Goodbye self-doubt and hello to a new start

There’s nothing like being put on lockdown to put things into perspective…

With the UK on lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, this unprecedented and unknown time has been a challenge for us all.

For those who don’t know me, I work as a PR and Marketing Assistant at two gorgeous hotels in Cornwall – The Greenbank and The Alverton. Since the lockdown began at the end of March, I have been furloughed, like so many others around the country.

I count myself so lucky to be able to stay at home safely whilst still earning 80% of my salary. Whilst the current situation is incredibly scary and overwhelming, I have been trying to use this time positively.

Starting something new

After months of procrastinating, prioritising everything other than becoming a Cornish blogger and letting a mixture of fear and self-doubt get in the way, the last few weeks have been both eye-opening and refreshing.

All of a sudden, my busy lifestyle had gone from 100 to 0 overnight. Distractions, work, planned trips and social events disappeared, replaced with long, empty days with little to no structure.

The first few days were a mixture of panic (what do I do with all this free time?) and laziness (endless hours of binge-watching Good Girls on Netflix and old 90210 episodes).

Whilst that was fun, there was only so much mindless activity I could indulge in before I realised my time could be spent achieving something I’d wished I had time to dedicate to. This would be the perfect opportunity to take the plunge and start my dream blog. So here we are!

Third time’s a charm

Confession. This is not my first blog.

I have always loved writing. I remember one Christmas as a child when my parents bought me a type-writer, and I wrote my first book – the adventures of my teddy bears, complete with dodgy hand-drawn illustrations.

When I turned 20 I chose to turn my hobby into something more serious. I began studying creative and media writing at the University of Portsmouth. This is when I started my first blog. It was admittedly part of an assignment, but I kept it going for a while after. The posts were so sporadic and included the most random topics, but it was a great way for me to dip my toe into the world of blogging.

My second stab at becoming a Cornish blogger came about when I was living in London halfway through my degree on a placement year. I had all the best intentions, thinking up a clever name, making coinciding social media accounts and this time paying for better website themes and a domain name. However the pressures of studying and working got in the way and the website joined the neglected pile.

Back to Cornwall

After four years of studying, I graduated with a first-class degree – one of my proudest achievements to date. I knew it was time to return home to Cornwall to start the next chapter.

I’d discovered my strengths in marketing and copywriting from my year in London and was delighted to start putting what I’d learnt into practise in the hospitality industry back home in Falmouth.

Which brings us to today, as I write my very first post on blog number three! With more experience, determination and a clearer vision on what I’d like to achieve, this is definitely going to be third time lucky for me!

Watch this space…

Scoop of Cornwall is predominantly a Cornish lifestyle blog. A place for me to share my life, adventures and experiences in this gorgeous corner of the map:

Cornwall

For Cornish coastal walks, local hot-spots, hidden treasures, fantastic bars and restaurants and tales from my favourite towns and villages, to diary dates to know, quirky businesses and insider tips and tricks for exploring the county, keep up to date with all things Cornwall.

Travel

Although Cornwall will always be my home, that’s not to say I don’t love discovering new destinations. Follow my travels from over the Tamar Bridge when I’m out of the county, from UK staycations and day trips to holidays abroad.

Lifestyle

As well as sharing all things Cornwall and travel, I plan to use this blog to discuss more broad topics and trains of thought, so the lifestyle section of my website is a place to pop down all these wonderings and ‘miscellaneous’ musings.

Let the adventures as a Cornish blogger begin…