Monday 9 April 2012

A year ago today........

I started my blog a year ago today, so it is as good an opportunity as any to look back on the last 12 months.

To say that the last 12 months have been a significant turning point for me is an understatement, so much has happened and so much has changed in my life.

I started a blog, like most people do, as a sort of online diary, for my own benefit. It is a good way to order thoughts and keep a record of things I have done or things I have liked. I just looked up my very first entry from 10th April 2011, which you can find here. It is hard to imagine that I wrote this while I was still living in London, still with this house I now own just a dream and when I was making my first tentative steps towards a new life style and goal. One year on and it is all different, but I am happy to say, that I have achieved a lot of what I set out to achieve and that is something I can be proud of.

I was inspired to start writing myself after being an observer on many other frugal living blogs, there are so many wonderful ones out there. When I got my first few comments I was delighted, at least what I was doing meant something to someone besides myself, enough for them to read it and write a comment. What I have discovered, of course, is that I am not alone in the way I feel about modern living, my desires and dreams for the future, something I had always felt a little isolated and alone about, suddenly there were others who understood these things and how lovely that was for me.

My life has changed for the better and every day at home I appreciate what I have done, what I have got and the joy that it brings me.

So it is with some irony that today, 1 year on, is the first day of a  2 month job back in London for me, leaving my dream cottage alone for some weeks. The city that I learned to dislike so much will once again become my home for a brief while.

However, lots has changed. Being here as a 'guest' is different from being here as a resident. If I have a hard, horrible day, with all the ghastly crowds on the public transport, and just by closing my eyes I can be back in my home. Knowing that it is all still there, waiting for me makes a very big difference to my attitude. 8 weeks will, hopefully, fly by and it will be an opportunity to catch up with those friends that I left behind here, all those that thought that I was mad and tried to talk me out of moving. Well, thank goodness I didn't listen, because I was right and they were wrong!

It seems fitting that on the event of my blogging aniversary I should perhaps set out some more things that I want to achieve in the coming year 'til April 10th 2013:

This last year, I got the house and got it largely sorted out. So, the next year will be a lot about the garden. I have good plans for it, because, although I want it to be a place I can utilise to grow food, it is also to be a place I love to be in. I have a plan and plenty of inspiration. Some if it costs money I haven't got yet, but plenty of it just involves hard work and imagination - I can do all of that.

My working life, well, I have posted a little about this before, I need to get some sort of balance between what I do, what I want to do and what direction I am taking. Not necessarily any massive decisions, but I would like to have some clue about what I want in the future. Perhaps that will all become self explanatory when I have lived and settled in Lancashire even more.

More practically, I would like to have the opportunity to live, with equal financial freedom, but able to put aside a little for savings. Not everyone cares about this, but it is a long time since I was at financial rock bottom - of course that was bound to happen this year, when I threw everything I had at this house. Now It is time to give myself that little bit of security that I like. I would like to start overpaying on the mortgage that I owe, so that I can achieve that financial goal of clearing it within the next decade and develop a small emergency fund.

One thing I would really like to do, is to learn more about foraging natures larder. I have used the elderflowers, elderberries, nettles, wild plums, blackberries and wild garlic and I feel confident with all of those delicious ingredients, but I want to know more. Sadly, being away in London will make my explorations of the country through Spring, few and far between, so I will miss a certain amount of the ingredients this year, but I am sure there is more through late summer and autumn, just waiting to be discovered.

So there it is. One year on and I have loved the journey so far. It has also been lovely sharing it with like minded people on here, so thank you for being followers, thank you for your much appreciated comments - sorry if I have ever missed replying to some, I try my best, but some fall through the cracks when I am busy. I promise, I enjoy reading every single one. And thank you for all your encouraging words and advice when I have needed it. Also thank you to those whose blogs I enjoy reading so much. Catching up on them all is a lovely part of my early morning.

Here's to another year of frugality, country living and happiness.

