Part One: Back in the Blog Seat…..Business, Beaches & Big Gym Energy

Hey, I’m back (and no, I didn’t fall off the face of the earth). Turns out keeping up with a blog while running a business, parenting and managing ALL the admin is harder than I thought. But it felt about time I did a catch up for those who like to see what we’re getting up to over here in the desert 😉.

To kick off the year, I went to my very first business retreat along with 10 other women here in Oman. It was nothing like I expected…..in the best way. It felt so empowering to be in a space with other like-minded women, sharing ideas, challenges and lightbulb moments.

Led by Nicole at PerformerPreneur, the day gave us fresh perspectives and practical strategies for running our businesses. There was a powerful yoga and meditation session, a discussion on emotional intelligence, an intro to AI, and a wellbeing talk that left me scribbling notes. The setting, Anara Chalet, just past Fins Beach, was ridiculously beautiful too, which helped!

I walked away with real tools and insights that I immediately put into the day-to-day of Just Thrive Marketing.

If any of that sounds like your vibe, Nicole’s running another retreat in February 2026, from Southampton to Amsterdam on a cruise. I mean…yes please!

On the business front, things with Just Thrive Marketing have been going well. Since starting the business 10 months ago, I’ve worked with 12 clients, and I’m still working with half of them. When I launched, I told myself I’d be happy with just one client. Somehow, it turned into twelve. It’s been a mix of web design, social media, brand work and SEO, and I truly love it. I still get a buzz seeing someone’s brand come to life online and knowing they trusted me with that journey.

In February, I ran the Muscat Marathon 10K for the second time. I didn’t have as long to train this year…..OK, I had seven weeks, which some might say is enough, but I usually prefer three months. Did I enjoy it as much as last time? No (it was bloody hot). Was I faster than my first run? Absolutely not.

Did the organisers mess up by handing out acrylic medals that later had to be replaced with proper ones after complaints? Yep. But will I do it again next year? You bloody betcha. Who doesn’t love a challenge?

Speaking of challenges, I found myself a new gym: B3yond. Based in Ghala near the Grand Mosque, it’s quite possibly the biggest gym I’ve ever seen. They’ve got it all, boxing, TRX, CrossFit, weightlifting, spin, and every machine under the sun. There’s even an ice bath and sauna area for those brave enough (I’m not sure if I am yet!)

My favourite spot? The Hyrox zone. They say there’s a fine line between love and hate and Hyrox sits right on it. I’ve got high hopes of entering an event in Sharjah, UAE, next year… watch this space!

In April, we swapped sand for sea and headed to Phuket, Thailand for two glorious weeks. We stayed all-inclusive at the Marriott Merlin Beach Resort, recommended by not one, but two friends, so I figured it had to be a winner.

I’ll tell you more in the next post, because trust me, Thailand delivered.

COMING UP IN PART TWO: Thai adventures, elephant encounters, our first ever friends visiting us in Oman (cue me going into Event Manager mode and planning overdrive), my first trip to Wadi Shab, and a birthday weekend that turned into a full-blown Dubai adventure.