I’ve just got back from a few nights away in a caravan with my mum. It has been lovely. Just what I needed.

However, when I arrived I realised I was going to have to switch off.

Don’t get me wrong, we weren’t completely roughing it. We had electricity BUT we had to watch what was on, and although there was good 4G access, streaming was not an option. I contemplated paying for wifi but E persuaded me that switching off was my best option.

Shockingly, E, was correct.

My biggest concern was going to sleep, as I normally watch stuff, and have had to have noise as I go to sleep for as long as I can remember. But I had my MP3 player, and after my first night of falling asleep with ease and sleeping straight through I realised it wasn’t going to be an issue.

I have read more this week than I have in a long time, I’ve even had two books on the go. One for my book group (I actually can’t remember the last book group book I finished) and one for interest, that will help with work.

So, I’ve switched off, and it has been great, but I’ve also powered up.

It’s not rocket science but I’ve realised I don’t read as much as I used to, because there’s so much else to do. TV to catch up on, rubbish binge watching, finding the next box set to watch. But because that wasn’t an option I’ve been able to find the time to read. I’ve been loving my book of interest because it has reignited a flame, of why I love teaching my subject so much.

Whilst we were away we caught the light railway to Dungeness. I love the irony of Dungeness, that there is barely anything there, there are a few houses, and untouched beautiful beach…. and, of course, the power station. You almost need a barren place, to be able to have a space big enough to provide that power.

At the beginning of the holiday I took a walk, and sat under a tree, and I listened to what God was saying to me. I read a psalm that I have never read before (that I remember) and I had a clear sense of what I needed to do, and what my oath was going to be.

Our world is constantly moving, it requires power, but sometimes we need to make that conscious choice to step away, turn it off, and power ourselves up to empower others.