Decks Down, Feet Up: A Week Off in North Wales! 🎧🍺🏔️

Believe it or not, there are actually occasions when I’m not standing behind a set of decks!

I know. Shocking. 😂

After plenty of busy weekends, late nights, packed dance floors, loading gear in and out, answering enquiries and generally living life to a soundtrack, it was finally time to do something a little different…

Turn everything OFF!

The decks were staying at home, the headphones were being hung up, and for one glorious week the only mixing I planned on doing involved deciding what drink was coming next! 🍺😂

So off we went to Talybont in beautiful North Wales for a week away with the wife and her family.

And what a week it was.

Destination: Talybont, North Wales 🏔️

There’s something about getting away to North Wales that immediately makes life feel like it’s moving at a different pace.

Beautiful scenery, fresh air, mountains in the distance and that wonderful feeling that you really are away from the usual routine.

Normally, my weekends involve checking timings, sorting music, loading equipment, setting everything up, getting a room full of people dancing and then packing it all away again at the end of the night.

This week?

My biggest decisions were considerably more difficult…

Where are we going today?

What are we having to eat?

And perhaps the most important question of all…

Is it too early for a beer? 🍺

The answer, obviously, depended entirely on how relaxed we were feeling. 😂

The Art of Doing Absolutely Nothing

One thing I quickly discovered is that I’m actually quite good at doing nothing when I put my mind to it.

It takes dedication.

It takes commitment.

And occasionally it takes a comfortable chair and a cold beer. 😂

But joking aside, the biggest thing I wanted from this holiday was rest.

Proper rest.

When you’re involved in weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and parties week after week, you get used to working when everyone else is letting their hair down.

Friday night? Party.

Saturday night? Party.

Sometimes Sunday? You guessed it… another party!

And I absolutely love it. There’s nothing quite like looking out from behind the decks and seeing a dance floor full of people having the time of their lives.

But even when you love what you do, sometimes you need to stop.

No schedules.

No rushing.

No clock watching.

No wondering whether somebody is about to come over and request a song while you’re already playing that exact song. 😂

Just time to relax.

And this week gave me plenty of that.

Plenty of Laughs… and Plenty of Beer 🍻

Of course, it wasn’t all sitting around doing nothing.

There were plenty of laughs along the way.

That’s probably my favourite thing about a family holiday. You can plan days out and decide where you’re going, but quite often the moments you remember most are the completely random ones.

Sitting around chatting.

Taking the mickey out of each other.

Someone saying something they instantly regret because you know it’s going to become the running joke for the rest of the holiday.

And, naturally, there was the occasional beer.

Okay…

Maybe slightly more than the occasional beer. 🍺🍺🍺

But I was on holiday!

And if you can’t sit back with a cold drink, enjoy the surroundings and put the world to rights when you’re away in North Wales, when can you?

No Requests Please… I’m Off Duty! 😂🎶

Being away from the decks also meant something quite unusual happened.

I got to listen to music without analysing it!

Normally my brain is constantly doing DJ things.

Would that work at a wedding?

That would mix nicely into something else.

I haven't played this one for ages.

That'll get them dancing.

It’s almost impossible to completely switch that part of your brain off.

You hear a song somewhere and suddenly you're mentally back behind the decks.

But this week I made a serious attempt at being officially OFF DUTY.

No requests.

No checking the next track.

No watching the dance floor.

No worrying about whether I’d remembered every cable.

Just relaxing and enjoying myself.

Although, let's face it, if a good tune came on, I was still going to notice! 🎶😂

The Scenery Wasn’t Bad Either! 🏔️

North Wales really is a beautiful part of the world.

Sometimes when life is busy, you don’t realise how much you need a change of scenery until you’re actually standing there looking at it.

Getting out, enjoying the fresh air and taking in the surroundings was a brilliant reminder that slowing down occasionally is a very good thing.

There’s always another job that needs doing.

There’s always another email that needs answering.

There’s always something you could be doing.

But sometimes the most productive thing you can do is absolutely nothing.

Well…

Nothing apart from deciding which pub to visit. 🍺😂

Quality Time ❤️

More importantly than anything else, though, the week was about spending quality time with the wife and her family.

When everyone has work, commitments and everyday life going on, getting a whole week together is something to appreciate.

No rushing off.

No looking at the clock because someone has to be somewhere.

Just being together, having a laugh and enjoying each other's company.

Those are the things that matter.

You don’t necessarily need huge adventures or perfectly planned days to make brilliant

memories.

Sometimes all you need is good company, somewhere nice to stay, plenty of laughter and perhaps a well-stocked fridge!

Did I Miss the Decks?

Now here's the big question…

Did I miss DJing?

At first?

Absolutely not! 😂

Those first few days of knowing I didn’t have to load equipment, set anything up or think about what time I needed to leave were fantastic.

Feet up.

Beer open.

Job done.

But as the week went on, I could feel that familiar itch starting to return.

You hear a great song.

You start thinking about the next party.

You wonder what the dance floor is going to be like at the next wedding.

And before you know it, you're looking forward to getting back behind the decks.

That’s when you know you genuinely love what you do.

A break doesn’t make you want to escape from it.

It makes you excited to come back.

Batteries Recharged 🔋🎧

And that’s exactly how I feel now.

Recharged. Refreshed. Rested.

Possibly half a stone heavier.

And there's a reasonable chance North Wales is now experiencing a slight shortage of beer. 🍺😂

But definitely ready to go again!

The diary is waiting, the parties are calling and there are plenty more celebrations ahead for The Party Guys.

Weddings.

Birthdays.

Anniversaries.

Special occasions.

And, of course, plenty of dance floors waiting to be filled.

Taking some time away has reminded me just how important it is to occasionally stop and recharge the batteries.

Because when you're constantly on the go, you can easily forget to enjoy the quieter moments as well.

This week was exactly what I needed.

Family.

Laughs.

Beautiful North Wales.

Plenty of beer.

And most importantly…

A LOT of rest!

So thank you, Talybont.

You’ve been absolutely brilliant. 🏔️🍺❤️

But the holiday is over.

The bags are unpacked.

The batteries are fully charged.

And somewhere, there’s a dance floor waiting for us…

So I suppose I’d better find those headphones.

🎧 The Party Guys are back behind the decks! 🎉

And yes…

Requests are officially open again. 😂🎶