Feeling Isolated

The thing about living so far away from your old home is that the longer you stay there, the further and further away you begin to feel from family and old friends. You start to feel somewhat isolated from your old life or what it used to be, from your own culture and all that once was and you enter into limbo  wondering where you truly belong. Is it here or is it there? I still don't particularly feel like a completely integrated citizen in Chile, there is so much I still cannot get used to here in this crazy land but when I think of my old home I also feel so misplaced, so foreign, so distant from it all there. I haven't seen my family in over a year now and we don't write or talk as much as I'd like and I suppose that at times I feel abandoned by them - I'm sure they don't consciously want to make me feel that way but I suppose lives go on in the here and now and no matter how technologically advanced this world is becoming, there's nothing quite like being physically next to someone. I've already drifted far far away from people I used to know from back home and that's been a sad but also very revealing experience. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, it's just never going to be enough and you can't force the natural diverging of paths.
Yesterday I was feeling quite sad and stressed out - not a great combination - and Tom just gave me this look, like he understood what I was feeling, it was really quite bizarre, he searched my eyes for a while and smiled and reminded me that it's all going to be ok. That we have each other here. Living in a foreign country miles and miles away from a past you used to know and love is a difficult experience. Especially when you have settled and begun new chapters in your life.

Family 2013

My wonderful new friend Angela took some family photographs of us with her brand new 50mm lens last weekend. Unfortunately there's not one of all of us together as it was REALLY hard trying to get the kids to just settle down for a moment at the same time, they were just too distracted by new toys and surroundings. But we still got some great shots of the kiddos and of us! Thank you Angela!!!

Autumn has arrived in all its stunning glory so alas the heat of the summer has now left us and chillier days are upon us. Yet for once I am not deep in envy of the current spring weather of home which has bizarrely been replaced by snow blizzards and sub zero temperatures. The weather in the UK just seems to be getting worse and worse. I need sunshine in my life...after five years of living in this climate, I know I'd be lost without it.

So, Easter came and went, we didn't do much apart from a easter egg hunt at Parque Intercomunal  in the Autumn sunshine with friends and some first time egg painting for the little ones. They also of course each received some chocolate eggs, chocolate being Toms current favourite word and only favourite food!! Since Maia started back at nursery she's been sick at least once every week which of course means Tom catches it soon after too. So with two sick little bunnies in the house we haven't really had the energy to be too out and about.

I had two photo shoots last weekend which went really well, I feel I keep improving and always come back learning more about using light and angles. I'm having a lot of fun doing what I do right now and at the mo I have about 5 photo shoots in the pipeline for the coming months. Who would have thought?! I never thought I'd be where I am right now..in fact I am now driving, a fear I thought just months ago I wouldn't overcome but look at me! I love driving now and it has given me wings to do so much more! It just goes to show...most of our fears are just in the mind and we can do whatever we want to do if we just believe a little more in ourselves. Cheesy, but hey it's true!

Adios Jorge.

I need to write this down before I lose these words. I need to keep them as close as possible today and for a long time after. This last message written to me by our friend Jorge who this morning passed away from a 3 year battle with cancer. 

Te quiero mucho a pesar del poco tiempo que nos conocemos. Tienes un aura muy especial. Cuida a tus hermosos hijos. Abrazos y saludos

Que descanses en paz Jorge. Te queremos muchisimo.

Nunca te olvidaremos.

All Good Things...

Busy as ever

I rarely get to sit down (as I am doing now with a glass of red) and write a post for this blog as since business has been going well, I just haven't stopped and I swear I need a good old breather.

I'm either out and about on a photo shoot, busy editing batches of photos or working on marketing strategies and prettying up my website. Oh and raising two toddlers. Forgot about possibly the most important part of my days. Or cleaning up the house. Or gardening. Or..you're catching my drift. My life, a sudden non stop barrage of things to do lately.  I am truly valuing my time outs more than ever now as they become less and less with the sudden (but fabulous) change in my life. What I'd give to have a day, or a morning...just to myself. To just sit and think in peace and quiet. At least Maia is now back at nursery now and the hubby has this week off. So here's hoping I'll get a little more than usual done- perhaps not but for now..I'm enjoying this glass of sumptuous Chilean red, writing and waiting for the washing machine song to call me for my next chore.

Will post pics of our holiday in Maitencillo soon. I am so behind on some posts, it's crazy.

Sad

It's one of those days today. A day of sadness but also a day where I appreciate everything I have right now. My kids, my husband, our love. The cooler breeze in the air. Enjoy the moment. You have no idea how long it'll last.

Much love.