I'm buying a house...

Well technically, I'm not buying a house, The Boy and I are growing up a little and buying a pad of our own.

We love our little house right now but renting every month just feels like wasted money (except when it comes to changing the boiler, then it's GREAT to call your landlord and say 'Errr there's a problem).

So, most of my evenings are spent on Rightmove looking at places I can't afford. For some reason I like to put in the maximum price of £1,000,000 just for a laugh. Ha HA.

Consequently I find myself looking at:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/329888741425733839/

When realistically I'll be buying something like this... *sigh* it looks quaint!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/182606959860538862/

Sunday photo album

This week I decided to upload an album of photos here of a Sunday to round off the week and help me feel better about Mondays. Poor Monday. It's also so nice to go back through old photos you quickly forget about.

This week's album is from..... KENYA! (Most weeks will probably be from Kenya...)

Quel surprise! More specifically, we spent a day visiting seven different children's homes with a big blue truck dropping off donations of food, clothing and essentials. Such a humbling day to give to those in need and make a difference to so many people. You're left feeling like you'd love to give more but every little bit helps and if there's one thing I've learnt it's that you can't help everyone sadly...

So without further ado... Donation Day in Kenya - January 2013

Thanks for joining me on photo album Sunday! Which picture do you like best?

It's been a year since I decided to quit my job...

ONE YEAR.

One year since The Boy came to pick me up after the shittiest Monday on record.

The rain was showing no mercy.

It was dark at 5pm.

There was a huge traffic jam.

It had been ONE OF THOSE MONDAYS.

I'd had enough. ENOUGH! Life wasn't about this, there was so much more I wanted! I wanted adventures!

The Boy had an announcement for me and he didn't want to make it while sitting in a cold car in a traffic jam. I had a feeling I was either about to get divorced or in for some other serious news.

So off to the pub we went and himself announced that he was thinking of seeing more of the world at some point in the future - not right now (lest his employers happen to read this!) but in the future. This is progress.

I wanted to go back to Kenya since my quickfire trip last July for one week. I wanted to live in one place, learn Swahili and spend my days writing and making sure I really did enjoy writing and social media. So a plan was made and the very next day I handed my notice in at work.

That was one year ago.

Since then I spent the most challenging but happiest three months living in Mombasa, in my own little apartment. The Boy joined me for one month and we had a whale of a time living at our own pace, doing what we wanted.

Since coming home I've found full time employment (it started off as a contract and progressed to full time) which is a new challenge in itself. It's hard work and I miss Kenya so much that I ache some days, but I have no regrets in general. How could I regret this amazing year???

Photos that make me happy

Going mad at the Garden Centre

You know you're getting old when you're HAPPY to spend a Sunday afternoon to stroll around a garden centre with your Bezzie.

What's more, we even got EXCITED about lavender, roses and terracotta plant pots.

We did a good job I think!

My little yard is looking lovely, non? Just a shame we might be moving in the next few months!

Do you love garden centres too? It's ok to admit it here, you're among friends...

SMILE!

Someone out there would love to smile and doesn't have it as good as you do. Find reasons to smile every day!

Just saying...

Something has been playing on my mind recently and I feel like I need to get it out to see it in words...

I like myself.

Not in a conceited way, or an I-fancy-myself way. But for the first time in a looooooong time, I'm happy with the person I am and where I've come from and what I am now.

I have an amazing husband, I have amazing family, my friends are second to none and I'm in a job I seem to be good at.


I don't have a cat but I'm working on that.

I keep busy, I learn something every day, I notice the beauty in everyday things, I like meeting interesting people, I still hate going to the gym, I'm always going to be cuddly, I tell jokes, I have an annoying laugh, I have plans in the pipeline, I'm going on holiday on Saturday.

That's me right now.

I'm more patient, less stressed, calmer and generally more level headed since coming back from Kenya. Possibly because I have more of a sense of perspective and priority.

But let me just say this. 

I get along with everyone. I don't care what your age is, what gender you are, what colour your skin might be, what religion you choose to follow... but if you choose to put me down or make me feel less than the person I am, I don't want to know you. I have no reason to try and get along with you or try and make you a better person.

There are so many other people in the world who have it harder than you, you're just making your life harder than it needs to be and you know what? LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR THAT.

So there. *Sticks tongue out*