A long hiatus

Yes, it's been longer than I can even think about since I last blogged. My life has taken another turn of events and I apologise now that this post may be a little long, a little rambly and there may even be a healthy smattering of photos!

I left my old job at the end of January and much as I was sad to say goodbye to the people, I wasn't sad to leave the company - it was definitely time to move on. I started my new job at the hospital on the first day that the UK was covered by its worst snow in 20 years! I think it took me nearly 2hrs to get to work for my induction and they were very kind to us and let us go by about 2.30 in the afternoon. I've been there for 5 weeks now and am working with a great team - the other HR Advisors are all very experienced and have much knowledge between them. I'm sure I'm going to learn lots from working alongside them. I've been involved with a few of their cases and eventually I will have casework of my own. I think I'm going to like it :o)

About 3 or 4 weeks ago, my sister, who works as an administrator in our church office, emailed me at work to tell me about some accommodation that was going to be advertised in the weekly church bulletin and that she thought it might be suitable for me. It was a little further from work than I had wanted, but looked nice from the photos my sister sent and she arranged for us to go and see it that evening. It's an unusual setup, to say the least. The owner, Mary and her husband, spend most of the year out in Madagascar, working for a Christian organisation and are abroad for 4-6 months at a time. They own a big cottage in the Sussex countryside, in a very quiet and peaceful village. Mary's husband (a builder) has extensively renovated the cottage in the 20yrs they have been there. Next to the cottage is a large building, which was originally some outhouses and a few years ago, they totally renovated them into a studio house for their daughter to live in, who subsequently went off to uni 200 miles away and decided she didn't want to live in it. They then began letting it to help pay the bills whilst they were out in Madagascar. The deal is that all bills are included in the very reasonable rent and the tenant also feeds their elderly cat - Joy. Joy is 18, going blind and deaf and is very sweet. The tenant also needs to make the main cottage look lived in - turning lights on & off etc. I went to view it and fell in love with the place, so just a few days ago, I moved in and here I am!

This (l) is the studio (the taller part at the front is a garage) and the strange black stuff on the ground is covering vegetable patches. There are many fruit trees in the garden (which I also get to use) and I can help myself to as many fruit and vegetables as I like!

(r) An inside main view. There's also a separate bathroom and LOTS of storage areas, even for all my stitching stash! The pink and blue throw on the chair is made by the villagers Mary teaches crafts to in Madagascar.

So at long last, I have a beautiful little home of my own. It's early days yet and I'm still settling in, but I'm looking forward to being here all through the lovely summer days coming up.

There has been a smidgeon of stitching going on, but hopefully when I'm more settled, there will be much more! I finished another page on Snow Princess & the Polar Bear:

and there's even been a tiny bit of progress on Midnight Hunting (I finished off the lower part of his wing):

That's it for the moment I think! I will attempt to catch up with blogs over the next few days and my apologies if I haven't visited yours in a while. Have a great weekend folks!