R&R

I thought the best way to get back into this is to blog if not every day, then every couple of days, until it feels second nature again!

Today has been pretty lazy so far, I should explain. I gave up my job and the number one priority was and is to rest. Basically since we lost mum, we haven't stopped. Even rare time off has been filled with guests and activities, which has been great but we both basically got quite ill where we've been so exhausted. So, I left my job last week, and this week and next are rest weeks. I can do a bit of housework, run some errands, but not too much. And when I get bored and frustrated, I remember that the goal is to be strong and healthy again, not exhausted and ill!

This morning, I've been updating my diary with all our upcoming travel arrangements. We have a lot! And partly that's because we're trying to protect ourselves...

After you lose someone, you face a year of firsts; their birthday, Christmas, mother/father's day, your birthday etc., etc. so for mum's birthday which would have been November 5, we're off to Bath for three days. I chose Bath deliberately. I went a lot with mum and it's a city we both loved. And for Christmas, I didn't want to be with other family and I didn't want to be at home, so we're off to Wales for 8 days. Just to do something different. And then there's visits back to London and we're off to Venice early next year as well. I figured I needed to update the diary seeing as it's getting pretty busy again. We also need to fit in remodelling our bathroom sometime in Oct or Nov.

Even though I am taking time off - probably 2 or 3 months - I won't be completely idle. I plan to learn BSL and Italian, finish the book, do all the jobs that need doing around the house and possibly even get some sheep in partnership with a friend. So I'll be keeping fairly busy! Oh, and hopefully blogging too!

This weekend, we're off to the Cornwall Food & Drink Festival in Truro and hopefully, we're both finally well enough to take the kayaks out!

Back to blogging...

Well, I'm back...

It has been over a year since I last posted. And in that time it's fair to say a lot has happened. The most devastating is that I lost my beloved mum to cancer on June 1st, 2010. I'm not sure I'll talk much about that on here. We are still struggling to come to terms with her loss. We miss her everyday and I suspect people think we've doing OK, which on some levels, we are. But the agony of her loss - so unexpected, so unfair has ripped a huge hole in our lives which my wife and I are inexpertly trying to pull back together. She was a truly remarkable woman, that personified dignity, grace and bravery. And to be honest, there's nothing I wouldn't give to hold her hand again.

We are still in Cornwall. So settled it's hard to remember living anywhere else really. We are getting a new bathroom and woodburner soon and re-decorating. We are very lucky to get lots of visitors! And friends have been quick to show their love and support since losing mum, which has meant the world to us. We celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary with 26 friends in a local pub and over the course of just under two weeks, had 18 people visiting and staying - it was mad but fun!

The dogs are happy and healthy. Currently curled up at my side and on my feet.

My wife works locally now. She was working in London for 11 months after we moved down. She now works for a south west organisation that does cover the entire south west (flipping large region that!). But it is better than commuting into London.

I have just given up my job! Not many people I guess would do that without another job to go to, but it was the right decision for me. I plan to write, rest, work around the house, and when the time is right, get another job.

I'm just under half way through a children's book, one of the reasons giving up work. I just didn't have the energy to work and write. I plan to finish that by the end of October... no pressure then ;)

So, that's if for now. Until the next time....