I CAN SMELL THE SPRING

I’ve decided to sit down this morning and force myself to write a blog post, even if it’s just a little one, because I’ve been completely avoiding it the last couple of weeks whilst constantly thinking, ‘I really must write a blog post soon’. So here it is.

I’ve been back in La Creuse for 2 weeks now, and I’m really enjoying it. I caught the ferry from Portsmouth at night time on Saturday the 4th, after driving down to Uncle Bernie’s with my parents who were going down for a visit. We had a nice pub meal there before I got very kindly dropped at the ferry terminal by Uncle Bernie and mum. I slept on the floor of the lounge area on the ferry, which actually wasn’t too bad, and got off in the morning in Ouistreham, the place I left France from in December.

I was hoping to arrive at first light but actually I had to do a bit of dark hitchhiking, which I never like, but it was okay because I knew the day was coming soon. After someone helped me to get past Caen and onto the good road for the direction of Tours, I was super lucky to get one lift who took me all the way to Potiers. From there it was an easy hitch across in the direction of Montlucon. I got really lucky that day with easy and quick lifts, and arrived here by about 3pm.

It was immediately nice to be back. Friends of Sam’s were visiting for the day, and his brother, who I met last time. I felt like I was back in a good place for me. However, for the first few days of being here and settling back in, I had a few wobbles and I didn’t know how I felt. I think that arriving here very quickly, in such contrast to being at home where there is so much going on at the moment, was quite a big change in energy to take on at once. I’m sure of this now, because I’m feeling super positive again, but for a few days I felt quite sad and unsure of myself at some points. It’s not surprising really, because there is a lot going on in my family at the mo, which I haven’t had much space to reflect on. And I think I also put a lot of emphasis on this place, and on Sam to an extent, because of the massive change that happened in me last time I was here. I think my negative feelings were just due to settling in to a new phase of the same place. I’ve had a lot of reflective time, which I think I needed, and I’m now really grateful for. Sometimes it’s really difficult to slow down and step back, but I’m thankful to have a place to do that at the moment, and to be able to get back into the swing of my own lifestyle again.

So, so far it’s been all garden work, digging holes to plant trees on the land. It’s exciting but slow, with only two of us, but we’ve finished the holes now and will get the trees from Ropato over the next couple of days. For the last week or so the weather has been absolutely beautiful, and as the title of this post says: I can smell the spring!

I love that feeling when you know spring is coming, it makes me feel like everything is possible. I am really looking forward to the year ahead. (Saying that, it’s already nearly the end of February – how time flies!).

A few days ago we went to Sam’s friend’s house to help to make beer, which was fun. We arrived early in the morning and passed the whole day there, mostly spent eating and drinking outside in the sun. It turned out to be a right little party, and we stayed until about 3 in the morning. It was like a summer’s day and I really enjoyed myself. I love being here in La Creuse and just constantly meeting lovely, welcoming and like-minded people.

I think that’s all for now. I’m going outside, in this glorious sunshine, to finish making the wire fences for the baby trees. I haven’t taken any photos yet, (because I managed to bring the wrong camera charger with me, correct one is in the post now, thanks Dad!) apart from this one of Cali; In her normal position on the window ledge, next to the poor cold little plant. I’ll post some more exciting pics soon!

Now I’ve posted this, I promise to write more frequently again! When I get around to it I’m also going to transfer my blog over to wordpress and make more of a deal of it, with more info about workawaying and more interesting writing!

Pretty soon I’ll be on the road to Italy with my friends Becky and Adam, so there’s lots to look forward to.

Happy (soon to be) Spring everybody!!