OK, it's time to spill the beans. We are planning on moving again. Rick is parting company with his employer. So we are planning to move to Yorkshire, where we have always wanted to live. It's only recently, though, that we've managed to narrow down exactly where in Yorkshire (which, let's face it, is a big place.) We've had several holidays there, and spent days driving around looking for the area we could imagine living, with no success.
Then I started looking at rail maps. Living in the countryside as we do now, we have realised that you do have to drive everywhere. This is not good for blood pressure, life expectancy or our fragile climate. So we want to find somewhere with good rail links. Looking at the rail maps for West Yorkshire, I suddenly realised that Hebden Bridge sits right in the middle of a lot of large-sized (therefore employer-rich) conurbations. I googled to find out more, and discovered it is full of artists, writers, and hippies (and apparently lesbians and anarchists as well.) I think I've found my home! Or near enough; we may need to live somewhere nearby if property prices are too prohibitive to live in HB as many people suggest they might be.
So - I handed in my notice a couple of weeks ago. That did feel a little strange, it has to be said. And I am now building my own career coaching business - slowly, but surely.
I'm continuing at art college this term, and exploring the option of switching to Todmorden College when we move. Apparently this is a thriving little centre for adult art education. I am planning to meet with them, complete with sketchbook, in December when we will be going up to find somewhere to live.
Meanwhile, we are decluttering (again!) and visiting everyone we know in the South while we have the opportunity. It will be a long trek once we move North (tho' not as far as some people we could mention ;) )