A Smaller and Simpler Life: October 2019

Thursday, 31 October 2019

Missing Blogging Buddy

One of our number is missing!!

Does anyone know what's happened to Marlene … Everyday Life, I've only been away for a day and I feel like I've missed something?

I do hope she's okay and not being plagued by trolls and fuckwits again.

If you read this Marlene, get in touch … we need to know you're okay. You're an important part of the gang.

Sue xx

Wednesday, 30 October 2019

Back to Coffee

We are enjoying some wonderful weather here at the Van.

The morning walks taking us across the river are beautiful, with the sound of the river much calmer now after the deluges of last week. There are blue skies overhead and the sounds of birds singing their hearts out in the freshness of the day. As we tramp through long, wet grass and along stony paths my mind is free to wander and plan the day ... as much as my days are ever planned. The mess at home in Wales as our house is literally being dismantled and rebuilt, is temporarily forgotten about and I can pull my mind to the moment I am in.

Keeping a watchful eye on an exploring Pug with a definite mission on her mind is easy, she knows the path and loves the freedom of our daily walk. She runs ahead down the stone road that leads to the farm gate, and once I can see ahead of us that the gate is closed I can relax knowing that she will wait for me if she gets there first … and she always does. And of course she enjoys the walk even more when it leads us to her favourite place as it did yesterday.

" Are you going to the counter yet Mum, we need coffee and cake? "

Suky's wish is my command and returning to an occasional coffee after my Challenge of last week is nice. Although I must add it is never daily ... well rarely 😉

Sue xx

Thursday, 24 October 2019

A Woman's True Nature

Thank you so much for all the comments and thought provoking responses to the last post.

It seems that so many of us are on the same wavelength and very similar journeys, and lots more are on a similar path, still on their own journey and getting there in their own time and in their own way.

As women, or indeed just people we can be invincible once we 'find' ourselves ... and may your God protect anyone that gets in the way!!

My most immediate journey is one back to Van Life to take me away from all the chaos and frankly quite upsetting building work.

I cannot begin to tell you how much all this stripping back of the house has upset me. The lovely paint job that is no more, the mess inside the house as plaster fall off the walls and it's dust coats anything you put down. Carpet sample books lying around, plumbers measuring for new radiators, bathroom fittings etc. Electricians expected anytime to quote for new, actually working, bathroom lights … the last ones only went in last year and have failed miserably. Basically you would need a torch to apply any makeup … not that Alan wears much. 😉

So in half an hour me and Suky are hitting the road back to the calmness of Van Life and ready to continue with my latest Challenge over on my other blog.

Sue xx

Tuesday, 22 October 2019

A Smaller and Simpler Life?

I was asked the other day about my new Smaller Life

In what way does it differ from my old 'simple' life and is it better?

Oh, it's better ... so much better.

I feel like I'm me again!!

I'm not doing anything I don't want to do

I say no politely

Then not quite so politely

Then if you won't take the nice version of me, you get told in no uncertain terms what to do

Well you shouldn't have pushed

Should you!!

I have taken back my life

And it's given me time to think

Time to get on with living simply

And for me living simply means

Recycling

Re-using

Re-purposing

Eating simply

Gardening small-ly

Sneakers and jeans

Television and books

Walking in nature

Taking time to live

Whenever it is possible

Our old duvet was re-purposed into two cosy dog beds

One thick and multilayered and covered in the softest most teddy-bear like fleece

For Suky to snuggle into and keep warm

On cold caravan nights

And the other thinner, longer and snuggly on the back seat of my car

For sleepy journeys to and from the Van.

Both seem to be appreciated.

I was never perfect

Sometimes I wasn't even good

But now that I've relaxed into me

I'm better

❤

Friday, 18 October 2019

It's Feels Brilliant ...

It feels brilliant to get my teeth into another Challenge over on my other blog. I've left it far too long between this new Challenge and my last one. Life and stuff simply got in the way, but I'm back to doing what I want to do and it feels good.

The new Challenge is called 'For the Price of a Coffee' and the idea behind it is simply to see what else food wise you could buy with the money that you would normally spend on a coffee from a coffee shop or café … which is £2.75 in my case. So a £2.75 a day spend for either one cup of coffee or three meals.

Find the beginning of it here on the Challenging Myself blog.

In other news I have just been over to the office and paid my Site Fees for 2020, so another year of Van Life coming up. If you pay as soon as you receive the invoice, or at least before the middle of November you get a £105 discount … definitely worth having so I always do exactly that.

Thinking about it that's 38 days food at £2.75 a day, more than a month of eating just for paying early!!

Coming back from the office I found a 5p piece on the floor and to quote the old saying 'find a penny pick it up and all day long you'll have good luck' I picked it up. I messaged Alan to tell him I'd paid the site fees and mentioned my little find ... "That's 5 times more lucky than a penny, go and buy a lottery ticket" he said!!

I might just do that 😃

I'm still a real stationery fiend, and just look at this lovely notebook that my Mum bought me from Dobbie's garden centre when we were there on Wednesday … it's almost too beautiful to write in.

But I will, it could be just the book for a special Challenge next year. I do like to start a Challenge in January and see how long I can keep it going for. I'll have to put my thinking cap on. If I'm missing a little bit from here for the next few days, it's just because I'll be busy updating the Challenge blog twice a day, but I will be back, promise.

