Taking A Break

I need to take some time out from blogging.  For a number of different reasons, I don't have the time to dedicate to this space in my life right now.  

For how long this will be, I really can't say.  I may pop in from time to time but then again I may not.  At the moment I don't want to go into any details as to why, but just know that this is not a decision that I have taken lightly.  It wasn't my intention to leave this space but for now I have nothing to give.

I hope to be back soon.  In the meantime I will still be about on Instagram if you wanted to pop over to catch up with me there @gemscountrylife.

Thank you for all of your support up until now.  I appreciate you taking the time to read what I have to say and for all of the comments you leave me, I cherish every one of them.

~ Gem x    

I am.....

After seeing the idea for this blog post over at A Life In The English Rain I just knew that I had to join in.  Such a fantastic idea and a great way to get to know the person behind the blog a little better.

I am... a loving and proud wife.  I may only have been married for a year and a half and yes it may have been the toughest year and a half of my life, but I'm so glad that I get to share it with my husband.  Of course we have our ups and our downs, please tell me who doesn't?  I am so proud of the person that he is, the things he has achieved and am so pleased that I get to spend the rest of my life with him.

I am... a family person.  My family mean the world to me.  They have helped me to become the person I am today and for that I am eternally grateful.

I am... a homemaker.  I'm a proper homebody, I just love being at home in my own little sanctuary.  I love to potter about, playing around and creating cosy corners and sweet little displays.  That secure feeling I get when I'm at home just can't be beaten.

I am... the kind of person who thinks it's OK to eat cereal for dinner.  Lets face it, it tastes so much better in the evening.  I've also been known to eat cake for dinner on more than one occasion too.  Hey, don't judge me.

I am... that crazy chicken lady.  Three years ago it would have been a different story.  But since rescuing four battery hens I have become obsessed.

I am... a chocoholic.  My next biggest love in life is chocolate.  I just can't get enough of the stuff.

I am... a creative soul.  My head is constantly buzzing with ideas.  Whether it be an idea for a new blog post.  Something I can make, sew, stitch, crochet, plant.  I just have so many ideas, so many that I can never get them all out of my head, which brings me nicely to the next point.

I am... a procrastinator.  I'm forever talking about doing things and I rarely ever do them.  I need to promise myself that this is going to stop.  Even if I just take one of these ideas a month and try to do something with it.

I am... a stress head.  I worry and stress about everything.  Putting so much pressure on myself to do or achieve things for no reason.  In many ways I guess this links in with the previous point.

I am... a lover of the countryside.  After moving into our house 3 and a half years ago I was used to living life in a built up housing estate, my heart longed for country living though.  I never imagined for one second that I would get it so soon.  You notice everything so much more when you are surrounded by life's nature and beauty.

I am... a lot of things.  But most importantly I am Me.

~ Gem x

National Best Friend's Day

Today is National Best Friend's Day, which seems the perfect opportunity to show some love for my dearest and closest friend.

I cannot tell you how much love I have for this girl.  She is the most unselfish and loving person you could ever hope to meet, being able to call her my friend makes me the proudest girl ever.  

She goes out of her way to make other people happy and is there to shower you with love and support, even when you don't realise you need it.  It means so much knowing that I can always count on her, no matter what.  

She is clever, funny and genuine, a truly beautiful person inside and out.  

In the grand scheme of things, we haven't known each other all that long.  We met at work almost four and a half years ago, but we hit it off straight away.  It's as though she had been missing all those years, we just had so much in common.  It really was as if we were the same person, twins separated at birth.  She's my sister from another Mister.  I feel as though we have missed out on so much in each others lives but there is still plenty of road ahead of us and an endless amount of adventures still be had.

Thank you for being such an incredible friend scrumptious.  Love you lots angel.

~ Gem x

The Past Week

Last Monday being a bank holiday I made the most of the extra day off work and took my Nan out for the afternoon.  I blogged about our trip to Osterley Park on Friday.

A couple of coffee dates were enjoyed last week.  Already crossing something off that June bucket list.  Wednesday saw a tea, doughnuts, crochets and good conversation with my best friend and Thursday involved a trip to Costa to meet with some old colleagues.

James worked away a lot this week so I spent a lot of time catching up with  a new series I've started watching on Netflix, Life un-expected.  Have any of you seen it?  I am loving it so far, I literally can't get enough of it.  And as the weather was so cold it made perfect sense to run a steaming hot bath with my Lush Yuzu & Coco bubble melt whilst watching an episode.

Saturday saw me collect 3 new chickens.  We had a bad experience Monday morning before I headed out, where we had a visit from Mr Fox who left us with just the one chicken.  So Saturday I picked her up some new friends.  They are Rescue hens from the British Hen Welfare Trust.  Sadly at the moment they are in pretty bad condition, due to the conditions that they have been kept in until now.  But give them a month or so and they should be looking very healthy.  I'm hoping to write a separate post up soon with an update on the chickens. 

Then the weekend was rounded up nicely wit a day spent tending the veg patch.  A few more things have been planted and a lot of weeding has been done.  Perhaps another garden update post is in order too.

A very productive and good days work, finished off with dinner alfresco in the garden.

It feels as though it has been a long week.  Th weekend rounded it off nicely though, and what is even better is that I have an extra long weekend as I've booked today off work to spend with my husband.  Here's to another good week.

~ Gem x

National Trust's Osterley Park

I made the most of my bank holiday Monday this past week by taking my Nan out for the afternoon.  We visited Osterley Park and House, a National Trust property in Isleworth, London

The weather wasn't fantastic but it didn't dampen the spirits.  We decided to check out the gardens to begin with (after tea and cake of course).  If there is one thing I can say about National Trust properties, it is that they know how to maintain incredible gardens.  It was stunning.  The colours were incredible, they seemed to jump out from all over the place.

I dream of one day owning my own garden like this, complete with a flower cutting patch, vegetable garden and standard flower garden that will be left to be admired.

From the gardens we stepped inside the house.  It was huge.  Imagining what it must have been like when it was being lived in, how life must have been like.  It also makes you look at how things in life have changed.

Wandering round it was so lovely spending quality time with my Nan and talking about all sorts of things.

I was really surprised to learn that she had never visited anywhere like this before, it really shocked me.  I guess because I had been to places like this on school trips and then myself and James have visited a fair few since we have been together.  I just assumed that everyone will have been to at least one stately home.  I'm pleased now though that it is something she can say she has done.

I'm already looking forward to the next property we can visit together.

~ Gem x

June Bucket List

We're half way through the year.  How that's even possible is beyond me.  I can't get over how quickly the year is whizzing by.  Considering we're six months in, I don't feel as though I have achieved all that much either.  Then again, there are still six months left so I have time to change that, quite how I've not yet decided.

With summer now showing it's face (occasionally.  The current weather may suggest otherwise), I'm looking forward to spending more time outdoors and also making the most of the longer days and socialising with loved one.

So this month I'd like to:

* Go on a date with my husband.
This may sound like an odd one, but he works away a lot with his job, it will be nice to spend some quality time together.

* Enjoy a bowl of strawberries and cream.
A true British tradition for summer time.

* Watch a film at the cinema.
As James hates the cinema I very rarely go, so this month I'd like to make an extra effort to visit with a friend.

* Arrange a local photo walk.
I've loved seeing the many photo walks that have been taking place around London, it would be great to have something closer to home.

* Make more time for coffee dates with friends.
Not having one big group of friends means that I don't have the time to catch up with everyone as regularly as I'd like.  But I need to make more of an effort and make the time.

What have you got planned for the month ahead?

~ Gem x