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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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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The wedding: through my eyes

The wedding: through my eyes

It’s often said that your wedding day is one of the happiest moments of your life and I can safely say, that very much was the case for me. Adam and I have been married for just over a week now and I’m still smiling at the absolute perfection the day was.

It was over in a flash, but ever so lovely – to be surrounded by so many friends and family from both England and Australia was truly a gift.

The first of what I’m sure will be hundreds of professional photographs have started coming through (and I’ll share those soon!), but I thought today I might show you the wedding through my eyes…

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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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Badger watch

Badger watch

Lots of people come to Australia hoping to see a kangaroo or a koala. For me in England it was a badger or otter. I daresay my fascination stemmed from the childhood classic, Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows, and more specifically the 1980s stop motion television series of the same name, which I can remember watching as a child. Animal people who drove cars, dressed in snappy outfits and had wonderful adventures – what wasn’t to love?!

Badger coffee mug

Adam has always had a bit of a soft spot for badgers.  He even gave me a badger mug at Christmas! The vineyard he lived at before moving to Australia was frequently visited by badgers and an allotment he maintained near the village of Cradley, west of the Malvern Hills, was near a woodland where badgers lived. His stories of watching badgers snuffling about seemed magical and he was keen to share the experience with me.

So one evening last week, we made the short journey to Cradley to look for badgers.

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