I started writing #MyPrelovedLife blog in September 2018, and by the end of 2019, I'd written over 50 stories about how I'd overcome the sadness of losing my lifelong partner to cancer after a 46 years loving relationship. After a year of writing, I decided it was time to let go and move on.
I'd planned to take down MyPrelovedLifee website, I felt it had run its course but I didn’t have time before going to Thailand last year. On my return from a fabulous 2 weeks in Phuket and Bangkok, I picked up a voice mail from the Assistant Producer from the ITV Tonight show. They'd found a blog post I'd written about how I'd signed up for Airbnb to earn an extra income and to combat loneliness. I was very excited that I'd shown up in their Google search. This was a sign, so I decided to continue writing. I'd already had feedback from people who'd told me my words had helped with their own bereavement.
I realised I had more to write, more people to help as I continued my journey as a solo adventurer.
I discussed the programme brief with the ITV Tonight researchers and confirmed that I'd be happy to take part in the show.
A date was set for the ITV film crew to spend the day with me, they spent 6 hours with me in total. They filmed in my home, they photographed my notice boards and family photos, they filmed me working on my computer. I would have tidied up a bit more if I'd known they'd be all over the house! The most painstaking part of the day was having to make the bed 10 times from different angles!!
They also interviewed one of my Airbnb guests, filmed me at the radio station where I have a weekly Time Capsule Interview Style Show and came along to St Elizabeth's Hospice Charity Shop where I spend a lot of time buying preloved clothes. I knew they would cut hours of footage but I was disappointed they didn’t include the Hospice Shop
Spending the day with the film crew was exhausting, yet somehow therapeutic, the film crew were genuinely interested in my story, their questions were always sensitive. I felt we bonded and all of us travelled back to London together, they were scheduled to repeat the entire filming process the next day with a family from Brighton who would tell a different Airbnb story.
I had no idea how I'd come across on the ITV Tonight programme and watched the news programme with bated breath as my 2 minutes of fame was aired live on National TV. It wasn't too embarrassing, I felt it was an accurate representation of why I became involved with Airbnb.
You can watch the programme "Airbnb- the True Cost" t" for 30 days on catch up. Overall the tone was quite negative of Airbnb apart from one glimmer of light coming from my success story.
Do I have any regrets taking part in this news story?
Not really. I had to deal with overpowering emotions while I watched my personal story laid out for all to see on National News but it was my decision to invite the film crew into my home. Having your blog picked up by national media has given me a boost and has convinced me to carry on writing.
So that's a good thing although I've changed my story slightly from managing grief to focusing more on my life as a solo adventurer highlighting my solo travel experiences.
I appreciate nothing is forever so I will just enjoy the next few months with a curious eye as life unfolds before me.
Thanks so much for reading my post
#MyPrelovedLife 21/2/20