It’s been a while since I have posted here. In fact, it’s been nearly a year …

I couldn’t put my finger on why exactly it’s taken me so long to write. The easy answer is: “because I’ve been busy”. But everyone’s busy. I think mostly it’s because there has been so much new in my life over the last year, and you need to be paying attention when new stuff is happening.

But now it’s time I brought things up-to-date.

• We both have found ourselves navigating our new nuclear and extended families.
• We are enjoying the (very old) house that’s become our new home.
• We are both first-time gardeners, learning how to care for an acre of orchard with lots of old fruit and nut trees, as well as a vegetable garden that’s doing its best to recreate the Day of the Triffyds.
• We are both working on new career paths. In my case I’m enjoying working on a fascinating software project with a client who’s also a good friend.
• More than anything, we are making a habit of falling in love with each other anew every day.

Are there downsides to life in the countryside? A few … but nothing you can’t easily accommodate. The local supermarkets have a very limited range of out-of-season fruit and vegetables, and a narrow selection of meats and cheeses at any time of year. But we’re focused on enjoying what’s actually in season, and looking forward with anticipation to what’s coming along in the garden. And even here, it’s possible to obtain more interesting meats and fish: you just have to catch them yourself!

With summer vacations approaching, I’m now able to contemplate my first proper holiday in a couple of years. It’s a different dynamic, working for yourself. Every day off work is a day without income, and the only job security is a belief in your own ability to create value for others. It will be nice to relax for a bit, this summer, and to enjoy together the results of our hard work since moving to our new home in early September.

Looking back on the past year, I think perhaps blogging had become something of a solo pursuit. It was “all about me” for a while there. So it has taken me some time to found my voice again, as part of a new “us”.

And speaking of “us”, yesterday Nicole agreed to marry me. Which makes everything complete.

Now, as I was saying …