it to be my first name. I’d dream about introducing myself as “Samantha” because I thought it sounded so glamorous and sophisticated. These days, though, I’ve grown into loving my actual first name—it’s me, after all!
2. My Love Story with Paul
   Paul and I have been together for over 10 years now (time really flies, doesn’t it?). We actually went to the same school! He was the year above me, and although we knew of each other back then, our paths didn’t cross romantically until after school. It’s funny how life works out, isn’t it? School crushes never last, but finding love later with someone from the same hallways? That’s something special.
3. A Love Triangle… Sort Of!
   Here’s one for the gossip mill: I used to be engaged to Paul’s best friend! And, believe it or not, that same best friend was the best man at our wedding. It’s one of those stories that sounds far more dramatic than it actually is—everyone’s happy, and we all get on brilliantly. Life is never dull with our lot, that’s for sure.
4. Dreams of the Skies
   When I was little, I dreamed of becoming an air hostess. I thought it would be the most glamorous job in the world—flying to exotic places, meeting fascinating people, and wearing those smart uniforms. Sadly, at only 5’2”, I was deemed too short. Looking back, though, I think the reality of the job would have been far less glamorous than I imagined!
5. A Hair Colour Chameleon
   I’ve dyed my hair so many times that I honestly can’t remember what my natural colour looks like. Blonde, brunette, auburn—you name it, I’ve probably tried it. These days, I’ve settled into a shade that feels like “me,” but who knows when the next hair transformation might strike? It’s all part of the fun!
6. Animal Lover at Heart
   Growing up, our house was always full of animals. I personally had a Chinchilla (yes, really!) and a tortoise, while as a family, we had dogs, fish, a parrot, and even some birds. It was a bit like Noah’s Ark, looking back. These days, we’ve scaled down a bit, but our rescue dog Barney holds a very special place in my heart.
7. Barney’s Story
   Speaking of Barney, he came to us under heartbreaking circumstances. He was found tied to a bus stop just before Christmas when he was about six months old. When we adopted him, he was shy and nervous, but with lots of love (and plenty of treats), he grew into the most wonderful, loving dog. Spoilt rotten? Absolutely, and he deserved every second of it.
8. Finding Friends Online
   Some of my closest friendships have come from unexpected places. I joined the Baby Centre website years ago, and through that, I met a wonderful group of women. Over time, we moved from chatting online to meeting up in person, and now they’re some of my dearest friends. Who says the internet can’t bring people together?
9. Heartache and Hope
   This one’s a bit harder to share, but I feel it’s important: I’ve experienced three miscarriages. It’s something many people don’t talk about, but I believe we should. Sharing our stories helps to raise awareness and foster understanding for those who’ve been through it. If you’ve ever experienced this, my heart goes out to you—you’re not alone.
10. My Rose Tattoo
    When I was 18, I went on a girlie holiday to Spain, and, as you do, I came back with a tattoo. It’s a rose on my right shoulder, and it’s very special to me because it’s in memory of my late Nan, Rose. Every time I see it, I’m reminded of her warmth, strength, and the countless cups of tea we shared.

Phew, that was harder than I thought! I hope this has given you a little peek behind the scenes of my life. If you’ve got any fun facts about yourself to share, I’d love to hear them in the comments. Let’s keep the conversation going!

Now I am tagging:

Little Charlie And Us

Actually Mummy

Rainy Day Mum