It has been a crazily busy year for me through 2019.

There are certainly plenty of emotions and experiences to sit and digest as I enjoy some time off. With one year left to fulfil of my current contract with Utah Royals FC in the US, it will soon be the beginning of another season, and preseason will no doubt roll in far too quickly.

It was a relief to get the win in Albania last month with Scotland, and to return home with three points and a win to ensure the year concluded on a positive note.

There were probably two elements to that relief: on a personal note, I was thankful for the upcoming break, but it was also potentially a tricky fixture and the long trip to Tirana was one that I think we are all collectively glad has been ticked off the International calendar.

The 5-0 win was certainly a worthy outcome, and it neatly accompanies the 8-0 win back in August against Cyprus, to leave us two-for-two in the new EURO2021 qualifying campaign thus far.

It felt as though we had been thrown back into the fire when we reconvened back then, as the World Cup had hardly been wrapped up and the next competition was on our horizons. I can remember personally still feeling caught up by the USA’s after-party and “Victory Tour” back in America, whilst continuing with club commitments.

Perhaps that was the best thing for us though, as many of us were still suffering over failures or dwelling on disappointments that were still weighing heavily after Summer’s expedition.

Although there remain some overhanging thoughts, the squad has definitely regrouped and has a revived focus for this campaign. It’s perhaps the most united group of players that I have been fortunate to be a part of, which can be harder to come by when it comes to International football.

The trip itself was not necessarily one we looked forward to, as although there were happy memories of the last time we visited Albania. The 2-1 win was a slender one and Tirana is a tricky place to go.

Fortunately, this time nerves were settled in the first half with two early goals and there were few complaints all week as we had initially met in Edinburgh and enjoyed a few days there, followed by the trip to the Albanian capital for the game.

Of course, 23 girls would find something to moan about, but that was largely the weather that we had brought with us which kept us mostly indoors, alongside the 4am wake up call to travel home and the three flights that awaited us.

The next International window for Scotland will not be until March 2020, and so ending this year positively was vital. March will be our next and only chance to build on things before qualifiers will be back on the agenda in early April.

Having not had more than five consecutive days off since November 2017, the last two years have been packed with football. By no means is that a complaint, as it has been most welcome to have enjoyed a playing spell over the last 18 months which has seen me fit and available for selection for every match, club and country.

However, having this year hit the milestone of turning thirty, and having endured a challenging spell prior to 2018 of multiple knee surgeries and niggling injuries, an ordered rest from the club’s sports physiologists will be obeyed.

The off-season will be a period for me to venture off on some slightly different projects. I have enjoyed blogging and sharing some of the experiences this year, and that will be coupled with some punditry and TV opportunities over the busy Winter period in the men’s game.

Whilst I am home, I also will do my best to spend some time with schools and clubs and hopefully I can get to enjoy seeing the enhanced infrastructure that have been implemented over the years and also meet the people that are helping develop the women’s game in Scotland.