Autumnal weekend

Went for two long walks this weekend. Woke up feeling full of the joys of autumn on Saturday and decided to head out across the hills for a bit of a wander. It turned into a good 2.5 hour up-and-down hike and I only turned for home at all because I was desperate for a pee. G fancied a walk on Sunday too, so we did a shortened version of my route which included a slippery descent into the woods on the return journey. No injuries but a few startled pheasants.

It was unseasonably warm and very windy both days. I’d rather have bright sunshine and cold fingers any day, but the falling leaves and wheeling kites set a very autumnal scene.

G came home tired after work on Saturday, but he mustered some strength and we went out for a posh dinner at the bar and grill. Amazing scallop starter but the rest was fairly average. I drank a little too much I must admit, but it stopped me being bothered about the (other) drunken idiots crowding the place and shouting at each other.

We made a tipsy commitment to the big trip and discussed simplifying the plans a little. I’m worried we’re trying to cram too much in and will exhaust ourselves too quickly. We’d get to Tanzania just in time for the last treks up Kili before the long rains start, then possibly miss out on a good stretch of time in South Africa so we could get up to Nepal before the end of the season there. We may postpone the idea of Tanzania and do that separately, flying straight into SA instead.

There are just so many choices! And even though it’s a drab work day with nothing much in the diary, the thought of quitting the job seems unreasonable this morning… Had a good chat with mum on Saturday about the whole thing. She thinks we’ve just got to get on and do it. The sooner the better, so we can get back and get on with life. By which I think she means start a family. Or possibly just being settled somewhere we can have a puppy. She’d be just as thrilled with either I suspect ;-)

In a surge of autumnal housewifery, I decided we should counteract the rich excesses of Saturday night with some homemade pumpkin soup on Sunday. I made the recipe up, so I'll never be able to recreate it exactly, but it included:

Onion
Carrots
Sweet potato
1 chestnut pumpkin from the parental pumpkin patch
Garlic
Fresh ginger
Cumin, coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, smoked paprika, black pepper
White wine
Vegetable stock
Double cream

It liquidised down into the most luxurious velvety puree. It was just what we needed when we got back from our walk on Sunday.

I got cold and achey watching the rugby on Sunday afternoon. It was an important game and quite exciting, but the capacity crowd and all the tension made for a less enjoyable time than the Cardiff match we went to a few weeks ago. I felt very tired and couldn't get into the spirit so we came home and had a little snooze on the sofa watching a lovely prog about the wildlife in Mull. Amazing otters. Feeling a bit woolly headed and nasal this morning. It could just be an allergic reaction to Monday or it could be the start of a cold. Hoping to fend it off with leftover nutrient-rich pumpkin goodness this evening.

Cup fitting

The meeting this morning went fine. I was a little flushed and rushed but the audience was recovering from a big night out on the company credit cards last night so I was at an advantage from the outset. Hope I managed to get my point across although I doubt I’ll have much influence on any decisions made further down the line. Made a big faux pas of course when I didn’t recognise a senior bod name drop. Just fed up pretending I know who people are in this organisation. Maybe it says more about the senior bod and his not so high profile…

Very pleasant evening yesterday swimming with Katy and having a relaxing steam/sauna/jacuzzi session while G was working late running a Christmas Tasting. Am sure these things are held so early so people buy cases of stuff they like, drink it all before December and have to come back for more. Good ploy.

He was exhausted when he got home - long day. I made it back in time for the first episode of Bleak House on BBC1. Brought back lots of A Level English memories.

Taking the car to the garage this afternoon. There’s been a safety recall – something to do with suspension springs touching the tyres or something. It needs a cup fitting. Sounds more like something you’d get at M&S or a specialist sports equipment shop. Hope this stressy headache goes soon.

Spag bol and cinema

We didn't discuss the big plans much last night. I read a bit of Lonely Planet Tanzania while warming up the spag bol and waiting for G to come home. The more I read the less I want to go, but I suppose these books have a duty to point out the worst about places. If they set your expectations low you are less likely to be duped by a dodgy tour guide and will feel the euphoria of making it to the top of Kilimanjaro all the more.

Went to see Nanny McPhee on a 2-for-1 special courtesy of Orange Wednesdays. Emma Thompson's screenplay was pitch perfect. The pace was just right too. In fact, I couldn't pick holes in the film at all. Even the use of a vile animated baby's mouth could be forgiven for plot purposes. It did feel a bit self-indulgent to be watching it without children - a bit like a child-free Christmas day. But was worth it for being able to appreciate the tightness of the script and the warmth and whimsy of the whole thing. Extra lovin' to G for agreeing to go. He was a bit twitchy at first but was quickly bewitched. Have promised a boys' film next time featuring guns and war at least.

Developed terrible road rage on the way in to work today and it's taking a while to subside. I've got to lead a meeting with an unknown European Director tomorrow. Was feeling fine about it but when quizzed this morning about the agenda, the UK manager in charge of the visit got me riled. He said "you know - he is a director." He's obviously afraid I won't display enough obsequiousness. He might be right. I'd better go and practise.

First post

I’m not sure why today is the day, but it seems right to start a blog. I hope I’ll be able to look back on this first post over the coming months and remember how scared and apprehensive I was before I made the decision to go to the other side of the world and back with my new love. I hope it happens. But I am scared and we have both got a lot to think about before we make our decisions and buy the tickets.

G has wanted to go travelling for a long time. He has been drifting for a while and never quite got round to it. I want change and excitement in my life. Now we've found each other and are happy and see a future together, it all seems very possible to do these things.

I'd be giving up a good job and a pleasant way of life it's true, but I know the way I live now isn't permanent. I don't want to be doing the same job and living in this part of the country in five years' time. I just have strong nesting instincts and don't know how having no home will affect me.

The question is - do we jack it all in, put everything in storage for 6-12 months and head off, or do we do this more sensibly - start planning a more secure future for ourselves that includes short term trips and travels?

There is so much to think about. Or then again so little. Maybe I should just be thinking about what to fit into my backpack and who I'm going to get to look after the cat.