Saying Farewell

We've been to Zion Church in Chesterfield for what will probably be the last time.  I was fine until the last song, and then cried because it felt like the last day of school.  There are so many people there we've grown to love, including the pastor, Paul Hollingworth, but all the members of our Connect Group, too.  I will miss my dear friend Priscilla so much.
Afterwards we went to Stablemates to say goodbye to the staff and darling Marley dog.  They've been good friends to us there.  I was surprised, actually, to realise how many lives we have impacted, hopefully in a good way.  Sometimes we assume we have no influence, and that's not the case.
We've spent the afternoon packing more clothes, throwing things away and dismantling the wardrobes.  We've had a fabulous ride in the school, too.  It's lovely to be able to wear a T shirt outside in March, how often does that happen?

To keep myself motivated and forward looking, I just thought I'd write a list of some things I won't miss when we move.  Here we go:
1.  The mud.  No longer will I stand trapped knee deep in mud with an irate horse bearing down on me and my life flashing before my eyes.  It may sound funny here, but it so isn't.
2. Not being able to touch the ceiling when I take my jumper off!
3.  No one playing football outside my sitting room window.  Even in a council house, nobody expects you to put up with that.
4. People being able to walk through my house whenever they feel like it.
5.  Having to ask for haylage to be put out.
6. Having to hide in the bathroom to make phonecalls.
7. Being expected to babysit ad infinitum.  Like staff.
8. The tap being frozen when it snows.
9. No off road riding.  Trailing round the same roads over and over again.  Seeing fields and not being allowed in them.
10.  Having no one to hack out with.

So there we are.  I'll be back tomorrow, with a list of things I've got to look forward to, but some concerns, too, I think.  It isn't all plain sailing.
Back soon,
Jane x

A New Beginning

Many of you who've followed my previous blog, Chickens In My Kitchen will know that we've spent the past three years living on a small farm with our horses.  I haven't had to work, and have stayed at home all day looking after the horses, ducks, cats and chickens.
Then, out of the blue, a couple of months ago, we were told the farm was to be sold.  We were in total shock, as you can imagine.  We've been through a phase of thinking we'd have to sell the horses (Barnaby and Zak) and move somewhere nearer to where my husband works.
We are born again Christians and pray about even the small things, but this is a pretty big thing, so we got before God.   I was very brave and willing to sell the horses if that's what it took, but also cried and said I couldn't bear to part with them.
Once I'd admitted that, things moved very quickly.  We have found a house to rent and a lovely livery yard (I hope, more of that later) and move in less than two weeks.
I feel that this new chapter in our lives warrants a new blog, as we start this new adventure, and I hope you'll come on this journey with me.
It's all Barnaby's fault.  What do you do when you feel that you own the most wonderful horse in the world and you've made him a promise that you'll never sell him? 
Only time will tell...