My word for the year for 2026 is "Peace". I found it was a word that was going over and over in my head from around October/November 2025 and realised it was there for a reason.
My monthly roundups are now going to consist of things I've done that month to bring me peace.
Isle of Man TT
I was very very lucky enough to have been treated to a week at the Isle Of Man TT as part of my 40th birthday present. The last time I went was in 2019 with my boys and I have been so desperate to go back again. This was my 5th time going and it was even more special because I got to introduce my fiance to the island and to his first experience of the sport in person. I uploaded the video of Tom's reaction as the first bike went past him thinking just family and friends would see it....as I post this the video is just over 1.4 million views and over 57k likes. Turns out we're influencers now...
Meeting one of my favourite racers
Following on from the TT I had one racer I really wanted to meet this year and I did that on the first day! Jamie Coward has been one of my favourites for the last couple of years. I seem to have a criteria that I need personality, dedication etc. Jamie Coward ticks all those boxes. His update videos always entertain me with the smile he does at the beginning. I was brave and ran over and made sure I told him I enjoy his videos and then asked for a photo then wished him luck. I do have a rule that I don't ask for a photo without actually having a conversation so I made sure I followed that rule.
Band at a Beer Garden
We went to a pub near me as they have a motorbike meet some Sundays. The weather had been a bit poor so there was only one motorbike in the car park but they had a band on so we sat and watched them. They were AMAZING!! Really different to the bands we have watched there before. Highlight of their set was when they played Limp Bizkits Break Stuff. The adults all loved it but so did two little boys who kept giggling and doing shocked faces at the bad language. We're hoping to be able to see the band if they visit locally again.
Booked tickets to see Ricky Martin
When I was at the TT I knew tickets were going on sale for Ricky Martins return to the UK in August. I've been a Ricky Martin fan since 1999, when I was 13, and I'm now 40! The tickets weren't exactly cheap but I know I would have regretted not going. I last saw him in 2000 in London and this time he is closer to home and who knows if he will come to the UK again! It still hasn't really hit me that I'm seeing him again...
A Quick Brew
In 2025 I updated my bucket list to include "just" 100 things including one I wasn't really sure was possible....Be on a podcast! It just so happens that a good friend of mine co-hosts a podcast and when I half-jokingly replied to a request from them for guest suggestions that I would like to be on there I didn't then expect my phone to ring to arrange my episode! James and David were so welcoming and although I was ridiculously nervous to start with I soon felt comfortable and it really just felt like a chat with friends and not a pressured situation with questions I wouldn't know how to answer etc. I absolutely loved it and what a great Podcast to be able to be a guest to be able to tick that off my bucket list. You can view my A Quick Brew Podcast episode here.
