Settling in

Well, I’m here.

The move went well, despite waking up that morning to a couple of inches of fresh snow. It might have been a bit dicey on the roads, and we did traipse slush into the carpets, but the tree-lined lane and the sweeping landscape around the new place was dressed-to-the-nines in elegant white.

My mum and dad helped me lug all my stuff from there to here (six carloads, gulp) and then to put everything away – a big hurray for mums and dads, but especially mine.

Fatty and Silver will be moving in on Boxing Day, and I can’t wait. I’m already wondering where they’ll choose for their favourite spots, and whether I’ll be disciplined enough to keep them out of the bedroom (probably not). I think they’ll love it here – it’s open fields for miles around.

So here I am.

I’ve just finished a beautifully written book by Barbara Feldon called ‘Living Alone and Loving It’ (I learn everything from books, so why not this?) and it’s full of diamond quotes. This one is my favourite so far, and it heads a chapter about loneliness:

We believe there is something essential we don’t have that’s obtainable. What we long for doesn’t exist, not anywhere. The ache is in the belief.

The ache is in the belief. Life is perfect just as it is. Sometimes it is more challenging to find the perfection, but perfect it is. The ache is in the belief.

Thank you all for all your lovely and supportive messages. I hope you all have wonderful Christmases, and extremely Happy New Years. I’ll see you in 2010.