The Year is coming to an end

2011 is coming to an end and what a year it was… lot’s of changes, opportunities and chances to reflect upon...

dawn 31.12.2011

6 month ago I was made redundant from Convergys, this was difficult for me as I always saw myself as a Convergys child. It was the first company in the UK I worked for, I felt at home with Convergys, the people have been amazing and the opportunities that I have been given have been great, my personal growth was amazing and the opportunities that were laying ahead of me where great too. That all changed with the redundancies and while I was off the market within hours of being made redundant and had a new job, there is still a hole in my heart.



But the this was also an opportunity to look at my life not just my work life balance (which was shocking, I was reading and responding to work e-mails at midnight, 5am, 10pm etc was just the norm) but as my life as a whole which I would have not done otherwise. I realized that maybe it is time after 8 years to pack my bags and move back to Germany. This has been something I have thought about for the last 6 month (back and forth) and truth is, I cannot see myself raising my children here in the Newcastle area. The mentality is so much different then what I want for my kids. I know I am an odd-ball here, I don’t have a TV, I knit and sew and garden. Most importantly though I wish for my kids to grow up with their grandma and in the country and so I am thinking about moving back to Germany within the next 24 month. I mentioned this to my mom just a few days ago and she was very pleased with this. It’s a decision made for a quieter, slower country lifestyle that I so love and with my family being close.



So 2012 is going to be dedicated to plan for this move.

Quote

All Outside is dark and cold

But just beneath the earth

Sleep seeds from which new life springs

Bringing nature’s gifts to birth

– Betty Jones

Quick change trousers

A few weeks ago I bought the book Handmade Beginnings, today I decided to try my hand at the quick change trousers for toddlers. I had a lot of fun and it was the first swewing project I did. It turned out pretty good and I will keep them for my own baby that I will have one day.

Christmas

cooking Christmas Eve dinner

Christmas eve dinner

attempting a family picture

the dogs christmas

what's in there

toys

Christmas Day Breakfast - apple puff pank cake

Happy Christmas

Merry Christmas 2011 from Anja, Jessie and Lily

{this moment}

A Friday ritual Inspired by SouleMama

 A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see

The year is coming to an end

'Yule' is the ancient word for the Winter Solstice, which is the shortest and therefore darkest day of the year. It is the proverbial 'darkest before the dawn' time in our Solar year. It is something that has been celebrated throughout human history, from the Japanese to the Welsh, nearly every culture boasts Solstice rituals. This year the Solstice falls on December 22nd.
 
The ancients knew that the winter solstice was the longest night of the year -- and that meant that the sun was beginning its long journey back towards earth. It was a time of celebration, and for rejoicing in the knowledge that soon, the warm days of spring would return, and the dormant earth would come back to life.
 On this one day, the sun stands still in the sky, and everyone on earth knows that change is coming.

My mom and my brother arrived in the UK on Sunday and it's great to have them here. After all both Yule and Christmas is a time for family, so I am very grateful that they could come over. The house is starting to be festive but the temperatures are still at around 8 degrees.
We've been out for a walk this afternoon with the dogs and I took the below picture. It looks so much like spring, yet I still looking forward to the festives over the next few days