As a child I answered the question “What would you like to be when you grow up?” with ” A nun, a stripper, pop star or a writer.”. I was puzzled by the amused responses to my ideas for my future. For one reason or another I didn’t actually go down any of the other career paths. Whilst I wouldn’t say no if I was offered a recording contract, here I am writing and loving
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As a child I answered the question “What would you like to be when you grow up?” with ” A nun, a stripper, pop star or a writer.”. I was puzzled by the amused responses to my ideas for my future. For one reason or another I didn’t actually go down any of the other career paths. Whilst I wouldn’t say no if I was offered a recording contract, here I am writing and loving it!
After a 10 year career teaching young children in intercity schools in England, a combination of health and family needs have led me to spend the last 15 years at home. It’s not easy being the CEO of a busy rural household of one husband, three boys, 14, 10 and 5 years old, two dogs, one ancient cat, three rabbits, chickens, and a goldfish. It is rare to have them all cooperate at the same time, leading to various degrees of chaos. I have been known to mutter sarcastically” thank goodness I had a good education so I didn’t end up in a dead end job“ as I carried out my repetitive household chores day in day out. Then I realised my education and experiences gave me the skills, outlook, choices, values, way of life, and opportunities to express myself and make a difference in my home and community. I am grateful for my gifts of determination, divergent green thinking, sense of humour, a busy brain and love of writing.
The past few years have also been busy with designing and building a new family home in our 1/4 acre back yard. I designed two houses with the help of an architectural technician, hoping to sell one building plot with detailed plans to fund our house build. I eventually traded a building plot with a local builder in return for a house build – a mutually beneficial deal during the recession. Research led me to favour using new eco-friendly principles, within financial constraints, with materials sourced locally where possible. The majority of our furnishings are 1960/70’s second hand/ up cycled, searched for at auction and local selling sites. Our new home complements my long developed habits of shopping locally, at farmers markets, local butchers, a weekly seasonal veggie box delivery, and eating our own chickens eggs when they are in the mood to lay them. I love searching for good quality second hand clothes and accessories. I can’t remember the last time I bought them new. I love trading, hand me downs and making things myself. I also try to shop ethically preferring businesses who treat their producers and staff fairly. I am always learning. There is so much more I could do, but for now I do my best. And that is as much as anyone can do!
