SEPT – Change to Autumn BLOG #4
We are loving this change to autumn, with the hint of winter in the air.
We have had 2 weeks of glorious weather; cold in the mornings and nights, and slightly misty, but really warm in the sun later, and blue skies with scudding clouds.
I notice that people here really rejoice in and appreciate whenever it's a nice day, and that is so lovely. To have the countryside so green, you have to have rain! It's the trade-off.
T likes his new school and seems to be settling in well. They have "flexi-boarding" so he's a day student, but can stay overnight if needed (like when we have to go on a trip).
Even though London is easy-access via the train, it's still an hour each way, and I am thinking how great it would be to not have to go in EVERY day!
I have been meeting with loads and loads of interesting people; all good meetings and I feel I am sowing seeds for the future, although no actual jobs have come out of all this - yet! Without exception, people have been very welcoming, open and positive.
I do feel hopeful, but it will take some time to find the right fit.
You'd love all the birds! We have the large ones:blackbirds (black-brown with yellow beaks), jays (pinkish brown heads and backs with black wings, turquoise-blue flashes and a distinctive white circle on the wings), crows and wood pigeons. Then there are many little tits of all colours, and a pair of orange-red-breasted robins who visit us every day and are very keen when I do any digging or grass-mowing.
It's all very Laurel Canyon - but a lot wetter and greener!
We don't have the wonderful lemon and orange trees in the garden that we had in LA but we do have apples and pears to be picked, and blackberries growing wild everywhere you walk.
We are often out on the heath-land, walking the dogs. It is sandy, gently hilly ground aflame with purple, lavender and pink gorse and lilac heather, with small clumps of pine trees. It is really pretty.
(Of course I get to notice and enjoy all this in so much detail as I am not working yet! Making the most of it. Now that the summer is over, I can really ramp up the job search efforts.)
It's lovely to have my family on the same time zone and all of Europe so close: 2 hours and you're in the south of France, or Spain, Italy...
In fact I am off to Paris today for a long weekend to visit my sister there and to attend a big birthday party of a very old friend.
