Cornish Dreamer

Little by little, change happens. It does so without you really noticing, then something big changes and it takes you by surprise.

I can't tell you some of the things that are going on at the moment. I can't talk about some of the biggest changes in my life. That's the problem when you lose some of your anonymity, it makes you feel vulnerable somehow.

What I can say is that I'm planning to relocate to New Zealand next year, that I'm going to Poland for a few days in December and that I'm doing a computer course in order to change my profession. I'm also (slowly) building a proper website for my blog and portfolio because photography continues to be a big part of my life.

For the past few weeks, we've been surviving without a fridge. The one that was in the house already had lost its gas and was, apparently, not repairable (a.k.a. not worth repairing). To begin with, we were confident that we didn't actually need one but we've had a change of heart on that.

It's been interesting without a fridge. I quickly discovered that, especially first thing in the morning, you should slop the milk around in the plastic carton before opening it. Any signs of it having gone off is invaluable (i.e. you know it's not good when the milk looks like lumpy yoghurt), because opening it without first checking can leave your stomach churning for hours.

After one too many pints of milk going sour, we got the fridge sorted out yesterday. It'll be interesting getting used to not having to check the milk before I make my morning cuppa :-)

It's raining again today, and cold too. With that and the clocks having going back yesterday, it's all too much of a reminder that winter is closing in on us. I'm suffering from sunshine withdrawal symptoms but, on the plus side, it's the kind of weather that makes you feel good about spending time indoors. Okay, so trying roasted chestnuts was a mistake (yuck), but snuggling up on the sofa to a good movie and not feeling like I'm missing good weather is a bonus :-)

Things are finally settling down now. There's still a huge amount of junk I have to either 1. sell; 2. give away, or 3. throw away. I'm not in that required "space" to concentrate on that right now, I'm prefering the classic "avoidance" approach by going out to play squash and taking the time to study for the computer course I've started. It's only when you live out of a bag for a couple of months that you begin to realise how little you actually need to get by but it's still an awful lot of effort to sit yourself down and decide to get rid of the excess.

Thinking about avoidance...I've got to get back to work. I hope you've all had a good weekend.

RT

The theme for this year, methinks, is change. I've been on the move again, this time to a little cottage on the north coast. Belongings have come out of the storage facility (much, of which, I've discovered I don't actually need so will have to sell!), and it looks like I might be able to settle down for a few months. It's a beautiful location, a beautiful cottage with plenty of space, and I'm living with my beautiful lady. :-) I am very content in this little space and time I've found.

All is going well and, tomorrow, we should even have broadband so I might be able to catch up with a few blogs.


I believe I have Becky to thank for a blog award. I am very grateful :-) I will blog more about that as soon as I can.

I've been busier than normal lately. Last week, my parents had some american visitors staying with them so they hired a boat and we all went on a trip down the Fal river. It's a river that I've canoed on but, being up high and dry, I took my camera so that I could take some photographs. Here's one of my favourites:

I love the Fal because it has such a remote feel to it. Much of the land is owned by Lord Falmouth and has been kept virtually pristine (save for the deer park). A boat trip there feels like an adventure...like Swallows and Amazons, or a trip through the rainforest (maybe I just have an overactive imagination).

It was an evening boat ride, so we admired the setting sun and watched the herons roost in the trees for the night. Afterwards, we visited a pub for a spot of single malt whiskey before taking the ferry home.

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Last weekend I found myself driving to Oxford. It took six long hours because of two separate traffic jams but when I got here, I found the place to be beautiful and full of history. Well worth the effort, so much that I drove back here again this weekend. Here's a photograph I took on a walk by the river:

I have to admit, I'm getting used to the hotels and room service (especially room service), and the adventure of discovering new places is making me feel...alive (it helps that I have such wonderful company, of course).

More soon but, for now, I've got some work to catch up on.

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Only a week and I find myself back in Brighton. The weather, this time, is exceptionally pleasant.

It feels like I've been away for much longer than a week. After I met K in London we went to Brighton; we stayed in the Hilton for a few days, and then I stayed with K for another few days in Cornwall after that. I had a very good week. But it's back to work for me now and back to Brighton for K. It felt like another world.

Today will be the first time I have to come to terms with not having a home of my own: just a room in my parents' house until I've got enough to put a deposit down on another place. It would be easy to become discouraged but I have a car so I still have my freedom. And I have my camera. I also have the memory of a very good week. :@)

Just a quick update from me today.

The house move went well, considering. I removed the last of my stuff at 12am on Saturday morning and then, on Saturday, I took the train to London to stay with my sister for a couple of days. I took the fast train but the journey seemed to drag and I spent much of it asleep!

Yesterday, I decided to educate my sister in the arts by taking her to the Tate Modern, which she found..."interesting". And then it was pizzas and movies in the evening.


Today, I'm going off to meet someone special from the airport. But I will tell you all about that another day :@)

Thank you for your comments on my vlog, btw. I'm sorry I didn't have time to reply to any of them.

RT