Sue xx

Thursday, 17 October 2019

Gorgeous Day

It's a gorgeous day here at the Van, so after a leisurely start we went on our customary 'coffee and cake walk'. Across the bridge spanning the river where I just had to keep Suky waiting for a minute while I took this lovely photo. Then onwards along the path by the side of the fields to the Scorton road.

Suky led the way ... mention 'coffee and cake' and she immediately knows where she is going to … and in ten minutes we were there.

I don't get time to browse the lovely shop when we arrive, once we are there Suky wants to go straight to the restaurant area. Dogs are allowed anywhere at this lovely garden centre, but as it was such a gorgeous day I decided to sit outside in the sunshine.

You order at the counter and then it's waitress service, so I had plenty of time to admire the Autumn plant displays and marvel at the beautiful blue sky.

When our drinks arrived I got out my phone to take a photo … the reason for todays visit.

Any excuse eh 🤣

My new Challenge is about to kick off and this is exactly what inspired it. To see what it's all about you can nip over to the Challenge blog and read for yourself. You can't beat a Challenge inspired by a cup of coffee though can you … haha!!

Sue xx

Wednesday, 16 October 2019

Posh Wellies and Scaffolding

Sometimes you are simply in the right place at the right time and the fates have something good waiting for you 😃

My Van wellies have sprung a leak, well three leaks to be exact and all at low puddle height. Not good when you walk dogs up to three times a day most days and the weather gods have decreed the wettest weather this side of Noah's ark building days.

So I needed new wellies and knowing how downright brilliant my bog standard green garden centre wellies are back in Wales, I thought I would pick up another pair on my way past there as I left for the Van yesterday. They didn't have my size!

But turning to leave the store I spotted three pairs of these wellies lined up in front of the daffodil bulb display. One pair was in my size, well the size I can get away with as long as I have innersoles and thick socks on … which I will have for Winter obviously!!

Gulp … do I splash out and get posh wellies was my first thought.

Then I noticed these labels.

Reduced from £44.95 (who pays that for wellies?) to a slightly less teeth clenching £22.49 … maybe passable, after all they are for dog walking not festivals!!

Then I spotted this … yay my sort of price.

I quickly handed over my tenner and set off on my travels.

Behind me I had left this.

Photographed and here for posterity.

Proof indeed that we are making our house weather proof and saleable.

Oh, and the nice (but dim) scaffolding guys came back last night after their days work and relocated the leg of the scaffolding that was in front of the boiler, so Alan now has heat and hot water.

So do I but I'm in my happy place. Van Life ... you can't beat it 😄

Sue xx

Tuesday, 15 October 2019

Holiday to Sark

Where do you go when you want a simple holiday, a step back in time, with nature on your doorstep, peace and quiet everywhere you go and not too many people to bump into.

We chose Sark.

We were lucky with the weather. Sunshine and wildflowers along the lanes in October, amazing.

Rather a lot of coffee and cake was consumed ... shhh don't tell Suky!!

Walking across La Coupee on a blustery but lovely warm, sunny day gave us spectacular views, the sort that genuinely makes you say 'Wow'.

We left our cycles on the main island side and walked around for the day. After not being on a bicycle for over 35 years I had great trouble admiring views and keeping in a straight line on unmade up roads and muddy paths.

Having a delicious lunch on Little Sark once we had crosse La Coupee. Just a simple salad but served on freshly baked French bread ... proper French bread.

Then with the skies darkening, we set off to walk back and retrieve the bikes.

We spent our days walking, cycling and eating. Exploring the island and meeting some of its 660 inhabitants ... but not many of them, it's a quiet place with lots of elderly folks that keep themselves to themselves in houses dotted few and far between. We spent time chatting to the different day-trippers that came over each day on the two passenger ferries when we bumped into them in the cafe or pub. And just generally relaxing.

We got this close to a genuine Olympic gold medal on Friday night when the main Island Hall opens for a big Fish and Chip supper for islanders and visitors to enjoy.

Then after a week of rest and relaxation, we headed home via Guernsey. Stopping off for a spot of lunch before catching our flight back to Southampton Airport. It was a lot of travelling, but we both drive so it helps with long journeys.

Now we are all home as we have just picked up Ginger and the dogs from the local kennels, where they have holidayed for the last ten days. They all smell very 'doggy' ... yuk!!

The house is in chaos with wet washing everywhere, our heating system needs water letting into it and the guys that have erected the scaffolding around the house in our absence have rather inconsiderately put one of the scaffolding uprights right in front of the boiler door ... so we can't open it to re-charge the system. The hot water will run out soon as that is also losing heat, so it's home to all the usual problems. The building work on the exterior of the house starts anytime now so it's back to the peace and quiet of Van Life for me.

I supervised the last lot of building work while Alan worked away, so this time it's my turn to escape the mess and chaos ... phew. :-)

Sue xx

Sunday, 13 October 2019

Happy Birthday Suky

It's someone's birthday today.

My special girl Suky is 8 years old.

Sometimes I'm asked about her name and it's meaning. The name Suky is a derivative of Susan, and meaning a lily, the same as Susan does ... I didn't know this when I named her, the coincidence blew my mind!!

She was actually called Suky in memory of Jessie, Alan's Mum who sadly died the day before Suky was born. She loved dogs that snuggled up to you and said they were 'sooky sooky' dogs. Meaning timid and needy in Scottish terminology. Hence Suky's name is a tribute to a very special lady.