Good afternoon. 'Tis a happy guest post by my friend Nicki from somewhere across the pond. And if you click your heels three times, you just might find yourself in the sunny Piddle Valley, eating a jellied scone...
-British Bee
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I’m Nicki of thecherryblog writing to you from sunny England as part of The Lil Bee’s Stimulus Package. Many thanks, Melisa!
I am currently unemployed after having the worst two years. Ever. I lost a job, then panicked and took one that I hated, had two operations, then a break up, then a car crash. Sounds like a bad dream!
I was living in Buckinghamshire, England, (not the Palace, unfortunately) on the outskirts of London, and when life fell apart, I did as many people would—I went home to my parents for refuge.
I now live in a cottage in The Piddle Valley, found deep in the English countryside of West Dorset. It’s next to Puddletown (yes, really) and a year ago would have been the last place I could survive. No Starbucks, no fashion stores, and if you wanted to catch the bus to the nearest town, you had to telephone it to come and pick you up (?!).
However, at a dark time in my life, instead of feeling like a failure, I found myself welcoming the peace of outstretched green fields, elderly gentlemen who say ‘morning’ when you pass them on the road, and quaint village life alongside my family.
I now have a clearer mind, a wider smile and a sort of inner peace I had long forgotten, and feel ready to embrace life as a freelancer working from home.
A job is not who you are, it’s what you do. And sometimes it’s true, just like Dorothy said, there’s no place like home.
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Here are five things I love about where I live...
1. A Dorset Cream Tea is rivaled by no other. Gingham tablecloths, china teapots, clotted cream, jam, and scones.
2. The Piddlehinton Annual Fete, with traditional cider, brass bands, and a rubber duck race on the River Piddle.
3. Our local cinema ‘The Plaza’ opened in 1933 and still stands in its Art Deco delight.
4. The Dorset Light and the way it falls on our home in the mornings.
5. The 13th Century St. Mary’s Church is my next door neighbor. I gaze at it out of my office window when I’m writing; it's where I watched my brother marry his beautiful bride.
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22 comments:
Nicki, exciting to see you doing the Stimulus Package! In these times, especially in the U.S., people seem to be flocking home to mom and dad. One of my best friends in NY can't find a roommate for her fab apartment because everyone's moving home! I took a leave of absence from my job in Sweden to come home and clear my head for 6 months. Yeah, my parents still drive me nuts sometimes, but I've been able to enjoy my city (Philadelphia) in a new way. Too often we don't see how wonderful the places we come from really are. There's so much to see, if we just open ourselves up to it!
Nicki,
The saying, "If God only gives us what we can handle, why does he trust me so much" comes to my mind. You really have handled a lot and I love that it has put you in a good place. (I meant in your mind, but geographically, too.) Love a good cream tea!
There's something about The Piddle Valley that I can't help but love - perhaps it's the thought of A Dorset Cream Tea, which sounds absolutely splendid.
i'm glad you found your way out of the darkness and into the light as they say. i'm an anglophile from nyc and think you're so lucky to be living in the english countryside. the cream tea looks fantastic. good luck in the next phase of your life. cheers!
Honestly...I find this post rather upsetting. I mean, I go through and look at all these gorgeous photos of what appears a most magical place. I put down the coffee, head out the door, spend an inordinate amount of time tracking down a pair of ruby slippers (size 14!) and now I've been here clicking my heels furiously! And what do I get? Nothing but bloody feet! What gives, British Bee & Nicki? Am I doing this wrong? ;)
Me want to go to there. BADLY!
Sigh.
(Lovely, lovely post, Nicki.)
Love this. Especially Piddlehinton and Puddletown. Is there a children's book about your home? I see a children's book in your future, Nicki! I love your reminder that a job is not who you are, it is what you do.
What a perfect post for me to read today. After turning down one job, and having a proposal of mine turned down, I was starting to slide into an ugly place, but then I read about Piddle Valley next to Puddletown, and now I feel much better. Thanks Nicki!
mmmmmm, loved this post. love that when things get bad there is hope that it will get better. some days i really wish i could disappear into the english countryside...
my favorite thing to say about a job is exactly what you said here..."it's not what I am, it's what I do." I used to say that all the time when I was working in my job that made me so unhappy professionally. I loved this post. thank you so much for sharing it and being so honest. and now I'm heading right over to your blog.
Such a wonderful post! It seems as though we are all having to realize who we really are, and finding the simple things in life to make us happy. Never in a million years would I have found how therapeutic photography, or knitting could be had I continued to "shop" my way to so called happiness when things have been in turmoil.
idyllic!
Your hometown is so beautiful. Like everyone else I would love to click my heels and be there with you in jolly old england.
I completely agree with that your job does not define who you are.
Loved this post and getting to learn more about you.
lovely post! sometimes it takes terrible events to make us realize what life is really about. life in piddle sounds delightful.
This was a lovely post and made me smile, after. I was frowning at first with all that had happened to you, BUT i smiled in the end with your positive outlook and clear thinking. I will look forward to your writing in the future since there is no place like home and you have a beautiful home to write in.
Lovely how the Dorset light shines in your home. Great post. Well wishes from the other side of the pond.
Nicki, I love the local cinema but then I am drawn to deco buildings.
David
thanks Melisa!! and thank you everyone for your comments! Hope the post made you smile, it made me smile doing it!! it was an honour appearing on the Lil Bee as it one of my fave blogs.
Have a fantastic weekend everyone! Much love!! xx
My pleasure, Nicki. I just adore the way you see the world:)
I want to have tea right now and those treats!
what a beautiful post. it seems very lovely where you live. no noise, no hustle and bustle...just peace and relaxation & scones with jam yummy.
i'm not gunna lie though, the graveyard kinda creeps me out. i'm afraid of ghosts!
Oh, I loved this happy, inspiring post. Now I have to go and visit Nikki over at her place.
Oh goodness. I'm glad things have been a lot better lately. Loveliness all around.
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