Cumbria

Dreaming of blue mud

January 12, 2021 By Ellen Leave a Comment

When I think about mud, I know that it is the inevitable consequence of the nourishing rain meeting hospitable soil. I think about mud quite a lot… being here. I don’t blame the rain. Not at all. Its occasional parade pandemonium comes with a silver lining: snazzy raincoats, lush landscapes and that smell. But the […]

This time last year…

December 3, 2020 By Ellen Leave a Comment

This time last year my house looked like this. Today I find myself doing yoga on my warm concrete floor and, from a downward dog, considering the fluff under the new sofa. Did I marvel at the progress and ponder the nature of patience? Nope, I wondered whether or not a robot vacuum cleaner […]

Home fires

November 26, 2020 By Ellen Leave a Comment

Well, we’re in. And I love it. The way the fire reflects in the floor… The view over the field… (ignoring the builders’ portaloo) The warmth… The feeling of landing…. Of course, there are boxes everywhere. And stuff inexplicable things that I can’t get rid of. But it’s home.

Distractions on the way to the end of the tunnel

November 14, 2020 By Ellen 2 Comments

It’s weird. The past 12 months have seen so many frightening and monumental things – firsts, lasts, and who’d have thoughts – yet, now, less than a week from what I hope to be a finishing line and I’m scared. Our new house is nearly finished and (everything crossed) there are no more obstacles, delays […]

The tooth, the (no longer) whole tooth…

September 13, 2020 By Ellen 2 Comments

There’s a sort of ‘finding’ feeling at the moment. Finding my way home, finding my way around, and finding myself again. All of which sounds a bit navel gazey, but suggests there might be a little more time in my life for gazing in general. Which is a good thing. Meanwhile… What’s that? Oh yes, […]