Thursday 12 January 2017

Hello Again!

Firstly a belated Happy New Year and I welcome the New Year to a new me with short hair instead of long and optimism instead of pessimism.

2016 was a stressful year full of up and downs where all that I knew before was turned upside down and my outlook on life was given one hell of a shake up.  But with that came a strength and a realisation of what is important and what is not important.

So here I am over 2 stone lighter having shed the living in Spain weight with the help of Slimming World and a new haircut to give me the lift that I needed.

I did not realise how long it had been since my last post but maybe I needed that time to come to terms with all the events of the past few years.

So I am living in a beautiful village, with a lovely little house that is perfect for what I need.  I have finally finished registering locally for all the health bits like doctors and dentists, vet and have, of course, found a hairdressers within walking distance to where I live.

Freddy, my little dog, loves his walks around the village and has even started to get used to the occasional gunfire that we hear in the distance.

I have joined a local Slimming World group where I have found not just the incentive to lose that extra weight but new friends that have made me feel settled within this area.  I feel like I belong, it feels like home.

It took a while (and a visit to London) to realise that working remotely from home in the UK is preferable to commuting and I certainly don't miss the early rising and late returns!  Right now as I listen to the rain on my 'office' roof I am thankful that I don't have to trudge to the bus stop or station and sit in wet clothes for the next couple of hours (or more) as we battle our way home.

When going for a meeting in London just before Christmas I realised that work clothes no longer exist in my wardrobe and although I managed to pull something together for that day the thought of trying to find clothing for a whole week would have been impossible!  In fact a position became available and I was asked whether I wanted to stay as I am or to take on that position.  I thought for a moment or two and then said no thanks!

Yes it has taken a while....

But I realise that I am lucky.  I have everything I need right here, and I am grateful.  Grateful that I have been given a second chance.

So all I can say is thank you!