Jessie From The Block

Hi there,

It was Mica Paris who warned me over cocktails at E&O one evening, that the year preceding my 30th birthday was going to be “hellish” thanks to the Saturn return –news to me. According to Astrology “Time, responsibility, age, and reality, are all associated with one planet in astrology and that planet is Saturn. The transit of Saturn around the birth chart is a very reliable indicator of where we are in our maturation process because it completes a cycle every 29-and-a-half years, splitting our lives into three stages of growth: childhood, adulthood, and the elder years. With each cycle building upon what was learned in the previous one.” I should have heeded Mica’s words and mentally armed myself for possibly the most challenging year ever bar 98, when I was spotty and pregnant and could only fit into an Adidas tracksuit and one pair of elasticated jeans.

If you’re 29 then brace yourself for warrior mode right now, as there is something about approaching a new decade that will have you come over all reflective and confused, and if you’re not careful, mourning missed opportunities, overanalyzing perceived material failures.

Jessica Huie: The Entrepreneur

So here I am, 29 years old and with a pretty amazing career which has transformed my life beyond recognition. Materially I can’t complain, and if I do ever worry about cash, I only have to look at my shoe collection or Virgin air miles to see where my wonger went. We’ve come along way since the days I used to write an approximate value of each item (tomatoes £1.30) on my Sainsburys shopping list so I could be sure I had enough money to pay for it, and professionally, this year has been another amazing one with the launch of JH Public Relations leaving me reeling in pride.

Outwardly I’m good on paper, yet internally 29 forced me to stop running, take stock and finally connect with the Jessica I’ve been working too hard to take care of, or even acknowledge. Yes 29 challenged the thought processes. But then after the pain, 29 has brought me peace, contentment and a self-love which has nothing to do with the awards on my mantel, the clients on my roster, or even my butt after a serious training session at Legs, bums and tums. Of course my journey has only just begun, but now I’m here, it’s a one-way road and turning back is not an option. Ironically the ‘hell’ has brought me heaven, and to quote Conversations with God, which is one of several books which have enlightened me recently;

Conversations with God

“Know that what you do in the time of your greatest trial can be your greatest triumph. For the experience you create is a statement of who you are – and who you want to be.” And so this year I made the decision to spring clean my soul, and as I clear out the crap, the more space I create for all of the wondrous items I haven’t yet purchased. A true understanding of the power of our thoughts and the experiences they manifest, has hit home, and that knowledge has changed my life. Phew, the deep bit’s over!

Outside of my spiritual rollercoaster, I have also found time to do some work. I crammed interviews with Alexandra Burke, whose number 1 with ‘Bad Boys’ alongside Florida was no surprise. How sexy is that girl? 29 is struggling to digest the fact I have almost a decade on her, Jessica is of course totally fine with it.

Flo-rida actually chatted me up one evening outside of my house. My girlfriends and I were on our way out for dinner in Portobello and the rapper was like “Can I come with you and just hang out?” The girls looked tempted but from the back of my car a disgruntled Monet’s “Uggh, Come on Mummy” meant Flo-rida was out of luck.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Leona Lewis just days before the madman in Waterstone’s thumped her-poor thing. She exudes stardom now. Gone is the shy giggling and uncertain body language. Talented, beautiful and British, I love the quality of the music which is pouring out of the UK right now.

The Beautiful Alexandra!

I recently spent a weekend in Dublin with my mate Jodie Dalmeda, Head of Media and artist management for Virgin Unite. Estelle who’s an Ambassador for Virgin Unite, was performing at the Guinness 250th anniversary Festival as was Kelly Rowland, so we flew over for the fun. Jodie looks just like a mixed race (young) Lauren Hutton, she’s gorgeous inside and out and teaches me about Angels and bikram yoga and stuff. She’s like the Mr. Miyagi of Kensal Rise. When we did the bar and pub circuit that evening we were the toast of the Irish town and the men were just so gentlemanly and appreciative that we both left with inflated egos. Ladies, Dublin is the place if you’re in need of a little boost!

Me, Kelly Rowland, Jaren and my friend Jodie!

Saw my boy Bashy in Markus the Sadist at the Bloomsbury Theatre. A Jonzi D Production, the script, acting and casting were perfect, and while the language left me wincing in parental pain as Monet sat beside me, the show was brilliant and further evidence that Bashy is a 360 performer and one of the UK’s most talented artists. My best friend Nana got married to her sweetheart and university love Russell. They had a Ghanaian traditional ceremony at her mother’s house and it was beautiful. I have never seen Nans radiate such beauty and happiness and it was all a bit surreal. Sitting in her mother’s living room I was transported back to fifteen years ago, when we’d be hunched in front of a mirror, pasting our frazzled hair to our foreheads and prizing coloured contact lenses on to our eyeballs in preparation for ‘Telepathy’ that night. On most of those occasions our parents discovered we weren’t watching a PG movie and generally the punishments included groundation, and once nana had to weed the front yard in 80 degree heat. Watching my best mate get married was emotional, and final confirmation that we are now grown ups. She’s a wife. I am a mother and we will soon be thirty. But I’m not sweating it. 29 has taught me enough lessons to ensure that 30 will be the new 20 and next year is going to be incredible.

Nana & Russell's traditional Ghanian wedding

More on the Saturn return see http://www.skygrooves.com/articles/saturn-return.html

Until next time

Jess