Signal Restored: Picking Up Where I Left Off in Tech
You know what’s wild? Looking back at your twenties and realising you thought you were busy. I mean, honestly…what was I doing?! Meeting friends, maybe writing a blog post in my pyjamas at 11am, trying to decide which phone I loved more. Fast forward to being a 40-something mum to two boys, working full-time, and caring for my own mum, and suddenly those “busy” days of the past feel like a long, luxurious holiday.
Nostalgia hits me hard sometimes. Those early blogging days were electric! I had this fire in me for tech, for gadgets, for writing until 2am because my brain wouldn’t shut off until I hit publish. And I was good at it! I achieved things that I look back on with pride. But here’s the kicker, some of those things could’ve gone further. They didn’t. Life… wonderful, messy, unpredictable life got in the way.
Marriage. Kids. Health scares. Looking after parents. Honestly, if adulthood came with a manual, it would probably just be a single page with “Good luck, love” written across it!
And yet… the fire never went out. My love for consumer tech and mobile gadgets still keeps me up at night, only now it’s alongside thoughts like “Did I sign that school permission slip?” or “What’s for dinner tomorrow that isn’t beige freezer food?”
I still have that voice in my head that says, What if? What if I’d kept going? What if I’d built the brand further, the channels, the empire?! I look at my incredible friends from those blogging days, many of them absolutely flying and I feel two things at once… pure pride for them, and that little gnawing “maybe that could’ve been me too” voice.
Do I regret my path? Absolutely not!!! My boys, my family, my career - all of it has been worth every diversion. But do I wish I could combine all my passions into one big, joyful, slightly chaotic ball? Oh, one hundred percent yes!!!
Me enjoying being one of 50 remarkable women across many industries, as chosen by Nokia ad Lady Geek
Pic: Lady Geek
The thing is, I know myself now better than I ever did back then. I know what lights me up, and I know how much grit I’ve got (spoiler - a lot!). These days, I’m finding my confidence at work, I’m speaking up, I’m leading and it’s reminding me that maybe, just maybe, it’s time to reignite that old spark.
So, what’s next? Well, I might start a little diary of updates, here or on socials, documenting my attempt to find my way back into the world of consumer tech. It feels scary. I feel too old some days, like PRs will take one look and think, “Oh bless her, she’s someone’s mum who still thinks she’s trendy!” But here’s the twist: I’m more motivated now than I have ever been.
I may not be in my 20s anymore, but I’ve got something better… energy, wisdom (well, some), and the sheer stubborn determination of a woman who’s juggled kids, parents, and a career without totally losing the plot (yet!).
Now is the time. The fire’s still burning, and I’m finally ready to fan the flames.
So watch this space, because I’ve got unfinished business!
Much love
Swanny xo
I felt this deeply. I’m in my forties with kids too, and like you, I often look back on those earlier days with a kind of amused disbelief—all that time I didn’t know I had, spent tinkering, writing, chasing ideas into the early hours. Life’s moved on in big, brilliant, messy ways, and I wouldn’t trade any of it. But that quiet what if still lingers sometimes.
It’s genuinely inspiring to see you picking the thread back up. That fire doesn’t go out—it just simmers until we’re ready. And now you’ve got the experience, the grit, and frankly, a much more interesting story to tell. The world of tech still needs voices like yours.