Where have I been?

So, it's been a long time since I've blogged.  Give me a moment to just dust away the cobwebs...

We've been in the Cotswolds for seven and a half weeks now.  I am working very hard at stopping saying "...back in Kent..." and I think I'm getting better.  The good weather is transforming our experience here, letting us fully appreciate what an awesome place this is to live.

We took a fabulous vacation to Texas - it was wonderful for our kids to get to play with their American cousins, and good for the grownups to see the extended family, too!  I ate enough Mexican food to stifle any and all future cravings (possibly... we'll see), did plenty of shopping, and indulged the kids' passion for Cars memorabilia (mostly to make the flight home a little easier).

Having discovered Burford Garden Company, I have been busying myself in the garden, figuring out where the sun shines (unfortunately, mostly on our driveway), where it doesn't (plenty of places to sit outside in the shade) and plan appropriately.  I'm experimenting putting in a flowerbed in a little sun trap using a no-dig method, so I can put in a little cutting patch for fresh flowers this summer.

I asked C to buy me three Sunday papers today.  He got home and excitedly asked if we were going to lounge around reading with cups of tea. 
"No," I said, "I'm going to put them on the grass, get them wet, and cover them with manure."
"Can I keep just one?"
"No.  But keep your chin up.  At least you don't have to do anything with the manure."
"Good point..."

Also exciting, I am getting back in to running and yoga (again...).  We're not too far away from the Oxfordshire Way, so I've been following the "couch to 10K" programme (not run since Christmas, really) and went to my first yoga class since we left Dulwich last week.  Still considering running clubs - sadly no Ladies Joggers 'round here.

That's mostly what I've been up to recently.  Apart from ginormous batch cooking sessions, which I will tell you more about soon...