Home

A home is a place you grew up wanting to leave and grow old wanting to get back to

John Ed Pierce

We have gorgeous sunshine at the moment a beautiful May indeed... it also makes me realize how much I'd like to be home right now. Home it's strange, over the last decade home has been a lot of things, home was once the US where I spend an amazing year as Au pair (well a part of my heart still things it home), until quite recently Newcastle used to be home. I can remember countless of times that I steppes out of the plane after a trip to Germany and thinking 'I am glad I am home', at some point over the last few month or maybe even year Seboldshausen became home again and I am so looking forward to going back. At the same time I know that I will miss my friends and the friendliness of the Geordie nation and yes same as the US, a part of my heart will always feel at home in Newcastle but I am also ready to go back home.

It's going to be 73 more days until the removal van will be here (just 2 month really) and I need to be ready and packed by then. I am busy sorting through everything and there just seems to much look through (what was I thinking howling all this stuff from Germany to England by car). It's strange to know that last Christmas I didn't even realize that it was going to be my last Christmas in the UK for while, stange to know that it's the last May for a while, so may last times for time being and at the same time a pull forward knowing that I have made the right choice.

{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.

Beautiful May

It seems as though summer has finally arrived, with very hot temparatures since Tuesday. This is a massive relieve as I had to take my winter coat back out for evening and early morning walks last week.

Now temperatures are in the high 20s if not low 30s and the salad that I nearly gave up on is slowly growing, as are the radish.

I am participating in the 30 day vegan workshop and am really enjoying it. I started the days with green ish smoothies since Saturday last week. I have not gone to full green smoothies yet but this is just a matter of time. The recipies I tried so far are delicious and while I will never be a full vegetarian or vegan, I enjoy knowing that I have more options for whole foods.

I have also spoiled my self recently by watching both The avengers and American Pie the Reunion at the cinema. I have enjoyed both movies and am going to try and see the Hunger Games next. Yeah I know the order is not quite right but I was not sure about the hunger games for a long time. I got all three books yesterday and finished the first one yesterday, the second today and I am just in the third. I have really enjoyed the books so far and hence would love to go and see the movie too.

Right now

I am enjoying the rays of sunshine that May has brought us. I was finally able to put the winter jacket away, It wasn't a very cold winter or even snowy winter but the temperatures were cool and it was very wet but it was unreal how long I needed my winter coat for early morning or late night waks.

I am enjoying the greens that are sprouting about, the trees getting greener, the smell of freshly cut grass and trees blossoming.

I have received my copy of Taproot today and can't wait to dig in

I am enjoying four days of work, that I take to relax and indulge in self made smoothies, long walks and some work of packing more boxes.

The move is coming closer and more plans are being formed. I will miss my friends so much but am looking forward to a more back-to-basic lifestyle too and of course seeing my old friends again.

{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

Interesting Development

Last Wednesday I informed my manager that I would be leaving to move back to Germany, talk about shock. For me it was important that they would know as early as possible about this. Being a manager myself I believe that it's only fair to give them enough notice if possible, so that a suitable replacement can be found.
On Thursday when I got in the office Tony our director approached me. I always had a lot of respect for him. From the day I joined the company he's always been very approachable and visible, I got a lot of feedback from him on my performance and support for what I needed to do my job well. On Thursday he told me that Stu, my manager told him that I was leaving and he told me about the office in Germany that the company is currently in the process of opening and if I would be interested in that. Talk about surprise :) Unfortunately the office is in Berlin and too far from where I will be moving but the whole thought process and offer behind it really threw me off. I know I am doing a good job but this was a confirmation of it that I didn't expect, yet it was very much appreciated. 


Another surprise came this morning, my cousin and family (her husband and two kids) are going to be moving to Adelaide, Australia just a few days before I will be moving back to Germany. Greg her husband is a Kiwi and my cousin spend some time in Australia before and always wanted to move there. They decided it's the best for their family and they will be missed but I totally understand where they are coming from. I will go down to London in a few weeks to see them to say good-bye and hopefully can visit them in Australia one day.

Move update - 115 days to go

I remember doing a 100 days coutdown while I was in the US and the time just went by so fast. It's the same now, although on some days I think that the move is so far away but then when I think about it, we are half way through April already. Which leaves me with May and June in the and I am off from the 26.7 for a few days and then it's moving time. Even since February, when I made the decision, time has just flown by...

I have packed a few things but not much yet anyway. The moving company is booked for August 8th and majority of the payment has been made. The last payment will be made 1st of May and then this is one less thing to worry about.

I am working on plans of what to do workwise once I am in Germany. At the moment I am looking into self-employment options that let me work from home. We will see how this goes over the next few weeks.