Taking time off cricket commentary over the festive season to spend with my children was probably my favorite career move of 2019.

It forced me to slow down… be in the moment, play, rest, cook, bake, laugh, cry… and basically do all those things I don’t get to do when I am “living the dream”.

The children were so grateful for my presence and we have spent many mornings just lying in bed in silence, simply enjoying being together.

Slowing down has its business upsides 😅 There is a lot of thinking time and I got to devote a fair amount of time to gsport as we got back to basics after a heady few months.

The hardest part about being away from commentary is trying not to watch. I live in a cricket obsessed home so it is hard to avoid but long baths, yoga and hours of reading kept me away from the TV and radio.

I am back in commentary for the third test in PE. The children know the honeymoon is over, for them too, as they head back to school next week.

Grateful to have the best of both worlds and for knowing when to take a step back to find harmony again.

It’s my birthday tomorrow and I have never felt more in sync than this very moment.

Happy birthday to me ❤️