So I have not exactly kept on top of this blog! But I’m here now!
I promised to start this as a small insight to what I get up to now learning to work while being a Mum. It feels a bit self indulgent to be truthful but I’m continually surprised by the interaction I get on social media so I thought maybe it might be a nice read.
The season has restarted and I feel so fortunate to be back working. It’s such an uncertain time and I take nothing for granted. I’m also very lucky to be able to dovetail my work with my husbands. He works from home as an imaging producer so when I have a last minute call or work during the day then most of the time he is able to be with Zac. In the last week I’ve worked for BBC Radio 5Live, Soccer Saturday, Sky Sports News and Aston Villa and been to Watford, Birmingham (a few times!), Newport, Bristol City twice and Forest Green. The miles are wracking back up on my car again!
Chatting to Jack Grealish below, he signed his new contract this week and I was lucky enough to do the first interview…
This last year has flown by. I know it’s been such a struggle for many of us, for a lot of Zac’s life he has lived in lockdown. The day before I was due back working football was cancelled. It wasn’t until mid June I returned for the first time since October. Looking back I do really value the time I had with Zac, but I was mentally prepared to work again. It’s not easy looking after a baby, it’s more than a full time job! It’s not selfish to want a little bit of you back, and having work again has been wonderful. I will contradict myself and say how much I miss him when I’m doing long days! I worry I’ll miss something as he seems to be doing something new every week at the moment! He turns one next month, our little boy lights up our world (despite the lack of sleep). I’ve never known a love like it and feel incredibly lucky to be able to balance work around trying to be a great Mummy for him. With a lot of matches being in the evening it often means we get most of the day and on a Saturday he tags along with his Dad to help out at our local club. Although I am not sure how much help he is with my husband’s coaching…
I chose to be freelance, and it’s a risky but rewarding choice. The last couple of weeks have been very busy. I had some disappointing news about the podcast I started 3 years ago, Robins On The Wire. Now I’ve found several companies interested in backing it which means we are all systems go for the first week of October. I was surprised by the reaction and delighted that somehow I’ve become a trusted broadcaster!
Even more to my surprise, Martin Samuel mentioned me today in his widely regarded Daily Mail column. Lots of people sent it to me and I’m very flattered. I absolutely love working on Soccer Saturday, there’s been a lot of noise around it lately and naturally I was sad to see Charlie, Thomo and Tiss leave. Sadly nothing lasts forever and I’m excited for what the season has in store, and so pleased Jeff and Jules continue at the helm as well as the fantastic team behind the scenes.
Hopefully we get to see this season through, I truly believe football brings people together in a unique way. I did a shoot for Sky Sports News on fans returning this week. If you ask any of my family or friends they will testify I’ve been incredibly cautious through covid, but if we can safely get fans back through the gates we must before clubs go out of business.
Thanks for reading. Sadly my Bristol Live column is no more due to covid freelance cuts, so if anyone would like to get in touch about me doing some writing then please do!