25 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your first anniversary, keep up the good work x

    ReplyDelete
  2. You`ve certainly have managed an awful lot in one year. Something not everyone is able to fit into a lifetime.
    When it comes to foraging. Try finding some groups of likeminded folk with experience through the internet. Often there will be fungy foraging advertised in your area during autumn. This will help you to learn more about picking wild mushrooms, albei with the help of someone that can point out what`s save to pick and what`s not. Several good books are available about 'Free Food' and Living off the land from your local library. Read up and join some foraging groups to get valuable experience. That`s what I would do, anyway. Rambling groups can also be good as it gets you to see more of the countryside around you, and you will learn much more about flora and fauna through someone elses stories and experiences. Look out for adult education schemes around your area to access courses of interest, too.
    Wishing you a speedy return to your dream home.
    Best of luck with work in London.
    Will catch up with what you`ve been upto on your return.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great post Dan. In some ways we share much the same goals - apart from the work stuff as I doubt that I'll ever be able to be in paid employment again. All the other things sound so familiar to me- sorting out the garden, overpaying the mortgage( we started in February)and hoping to clear it within 10 years, which will mean a possible early retirement for J, wiping out the savings- we had over 6 months wages saved but that's all gone- spent on moving costs and house repairs. We could have increased the mortgage and kept the savings but chose not to - sometimes I struggle with wondering if that was the right choice.I wasn't any happier when I had savings, but it was nice to know that emergencies were covered. I never met my Grandad but Dad told me about his foraging in the hedgerows - he made his own herbal remedies and sounded like a wonderful man.I've foraged since I was a child - family blackberry picking, and even some mushroom picking but know nothing about herbal remedies.I wish you the very best of luck with what you want to achieve in the future, and I hope the next 2 months fly by for you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good luck with the job im going to read your 1st post now....
    x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you, I've loved sharing the year with you and I look forward to many more - Love Froogs xxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congratulations Dan, you have achieved so much in just 12 months.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Well 'bon voyage' and good luck down in the city! Hopefully you will find time amongst your busy schedule to catch up on blogland! If you feel the need for clean air and greenery, go to the parks and inhale! The 8 weeks will soon be gone and then you'll be back home - ah, sounds so good doesn't it, home.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happy Anniversary! And many more wonderful things in the year (and yearS) ahead. Can't wait to share the journey!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Happy Blogiversary and here's to the next year. I'm sure you will achieve all you set out to do and more. We'll be with you.
    Love from Mum
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Happy 1st anniversary to you! We enjoy your blog so please do keep going! :-)

    Without wanting to wish your life away for you, I hope the time goes quickly for you so you can be back at home in your beautiful surroundings. But it's good that you have a decent stretch of paid work.

    Good luck with all you want to achieve or even make decisions in the coming year. The savings is a good idea as is the overpaying on the mortgage. As soon as I can realistically afford to, I really want to overpay on our mortgage too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congratulations on your blogoversary - looking forward to following your garden progress over the next year.

    Tawney

    ReplyDelete
  12. Congratulations on all your achievements so far! Perhaps London will open your eyes to what you really want career wise, whether it is what you have done before or a whole new direction. Another exciting year lies ahead for you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Good luck in London, I only found your blog a month ago but am happy to be a new reader. I too want to learn more about foraging this year. Perhaps take this time to do some reading up on it?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank you everyone. I am still going to be blogging, even while here in London and for many years to come I hope.
    It is lovely to have such nice comments.
    Dan

    ReplyDelete
  15. Happy anniversary - you have achieved such a lot in just one year, you can be proud of yourself!

    It seems to me that, importantly, as well as making the physical changes to your life that you had planned,you have also managed to refine your own philosophy of what matters to you, and what sort of broad direction you would like your life to take. To be able to do that before you're 40 is a rare thing and I am sure it will contribute to your continued success and contentment. Well done, young man!

    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  16. Congrats on all you've achieved and being an inspiration to some many others.

    Looking forward to the next part of the adventure.

    We must have started our blogs at about the same time and I agree looking back is great.


    Sft x

    ReplyDelete
  17. Just discovered your blog today, and as a lancashire lass myself i will be following with interest. :-)Happy anniversary.

    ReplyDelete
  18. OK, I sound like a Jewish Momma here.. but I would like to see you, frugal, financially stable and courting IN THE NEXT YEAR!!!
    happy birthday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, John, you have my best interests at heart. OK, I'll add courting to the list!

      Delete
  19. Hi Dan, me again, just realized that when I sent the message to you about having disappear from your list of blogs that you follow, I wasn't signed in!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, actually, I don't seem to have received that message anyway? Well, as long as all is well now.
      Dan

      Delete
    2. No, still don't seem to be showing, ah well, no worries, you have enough on your plate!

      Delete
    3. Sorted it, don't know why that happened, but blogspot is quite a mystery to me a lot of the time.

      Delete
  20. Hey I was really happy to find your blog through another reader. I actually came across your website around 2006 (your chickpea curry is now somewhat of a staple in our house) and I just wanted to thank you :)

    http://gotthisfar.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete