Halloween - better late than never

I decided to have a children's Halloween party in the pub.  It went quite well.  We had bat shaped cookies (which I had been up half the night baking) for them to decorate, flying bats to make and ghosts to make.

These were so simple to make and the children seemed to enjoy making them. Take a square of white material, thread elastic through the middle and knot it.  Put a ping pong ball underneath the elastic and tie with some rafia.  Add eyes and away you go.  Very simple, quite effective and happy children. 

Culture Shock

Autumn is here, winter to follow and my first Christmas this far away from family. 

Roaring fire in the pub and one in my flat - turns out just as well.  There's no direct gas supply here, no British gas pipes under the streets (no real streets, just small closes and 2 mains roads).  Today I discovered what happens if you don't keep your eyes on the gas storage in the garden - no heating and no cooking in the pub. 

Tomorrow is visit day from mum, can't wait to go shopping in the warm!

The gas has been ordered, the fires are roaring - it could be so much worse. Think I really am beginning to love this country living.

Just because its beautiful

What on Earth

So, life in the countryside has its appeals, the quiet, the gorgeous views. It has its downsides too, especially missing my friends - but that's only to be expected.    Hopefully some will make it up here for visits soon. 

This morning I was awoken by a loud bang, followed by another and another. The alarm hadn't gone off so it wasn't someone downstairs in the pub.  Willow cat was not impressed and retreated under the duvet to avoid the racket. 

It was then I remembered I'm living near Kineton Base. Bomb disposal sure is a noisy business. 

Dibbs

So, starting to get settled now and have a few bits and pieces to share with you.

The village is quite small and everyone knows everyone and their business, except for me. I learned one evening just how different things are up here.  It was a very quiet night, most of the regulars had been and gone.  Innocently I chatted to a chap at the bar when I heard "you  can't talk to her like that - we've got dibbs on her".  

I'm guessing that they didn't mean the ice cream and  were referring to Dibbs as defined in the Urban Dictionary.

Sometimes a girl is just too lucky hey!

Lets get this started.

So 3 months ago I accepted a job offer and moved my life from the bustling centre of Reading to a village in Warwickshire.  

I was uncertain as to what I would find when I moved, my interview had not been at the pub, but it was a new challenge and I had to take it. 

I moved from being 10 minutes from the Oracle shopping centre to having a 2 mile trip to the nearest corner shop.  All there is in the village is a pub (my new home), the village hall and fields of sheep. 

The change has been a bit of a shock but also amazing.  This blog is my way of sharing with you the wonders of my new home and the folks that live up here.