I feel that although it is my right to hold onto the magic of our wedding day for as long as I can (the rest of my life, I hope), it might be prudent to write about something else that is happening in our lives right now rather than stringing you all along with the same old kinds of posts. In fact it has been too long since we had some regular posts here at the Patch, thanks to the overwhelming need to get things done prior to the big day. So, for the sake of one last little moment of reliving the fun of our big day, here is proof that Tim was more than willing to amuse the guests with his own form of entertainment...
Yes, that is my darling husband pretending to stab me with the cake knife a la psycho, while I innocently bent down to smile for my niece who was taking photos with her new camera.
But now it's time to close the lid on wedding posts (at least for now, I cannot promise not to talk about it in future when discussing ways to make a magical day with very little money!)
So what else is happening here at the Patch, you ask?
Lots of things, I reply.
Tim is looking for more permanent work, in fact he has an interview today. It is a rather exciting time because he is so incredibly suited to the care work he does that I cannot possibly imagine him doing anything else. I cannot even begin to understand how he was a plumber for so many years when his obvious calling in life was care work... he just glows with pride and enthusiasm when he thinks about work and that is all anyone can possibly hope for.
And Tim is not the only one looking for work. I have had to rethink how I am going to work here at the Patch and still afford to live. I have had to face the fact that I am not good enough at selling myself to provide an income that is steady enough to rely on. Indeed, despite applying for a role in a store I would have been qualified for thanks to my work in the tourist office, I am glad I didn't get it as selling really isn't my strong point. I cannot help the thrifty side of myself who wants to tell everyone "you could get this so much cheaper if..." Yeah, selling really isn't my forte!
But I still enjoy making things and writing this blog, and so after many hours of thinking about it, praying and discussing it with others, I realised that in order to continue at the Patch I needed a proper income to relax my obsession with financial security. By doing so I will be able to devote happy hours full of inspiration and goodness into this space, rather than having to plan it around potentially profitable ideas.
But the job must be right... it must be part-time only and something I enjoy. Hence my current application for a learning support assistant at the local college with is not only part-time but also term-time only. I have experience in the field, I love the work, and it would be ideal as a compliment to my work here at the Patch. So fingers crossed, everybody.
And then there's the house. I don't believe I have shown you much since this first batch of photos were taken when we first moved in. That is because we have been so busy with wedding preparations we haven't had chance to completely sort the house out. Each week we throw a few more bits out (or donate them to charity) and work through the piles of possessions to decide what we really need to keep and what is just stagnant energy. We're getting there, slowly but surely, and an extra boost came with our wedding gifts...
You see, we asked for money and gift cards rather than actual gifts, leaving us with a wonderful amount of money that, when spent wisely, is enabling us to buy a new wardrobe and chest of drawers for the bedroom, another bookcase, a nest of tables, a new hoover, two glorious rugs to keep our feet warm in winter, and some luxurious egyptian cotton bedding (plus a throw or two). The excitement in our house is palpable and for a couple whose furniture mainly came from hand-me-downs the chance to choose something from new is beyond exciting.
That isn't to say we don't appreciate the furniture we have been given, as we do very much so. Our house would have been very bare without the gift of a dining table, sofa and welsh dresser. Our guest bedroom would have an airbed rather than a divan and a camp bed. And our books would be stored in boxes without the two massive bookcases from Tim's parents. We are incredibly lucky, but we still get excited about being able to flick through catalogues and window shop and know once we choose an item that is perfect for us we can actually buy it.
So these changes are good. With luck, this blog will soon be brimming with far more posts on how the house is becoming a home, how I recovered the sofa, how we planted bulbs for the spring and created a mini-veg-patch and also some cool ideas for Christmas. Change can be scary, but it's also exciting, don't you think?
Please do keep your fingers and toes crossed that all goes well with Tim's interview and my job application.
Until next time...
Amanda S xx
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