My First Post - Your First Read

Welcome!

I am totally new to blog writing (probably apparent from the title of this post) so please bear with me through my first few posts while I find my feet and work out how this all works.

Who am I?

My name is Sophie, I am in my 20s and live on the Shropshire / Wales border. I went to Shrewsbury High School studying my GCSEs and A-Levels before taking on an apprenticeship which got me a 1st Class Hons Degree in Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering and am now a Systems Test Engineer at Airbus. I am a hard worker who hates being bored (I find sitting still watching TV boring!) and absolutely loves the outdoors.

Why have I got myself into this? Writing a blog is something I have been contemplating for a while, in fact I created this website about 6 months ago but have been pondering how to write my first post and what to write it about. The idea behind me starting this venture is I want to be able to share my hobbies and interests but also hopefully help people along the way. One of my biggest challenges is finding time to do everything that I want to, I don't have a specific management strategy but hopefully by sharing how I do it I can inspire some of you to not be bound by time and to just go out and do the things you want to do. I also believe that by sharing insights into my life it will give me some time for self-reflection and maybe by sparking conversation with my readers, some of you can help me along the way. What will I post about? As you can see from the website I have split my blog into several categories, each of which will likely appeal to different readers. Sometimes I will post my opinions on a topic, sometimes my experiences and sometimes some tips and tricks backed by factual evidence. I will set out to ensure that, for the most part my content is insightful, comprehensive and informative, although it will also be light-hearted and humorous to hopefully bring some joy to my readers (I do in hindsight realise how cliche that sounds but it also sounded good in my head as I typed it!). Here is a quick overview of what you will find in each section of my blog...

• Tavel - I love traveling and adventures so here you will find out about everywhere I have been. There will be some recommendations and reviews thrown in there as well as info such as how I plan trips and how I choose where to go and what to do! From city breaks to beach destinations and winter adventures in UK (especially Wales) and (much) further afield.

• Photography - Learn how I took a hobby and made it into a business. Hear my camera recomemendations, view my photos and find out how I take great shots with not a great deal of camera knowledge. There might also be some photoshop discussions thrown in there aswell.

• Sport - Possibly my biggest passion in life (bold statement from me). I have always been a decent all round sports person, but now I (try to) focus on some of my favourites. With this in mind, you can follow me on a sporting journey of football, cricket, rounders and tennis. From child to player and coach, find out how I have developed, who my role models have been and why I love playing so many sports. Over the next few months there will also be some insights into sporting injuries, physio and post-opp rehabilitation as I have recently sustained a nasty ACL injury.

• Career - This will be one of the more serious sections. Here I will discuss every stage in my career from my school years right through to today. I will touch on some of the challenges I have faced as a woman in industry and my passion for inspiring the next generation of engineers.

• Driving - As well as being a full time engineer, I also have a second job as a coach driver. Something I never imagined I would end up doin in a million years but I love every second!

• Everything Else - Where to start! Girlguiding, cars and farming are probably the main talking points in this section, but I am sure there will be many many more!

Who do I want to read my blog? You! Although I am of the younger generation, not all of my content will appeal to those my own age. I have such a vast range of hobbies and interests that I expect readers of all ages from all walks of life. How often will I post? I will endeavour to post at least once a week however this may not always happen as I either might not have anything meaningful to say (believe it or not) or I just might not have time. Saying that, time is something I will have more of for the next 6 to 12 months (more news on the reason why to follow in a later post). To Summarise By reading my blog you will have a laugh (probably at me), get an insight into my crazy life and possibly even learn something! So please read my blog and share with family and friends. Thank You!