Stepping Off

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Remember how hard we worked at Easter ploughing a furrow and preparing the ground for our raspberry plants?

Wild raspberries growing nearby

Well having nurtured them all summer – watering and feeding them and trying to protect them from the Shap weather (!) they are finally bearing fruit.  Not many as yet – as this is the first year.  Also they were  present from our lovely neighbour Alexand she bought us three varieties – which all bear fruit at different times of the season.  Some early and some later in the year.

Molly and I with our first raspberry!

Also with the raspberries we transplanted two gooseberry bushes and two blackcurrant bushes and a redcurrant bush.  These are growing well but no fruit yet.

Raspberries with leeks planted in between!

In addition we were also given a few leeks to bring on so I popped them in the ground – in between the raspberries and right at the end where I had about a square metre I planted some seed potatoes and a parsnip!!!   I am new to this and just thought I would have a little fun and see what happens.

Potatoes and parsnip doing very well – very exciting!

It is several years since I worked for myself running the smokehouse.  We used to get up early everyday – work quite long hours and mostly 7 days a week (farmers markets at the weekend).  Since then having downshifted a second time we still work for ourselves but  as we run courses and do lots of ‘bit’ jobs it is not regular and certainly not regular in terms of hours.  So….

This getting up early every day to drive into the city for jury service has come as a bit of a shock!  Whilst I am enjoying the ‘change’ of doing something different – and even quiet enjoying the routine – I am not at all sure that I could go back to being employed full time.

In fact Georgina made a comment the other day that we may just be unemployable!  Only in terms of  when you work for yourself for a long time  it might make it difficult to work for anyone else full time.

It is funny how precious time is – even when you have quite a lot of it.  I am used to having a really good work/life balance (actually the work/life balance is weighted towards life rather than work!). So being out of the house 9 hours a day is making me remember life before downshifting even though in those bad old days I was out of the house between 12-14 hours a day.

OK – looking at it that way – perhaps two weeks on jury service really isn’t so bad!

We have been asked to write a  short column for Carlisle Living magazine – and I thought I would share them with you. 

When was the last time you had fun? 

Go on; think about it… if you can honestly say that you’ve had a really great time quite recently, congratulations, you are in a happy minority!  Usually, asking someone when they last really had fun brings them up short.  It suddenly can seem that life is flying by.  Sometimes we are so busy keeping up with the pace of life, change and technology, rushing around doing the chores as well as comparing the prices of electricity and sliced bread that we forget to take time out for the important things – such as having fun. 

Having fun doesn’t have to be selfish – but it can be.  Having fun doesn’t have to be active – but it can be.  Having fun doesn’t have to be play – some lucky folk have great fun at work!  When Kath Smart asked if I would be happy to write a column for this new magazine my first thought was “that sounds like a fun thing to do”. If I had thought it would be more hassle – I wouldn’t be doing it!  I know that we can’t all choose how we spend all our time.  But I also know that if we don’t actively choose to spend a bit of time on fun – the moment will be gone. 

We timetable dental appointments and we work around other people’s schedules all the time.  If you read the first question and couldn’t remember the last time you had a good laugh, timetable some fun into your life!  Promise yourself that every month or every week you will do something that you enjoy.  Book a pedicure…  watch a movie…  Sit down and finish that book you’re reading…  Catch up with that friend you keep meaning to call!  See how you can turn everyday work or chores into something a bit more fun – or make sure there is a precious moment each day to look forward to and enjoy – you deserve it!

When you lead a hectic life and work long hours being called for jury service can be a nightmare.  However when you downshift – something like being called for jury service is actually quite interesting because as you live life in the slow lane you have more time for these things.

Yes, it is inconvenient but I am not stressed about it.  I am not worrying about work – trying to fit work in around sitting in court.  I am actually quite enjoying the experience.  Meeting new people and doing a new thing.  Without the stress – being shut in a room all day with books to read, coffee to drink and people to chat to waiting to be called to a jury is really quite relaxing.

Getting loads of reading done!

One of the great things about leading a quieter, simpler life after downshifting – is that when you do go out and do something different – it is really exciting.

We have just come back from a short break in Paris.  Fantastic – we haven’t really had a holiday for a couple of years (mostly because life at home is pretty good and when you live somewhere so wonderful why would you go away?)  But away we went….  Paris was great – but oh so expensive – 12euros for 1/2 a litre of beer – that’s £10 a pint! and the cheapest bottle of wine we saw on a menu at even the smallest of restaurants/cafes was 22 euros!  You have to be kidding!

Anyway we didn’t let that stop us – we ate lots of wonderful meals, we walked for miles and did lots, saw as much as we could.  We even got given a free ride down the Champs Elysees in a MacDonald’s rickshaw and given a free ice cream.  It was a heart stopping moment when I thought the guy was going to take us around the Arc de Triumphe in the rickshaw.  I am brave – but not that brave!

We had a great time – but as always as George says “East, West – Home is best” and she is right.  Lovely to have a break away – but also lovely to come home.  Heavens – Am I losing my sense of adventure?  Surely not!

It is just great to enjoy the simple and quiet things in life as well as all the crazy times.