An overdue update

I recently had cause to look at our 'old' blog and thought that it had been a good way to keep a diary of what we were doing at the time.  I was amazed to see that the last entry was 4 years ago so here's an update: we're still in North Devon and we moved to our new home 2 years ago from 'Chamings'.  The decorating and DIY are definitely taking second place to the garden which although time consuming is one of my favourite places to be, I can't take any credit for our cherry tree in our front garden  - it became a favourite for local photographers. Pete

Love the place, but never thought we'd end up in Barnstaple!

People often say to me, 'Bet you never thought you'd end up in the Middle East?'  In fact it was no surprise to either of us we had years of planing, preparation and then 8 years of living through Arab springs in a variety of countries.  More the surprise that we ending up in Barnstaple North Devon. A area with a dramatic rugged coastline near to Exmoor of Lorna Doone fame.  The Atlantic sea is a bracing Sunday walk away from us with its  dramatic crashing waves  So many people have been for meals and to stay a night or two and I just love the continuing hospitality that flows out of our home; reflecting back the kindness given to us in other lands. But its just our home for a while with in all its quirky 18th century beauty.  Jane

Chamings Cottage

We have finished working at Gilead, Okehampton - we really enjoyed living in community with the 'students' who were recovering from their drug and alcohol addictions.  We learnt what it means to be honest with one another especially when sharing our feelings.

We have decided to move up north (north Devon), to Barnstaple where we hope to continue to work with those on the edge of society, and other things - Peter has applied to work at the local hospice and Citizen's Advice Bureau.

We feel really blessed with our new home which is a quirky fully furnished ex-holiday let; we got rid of all our furniture 8 years ago.  Our new home is an barn-conversion on Hume Farm or to be more accurate a dairy-conversion: 'Chamings Cottage' is named after Arthur & Gwen Chamings who ran the dairy and delivered milk by horse and cart.  We will reproduce a modern version of the photo in a later blog - I'm sure Jane has a similar dress!

Wild Creation calls!

We love living in the wild scene -scapes  of Dartmoor.  A few minutes drive and we are completely in barrenness and  beauty with only the sheep and wild ponies for company. Sherlock Holmes in the novel 'Hound of the Baskervilles' novel says 'It must be a wild place' and he is so right! On top of the Dartmoor Tors the snow from a few weeks past remains and looks like its staying a while longer yet. We have been living on a working farm that is also a christian community and rehab for the last 6 weeks; this brings much discovery joy and challenge. The Wilderness forays become a necessary escape to keep life in perspective, wild creation calls!

New starts - moving on again ...

I'm starting to get that lump in my stomach again, and its not to do with too much celebrating at Christmas; we are on the move again.  Its all good, new and exciting; the jobs are exactly what we what and where we want to be (amazingly).  I just need to find a big dollop of courage to pack up and start again.  I may be also being a little 'over dramatic' as really we are just moving from North Devon to Mid Devon its not quite like flying back to the 'Middle East' as we have done so many times before.  We are moving to Okehampton to work and live on a farm with people who are learning to live without dependence on drugs and alcohol.  Its an exciting place (we have done some taster days) with some incredible people learning about faith, trust and brand new starts - a great theme at Christ -mas time.  Jane

Party popper Birthdays!

One of the brilliant things about living in the Uk again is that we can  now attend all the family birthdays especially the big ones like Brenda's 80th, auntie Margarets 70th, Philips 21st and many more in November.  Now we can crouch in darkened rooms clutching party poppers and then emerge on mass to 'surprise' our elderly relatives.  When we were living in the 'middle east' we would be on the end of somebodies skype phone, so we could be actually 'at' the occasion but not present in the flesh.  Being present is definitely the better option. Pete and I at the grand old age of 56 years  have all four parents living and relatively well for their ages. As we relocate to Devon, spending time with then has become a special occasion, a time to appreciate their latter years, and anyway at 85 Wallace ( Pete's dad)  can still make a mean Cottage pie with 5 types of veg followed by a delicious apple crumble- not to be missed for the world!   Jane

Moving South

Some people hire a removal lorry or rent a van to move house but we just used our small Skoda Citigo.  We managed to squeeze a couple of suitcases and a few bags into our little car and so after 14 weeks of living out of our suitcases we finally unpacked.  We're staying in a small, lovely, holiday cottage in Devon for three months so that we can reflect, relax and recharge and generally have some time out.  The north Devon coast is already proving to be the ideal place get some late-summer fresh air, although that may change when the winter gales start blowing in across the Atlantic.  But after dry and dusty Cairo a few walks in the rain will refreshing in more ways than one.  Peter