Badger's Hill Farm

Yes. I work here.

A change of heart

So I'm tucked up in the corner of a very nice cafe and I am acutely aware that I have totally neglected blogland for a very long time. I still read my favourites everyday but I have stopped commenting, stopped posting and generally find myself at a loss for words. What do I have to say that is interesting?

Not a lot.

BUT I thought I'd force myself to post anyway, and see if it breaks my icy word prison.

So recently I decided to move back to England temporarily to spend the summer working as a language teacher. It was a choice between this or working in Pamplona, being with my boyfriend and getting to see San Fermin. I bet you're wondering why I chose England? Well... I can speak the language here a lot better, my best friend needed me for red wine and cuddles and the salary seemed a lot better. The whole idea just seeemed more... easy.

Oh how I have learnt that 'easy' is not actually the fun option! I ended up quitting my job here after two weeks, running off to work in a little countryside farm shop and cidery and now have to somehow afford rent, loan repayments and save for future trips planned this year. I feel restless again.
The farm shop is absolutely gorgeous and my walk to work entails picking early blackberries and then rushing home to make cordial to put in my mojitos! I know it sounds fun, and it is, but I actually miss the solitude of Spain and the challenge of communication that I would face everyday. I miss the food. And above all, why did I decide to be away from my boyfriend?

Pfffffft.

So here I am. Treading the same old streets, struggling to make ends meet. If you're looking for a bargain or two you can check out my ebay (http://shop.ebay.co.uk/sallybean45/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=)
... I am selling numerous things, adding more everyday, and I have a few furniture restoration projects underway... involving really cute vintage sewing tables.

I've got crafts on the brain... I need to make some money. Maybe I'll start a little blackberry shop on the side of the road. Any fun money spinning suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Anything to stop this restlessness.

In the meantime, check out these cute scarecrows from my place of work (blog entry to follow soon)

May

An English day in May

This image makes me miss England.

My Own 'Little Known Lovelies'

Ok, so I'm probably about to commit serious bloguera crime but I have been pretty cheesed off all day.

What the fudge is wrong with people?

Basically, on a well-known blog elsewhere there was a competition to allow unknown blogs to post commentary and hopefully be selected as an 'up and coming piece of inspiring beauty'.

The winners?

DISAPPOINTING.

Just another whole bunch of girly girls writing about how inspiring a pretty picture they found of a vintage tutu is. Is anyone else completely sick and tired of reading about how the colour yellow brightened up someone's soul? Or people who simply take pictures off FLICKR and write a small comment about how wonderful and magical they are?

I'm not saying that I should have won. HEAVENS! I'm a lazy blogger with not a lot to say at the moment but at least I take my own pictures and refrain from writing tedious things about fairy dust and magical stars/inspiring cups of tea.

The kind of people that should be recognised are people who create their own pictures, prose, handmade items or delicious dishes.

So here is my shortlist for best, upcoming blogs that actually have some kind of character:

http://dear-soeur.blogspot.com/ (I think this one is private though)

http://soldierslady.blogspot.com/ (A lovely, different blog by a lovely lady)

http://mayallseasonsbesweettothee.blogspot.com/ (This lady is not up and coming. She has already mastered blog land but she is sweet, kind and honest)

http://www.littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/ (Handy and helpful craft advice!)

http://www.littleoceanannie.blogspot.com/ (this girl is SO very nice)

http://www.leaving-the-seat-up.blogspot.com/ (Amazingly witty and well-written)

http://thecuriouscat.blogspot.com (My sister and dreamboat)

http://mother-leopard.blogspot.com/ (This girl is better than sliced bread)

Tulips in Pamplona

Warming up for Photoshoot Zamora

At some point this Spring, when Zamora actually has a lovely, sunny day my friend and I are going to head out into the town and photoshoot the place to death. I say photoshoot, I'm pretty poor with a camera but it's good practise and a nice way to document the city so I can look back at it when I'm older and remember where I lived. Anyway, these were some silly shots we took when there was a window of hot weather last week...