Author’s Note: This journal entry was written after the trip and has been postdated!

I didn’t sleep very well at all before we set off on our road trip at six in the morning. Luckily Alex took this first shift driving so I could nap in the car. We stopped in at an Asda in Birmingham to refuel and have a rest, and then I took over the second half of the drive up to Ulverston. By the time we got there I was exhausted and my anxiety was at its peak so I was relieved when we got to choose a room in the cottage next to the main house because that meant I could relax a bit more.

We settled in and then had a little wander around the garden, taking silly photos on the little bridge over the stream. Then we had tea and cake in the main house before we all changed into our swimming costumes and drove over to the pool. It had been so long since I’d been in a pool but it was good fun! We played marco polo and I definitely got some water up my nose a few times.

Once we were done swimming we returned to the house and everyone got ready for the birthday dinner and then we caravanned through the hills along narrow, steep windy roads. We had a lovely dinner at the pub and it was nice to chat to everyone! By the time we finished the sun was just setting and I was extremely tired. When we got back to the main house Alex and I basically said goodnight and went to bed.