What have I learnt?

It is now just over a year since our plans to move out came to fruition, a year during which we have, to a certain extent, had to re-invent ourselves. We have left behind full-time work as teachers, living in London and the network of friends and work colleagues, built up over 30 years of living and working there. It wasn’t a decision that we took lightly, but, a year on, was it a ‘good’ decision? Would we do the same again? And what have I learnt from the last year?

I miss London, the buzz and feel of the big city. It is, however, still relatively easy to get there, by car, train or even coach. We have still seen as much theatre as when we were living in London – mainly at the National, but have re-discovered the joy of the Bristol Old Vic and discovered the theatre in Lyme Regis- the Marine Theatre – a lovely, quaint old building. I miss the regular day-to-day contact with friends and work colleagues, but have kept up with all those who are important to me and have spent arguably ‘better’ quality time with them when I see them than before. It has been great fun to introduce them to our local area, which, for most, was previously only a county on the drive to and from Devon or Cornwall.

I have fully realised how lucky I now am to have time….time to do simple things, such as cook, spend time in the garden, not look at my watch in a queue in the supermarket. I can take more time to consider my family and friends. I now finish tasks, something which was always difficult as a teacher and I have discovered the simple satisfaction in that. I have relished breakfast sat at a kitchen table, with the writer her indoors, talking through our plans for the coming day. The ‘to do’ list is just as long, but holds no real concerns anymore – yes, I can recommend doing what we did!

Eating: A recent hankering for cake led me to seek out an old, favoured recipe from John Burton Race’s French Leave – Lemon cake, or Biscuit de Savoie au citron. It is virtually fat- free, which, along with the taste and the bubbles, made it seem an even better idea!

Drinking: Chapel Down – Bacchus 2018. Lovely, light bubbles, ideal with the above. It was on offer in Waitrose, so thought I’d give it a go!

Listening to: Still on my hunt for relatively chilled music to listen to when cooking, I am currently enjoying Ezra Collective, particular favourite songs are: Chris and Jane and São Paulo, both off the album You can’t steal my joy – perhaps appropriate given how I feel!