Home Sweet Home...

I cannot believe it's a year ago today (going by the day. By the date it's tomorrow) since we moved here. A year?! It has flown by.

I've been reading my journal from this time last year and shuddering at the levels of stress we were under. It was pretty full on and we did feel it but it's amazing how you just keep your head down and get on with things. There's just no other choice is there?

So a year down the line, where are we? Happier and more settled than we ever dared hope I think.

The bigggest stress of the move, by far, was the worry about Alan moving school. A difficult thing for any young person but more so for a child with Alan's level of disability and vulnerability, especially when he was moving from a school where he was settled and happy. We needn't have worried. He's even happier and more settled where he is now. Health and education services are much more co-ordinated and person-centred and everyone seems to work from a base of common sense. It's been eye-opening and extremely refreshing. And most importantly, he is happy. And if my boy is happy then I am too. Simples.

I (and I'm sure I speak for David too) absolutely love living here. Not just in this wonderful house. but in the town itself and the wider area. Everyone we've met has made us so welcome and our new neighbours are lovely.

We're about to start Phase 2 of the building work, this time to make the garden more accessible for Alan. This includes a path from the ramp from his bedroom to the Gin Palace and to the centre patio (pictured here...you can also see the ramp from Alan's bedroom). We've also come to a decision to go ahead with Phase 3 but that's a big project that will need a lot of research and won't start until later this year, possibly early next year, but saying no more about it at the mo. It will be stressful but very exciting :))

And a year since our move also marks a year since I gave up work to be a stay at home mum. Much to my surprise, despite loving my job, I haven't regretted that decision once. I do miss the daily banter with my colleagues but the actual job.....nope. Loving not having the stress of it.

Apologies for the long write up today (a pat on the back if you've read this far!) but the journal aspect of blip has become just as important (perhaps more important)
than the photo aspect to me, so please indulge me a little :)

Weather has been better than expected today so the time I spent in the garden getting this shot has been most enjoyable. Going out for dinner tonight to Oran Mor in Glasgow to celebrate Kenny's sister's 60th birthday. Looking forward to getting out of jeans and into something a bit dressier.

Have a great Saturday peeps :)) xx

PS Yes I know the patio needs weeded. A job for another day :)