August/September

August/September

It’s hard to believe the last time I wrote here was nearly two months ago, on the eve of our little family’s departure to the United Kingdom. We had the most wonderful five weeks away and it’s only really been these last few days that it’s felt like life has returned to normal. It was one of the warmest and driest summers in England on record, which was incredibly evident in the countryside around us. The long, long sunny days though felt like a treat after a very rainy winter in Australia (it’s turning into a very rainy spring too) and certainly made sightseeing and catch-ups with friends and family easy to plan.

Whilst the trip was technically holiday, it almost didn’t feel like one. As we were returning to an area where Adam and I had lived previously it really felt like we were just living back in England again. We knew the region, the roads, shops and eateries. We picked up groceries every few days, saw loved ones on multiple occasions and returned to places we love.

These were some of the highlights…

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July

July

All going to plan, Adam, Paul and myself will depart for the U.K. tomorrow. It’s been almost four years since Adam and my last visit. A pregnancy and a global pandemic thwarted previously planned trips, so to say we’re a little excited is probably an understating it. We’ll have nearly six weeks with Adam’s family in Worcestershire to reconnect and enjoy the last month or so of what’s proven so far to be exceptional English summer…

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A frolic at the Fayre

A frolic at the Fayre

I can’t quite believe Christmas Eve is here already – with the wedding and our lovely holiday back in the U.K., the last few months just seem to have whizzed by. I spent the weekend deep cleaning the house, finishing up the gift shopping and buying lots of delicious food.  Adam and I welcome my parents and brother this afternoon and we’re looking forward to spending some one-on-one time with them all over the coming days.

I sometimes think the build up to Christmas is more lovely than the day itself – am I the only one?! You’ve got time to ease yourself into the festive spirit and special moments manifest themselves when you least expect them.  This year I got to experience the pre-Christmas buzz in both Australia and England, so today I want to take you back to early December – when trees were just being decorated and lights switched on and Christmas markets were in full force…

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The mini-moon

The mini-moon

Adam and I talked at length about what we wanted to do for our honeymoon after our wedding.  After much discussion, we decided to eschew from a more traditional fortnight getaway, in favour of a short mini-break.  Our time in England was limited and we wanted to make the most of being able to spend time with family and friends.

So less than 24 hours after we said ‘I do’, we jumped in the car and headed for a cosy little apartment in rural Herefordshire…

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Hill walks

Hill walks

Adam and I are now on our way back to Australia after the most wonderful month in England, celebrating our wedding and spending time with friends and family in our U.K. home of Malvern, Worcestershire.

One of my favourite parts of living in Malvern was the town’s proximity to the Malvern Hills and I probably spent hundreds of hours rambling upon them during our 15 months in England. Quite a few of the guests at our wedding spent time in Malvern with us prior to the big day and I was thrilled to be able to share the hills with them…

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The farm shop

The farm shop

One of the lovely things about being back in England is having the opportunity to visit the dozens of farm shops that surround Malvern.

Farm shops are usually independently run and generally sell locally grown produce and meat as well as baked goods, pantry staples like honey and preserves, as well as regional beers and ciders.  They’re like tiny little farmer’s markets dotted all over the countryside and if you love your food, they’re an utter joy to nose around…

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The suitcase guide: England

The suitcase guide: England

Adam and I fly out this weekend for our wedding in England.  We’ll be away for four weeks and while we’re both excited about our big day, we’re also thrilled to be heading back to Worcestershire to see friends and family and just spend time in our ‘English home’.

I like to take my time when I’m packing for a lengthy holiday: writing out an initial packing list, then mulling over it and refining it, so I’ve made sure I’ve got everything I need.   Like previous trips, I always try and put together a mini capsule wardrobe – a small collection of good quality basics that I can mix and match easily…

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Packing for an English autumn

Packing for an English autumn

In the months leading up to my move to England, I spent hours and hours reading and researching about what sorts of things I should pack. A lot of Australia doesn’t experience four proper seasons a year, so the concept of having both a summer and winter wardrobe is a little foreign. I was due to arrive in mid-autumn, and while I had some years of living in an area with a distinct winter and summer, I still was nervous about how I would cope with the U.K.’s much talked about ever-changing weather.

Two years on and back on Australian soil, I’m a lot more aware of what English weather is really like. It’s less than four weeks until Adam and I fly back to England for our wedding and going into this trip, I’m much more confident about what I’ll need on hand…

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