Waiting for Spring

Spring is... I want to say round the corner but I guess that it is just about here. It smells like spring, it looks like spring, but it doesn't feel like spring. It is still really cold. It keeps snowing on and off, which has never been impossible for March and April but is generally not heard of. Now the temperature is slowly going up, but very slowly. And this delightful north-eastern wind is keeping things feeling wintry.

At least the sun is shining. That gives me hope.

I'm really sorry I've not been blogging recently. I still have plenty to write about but I have been exhausted and just not had the energy to write in the evenings, or even at the weekend. In fact I'm feeling pretty tired now. However, time has gone on long enough and I am determined to get back into this writing thing. I even worked on my novel yesterday, and I have an article to write up for the church magazine. It is time to wake up because I can't wait for spring forever.

So, I thought I would give a little catch-up of what I've been up to recently, other than just dreaming of sunshine and warmer temperatures!

A Race: My husband ran the Brighton Half Marathon in mid-February, on what turned out to be a gorgeous day to be beside the seaside. The sky was a brilliant blue and the sun beamed down on all the runners. He did really well, beating his personal best, and is now more enthusiastic than ever to carry on with this running malarkey.

Palace Pier, Brighton - I was practising with a fish-eye lens.

A Hen Do: At the beginning of March I went to the hen party of my brother-in-law's fiancee, which was afternoon tea at a posh country hotel on the Ashdown Forest. There were plenty of sandwiches, scones, and cakes, as well as lots of tea. I was incredibly full and I only managed to eat just over half of my share of the goodies. It was a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

A Wedding: A couple of weeks later it was the wedding day itself. The weather had taken a turn for the worse - gale force winds and freezing rain. Nevertheless, the bride managed to stay unruffled and looking absolutely beautiful for the whole day and everyone had a really great time.

They got married in the church where her parents had married over two decades before, which was a really nice touch. The reception was at a country hotel - a sixteenth century manor situated in lovely grounds. Although some photos of the bride and groom were taken outside, the rest of us chose to stay in the warmth and just admire the view from the windows!

My husband was the best man, and he fulfilled his duties very well, keeping his brother calm in the morning, looking after the rings, and giving the expected amusing speech at the reception.

It was quite a small wedding consisting of family and only a few very close friends, but it was a great day and we all really enjoyed ourselves. I am thrilled to have a 'sister' now, and my husband and I look forward to supporting them both in their marriage.

Some of us stayed at the hotel that night. We had to duck under low beams to find our room at the end of a passageway. It was huge with an en-suite bathroom, and an extra room which had single beds for children in it! The bed was very grand with a tall, wooden headboard adorned with intricate carvings. It was fit for a king's friend, no doubt!

Other than that life has consisted mostly of work, volunteering, and trying to stay warm! We've also celebrated my brother's girlfriend's 21st birthday, gone in search of a mine (yes, it is as random as it sounds), managed a few chilly walks on the Downs, and tried to enjoy playing in the snow on the days when it has settled thickly. Life continues to be busy and full of interesting things, but I will not be sorry to see a heat wave soon.

I hope that this has now marked my return to the blogging world, and for those of you who follow me, thanks for sticking around, I appreciate it! :)

Bye Bye Summer

It's always funny when the youth at church ask me how my summer was. They've just had a couple of months of glorious freedom and they think that everybody else has had the same. Bless their cottons. At least they've all got a few more years of education until reality bites in the future. Oh how I miss those long summer holidays.

Summer has been just like any other time of year for us, only slightly, and I mean slightly, better weather. Life has actually been so busy the past couple of months that I haven't had much time to sit and write down stuff or even time to think vaguely about potential blog posts, so I thought it was time for an update on my 'hectic' life:

Jobs 
Work has been dominating my life somewhat recently. It is a very long story, so here is the short version: I am going back into full-time work next week. I will still be working for the same organisation in the same department, but I will be in a different team and based in a different office.

It was my last day in my other role on Wednesday and it was lovely. I provided lots of yummy cakes of course, and the team presented me with a gorgeous bunch of flowers and some great presents, including framed song lyrics - a variation on Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - based on my time there. It was awesome, and I was incredibly touched.

I am glad to still be part of the same department as I will still get to work with these guys, but it won't be quite the same. I will definitely miss them, and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to be part of such a great team after the misery of my previous job.

Writing
Going back to full-time work does not mean I will be neglecting my writing, but I will miss having those two days a week at home. However I have learnt a lot about myself, about my technique, my working style, and my discipline, by having the opportunity to work at home. I still believe wholeheartedly that I am meant to be a writer, but I understand much better now that for me, writing a novel is a long process, and that isn't a bad thing. I am also more determined than ever to complete it, and to continue with future projects, because I know that I have what it takes.

In non-fiction news I have been commissioned to write two articles for a new magazine that our church is producing for older members of the congregation, especially those who are not always able to attend services and may feel out of the loop. Having already seen the work our associate minister has put into the design etc, I am really excited to be contributing to it.

Health
My husband and I have just joined the gym. My husband has been going running several times a week, and has really benefitted from it. He wanted me to join him but I hate running. However, I knew I had to do something. I have a tendency to put on weight around my tummy, and therefore well-meaning people have been making assumptions that I am pregnant when I am most definitely not. It makes me feel really rubbish to be honest.

We eat a pretty healthy diet (low carbs, lots of fruit & veg, very little processed food etc), but it's not enough. So we've joined the gym and have both had successful inductions with our assigned personal trainers. I am hoping to improve my overall fitness and tone up a bit, and will also be visiting the pool as I I really enjoy swimming. Currently my upper arms are sore thanks to the chest press, but no pain no gain right?

Social Life
Who doesn't like having a social life? I love having lots of events to go to, and spending quality time with friends and family, but on top of that there are the preparations for upcoming social events such as my mum's 60th birthday in October. My dad and I are throwing a surprise dinner party for her with a diamond theme. I'm really enjoying planning it, and have been busy making reservations and invitations.

Throughout the summer we made the most of any weekends when the sun was shining to go on adventures. We've had several long walks in the countryside, been paddling in the sea, and have even managed to catch some rays in yet another disappointing British summer weather wise.

Clockwise from top left: Delicious strawberries from our garden served with posh vanilla ice-cream; Mum & family friends in the Cancer Research Race for Life in Brighton; pretty roadside flowers on a long countryside walk; Pevensey Castle; monster footprints in the sand at Rye Beach; hubby braving the icy waters of the English Channel; Cuckmere Haven

So life has been, and continues to be, busy, busy, busy, but it's all good. The work situation is a lot less stressful now something's been sorted, I'm already feeling physically better from the gym (though it'll take a while for that belly to decrease), and autumn looks set to be a good season, hooray!