Nonetheless, I am stating my intent to resume this blog, as writing is as much for the writer as it is for the reader.
What can I share in recap of the past four months? I could make all sorts of excuses for not posting, but then they would merely be excuses. It's certainly been a chapter with considerable ups and downs.
On a high note:
Summer was lovely in Cumbria. There are those who might complain it was too cool but I have loved every minute of the weather. Coming from Kansas, where this summer they experienced record breaking triple digit heat for over 50 days, I was most grateful to keep cool in temperatures ranging from 60s to occasional 70s. I even managed to get a sunburn one afternoon!
I enjoyed a journey to Hilltop Farm ... the home of Beatrix Potter. For those who don't know, she was an extraordinary woman ... much more than the wonderful author she is best known as. As a Conservationist, she bought quite a lot of land in the beautiful section of Lake District she called home, and left it to the National Trust upon her departure. For me, this visit was extra-special, as I have fond childhood memories of my grandmother and mother reading Peter Rabbit tales and it was lovely to realize that even the illustrations in those books were of Ms. Potter's actual home and farm which have been lovingly preserved to this day.
I am still working on mastering driving here in the UK. I have finally turned a corner in my confidence (I actually have a measure of it now), but still struggle with some of the maneuvers and a few of the required procedures (such as looking certain places in a certain order at certain times when my long experience and natural habits wish to override or do things in a different order!). I have confidently tackled narrow roads and negotiation of traffic jams including but not limited to oncoming cars on roads wide enough for one, sheep, cattle, cyclists, pedestrians and sometimes all at once. Driving in Cumbria is never dull!
I've met some wonderful people (some of whom are other expats to whom I will be forever grateful for reaching out in this transitional time). Through my husband's involvement in politics, I had the distinct honor of attending an event where I was able to meet the British Prime Minister, David Cameron.
In all, I'm keeping busy enough ... a far cry from my first harsh winter here before driving and knowing very many people!
With the good, as with much in life, there is always some not-so-good. Unfortunately, I have suffered some set-backs in my health, and am facing another surgery. Nothing I want to go into detail about, but I am hoping that time will enable me to improve overall so I can fully embrace this amazing journey. On the up-side, perhaps having to spend some time recovering will enable me to keep in better touch with folks back 'home', and to write more!
If you are reading this, thank you for hanging in there with me. As we are fast approaching one year since my arrival in the UK, I can only wonder at how it has flown by, and what a difference a year can make in a life.
Watch this space, and see you soon!
