A Brighter Day
Hello friends, it’s been a hot minute hasn’t it? A notable amount of ‘life’ has happened since I last signed into my blog. Three seasons in fact; a hopeful spring, a nervewracking summer and the saddest autumn I’ve ever known. Sadly, not simply a season of the Gilmore Girls.
Once again we are in winter, and, measured by how many Cadbury’s Mini Eggs I’ve already consumed, the end is near. We’ve got this, friends. Roll on the sunshine.
Upped sticks
For 12 years I’ve been blogging from our home in Hebden Bridge. Yes, that Northern town on the telly. I’m a classic over sharer in real life so boring everyone with my life online felt pretty normal, and I did for 12 years on Mathilde heart Manech.
I’ve mentioned some of this in previous posts, but added together it sums up the reason I’ve not been present much. Polly, our Golden Retriever, had more operations on her back legs, then our engine had to be replaced on our campervan. I quit one of my part time jobs, started my RHS Horticulture qualification, and got a part time gardening job alongside my cinema job. Then before we knew it, we bought a house, sold a house, and in the middle of all this, my mum died. Suddenly. So yup, it’s been a lot.
Hebden Bridge will always feel like home to me. It’s the only place that has during my adult life. When we moved to Hebden all those years ago, we moved for the location. A break from city living, a slower way of life close to the countryside and to be a part of a thriving and creative community. Our first home we bought was beyond our expectations for our budget and we loved that little terrace, steep stairs and all. Fast forward; getting our Golden Retriever Polly and a job working at the local independent cinema in marketing (which I still work at – love it!), and well, you know the rest.
So today, on this mild February evening, you find me here. Sat on my newly bought L-shaped sofa with a cup of tea and notebook by my side. Not much has changed after all, huh? Apart from the walled garden I’m peering through the window at. Oh my.
“Build a life you don’t need a holiday from”.
The leaving part
You’ve all read stories of ‘During covid, it made me think about…’. Well a thousand apologies for the cliche, but it’s true. Our lifestyle changed. We gained an allotment and a camper van during that time and both of these gave us a new focus. Alongside working from home, we realised we preferred this new lifestyle (minus the virus of course). Less running around from appointments to meetings and gatherings. Less commuting, and instead more purposeful living.
Ultimately, my experiences with dad’s illness left a mark on how I felt about the future. Although both of my parents lived good lives (pre-illness), they never got to experience the freedom of retirement that they both deserved. It was something they both looked forward to and saved hard for. It breaks my heart that as soon as their working lives were over (dad had to come out of semi retirement due to Alzheimers) they both became ill.
The kind of lifestyle we wanted for the future and the space we were craving sadly came with a high price tag in Hebden Bridge. Even if there was a suitable property in the neighbouring towns, it would mean competing with so many other people that wanted the same thing. There simply isn’t enough affordable houses. But we knew if we were to leave Hebden, it would have to be for a very special property. More on that soon.
Future of Sow and Roam
Back to the blog, I think it’s the right time to start writing again. I’m just not sure if that’s on here yet. I’m needing a creative outlet and at this time in my life, I feel that writing will be good for me after mum’s passing. Get out all the ‘feels’ and all that jazz. But I’m also craving that community aspect of old school blogging, so I’m thinking of starting a substack, and building upon that (newsletter). I’m hoping the cool kids will take me in over there. Put in a good word, would ya?
I’m pressing pause on my part time RHS course whilst I’m navigating this new life, so the walled garden will be my learning place for now. I might even do some vlogging on that. Distractions, folks. Fantastic horticultural distractions. You can find me on Instagram and TikTok for now if you fancy a nosey at our new gaff! On the list this weekend is to clean our greenhouse. Yup, I HAVE A GREENHOUSE!
Anyway, how rude of me. How’s your winter going? x
