I am colon capital D

While on the phone to my Mum the other day she commented on how happy I sound lately. It's true that compared to last year I am far more relaxed and just enjoying what life brings. Life in Cornwall is fabulous and my new job is awesome! I have been at Eden a month now and I STILL can't believe I work there. Currently I am working with Eden Live on their Halloweden team where I have to run Halloween activities and generally act creepy. It is weird working half term when so many teacher friends are putting their feet up but I am having so much fun! Hopefully all of the families that visit have been enjoying it all as much as me.

The potion bar full of dried fairy wings and pumpkin ashes. You even get to finish off with a puff of Goblin fart.

The face painters and pumpkin butchers are so talented. I am enjoying having my face painted each day... Probably a little too much!

When I haven't been working I have been enjoying my Autumnal favourites. Ryan got a new allotment which needs a lot of work so he has been spending lots of time there planning what to do with it and getting started on some jobs. I go sometimes and take on a supervisory role, though I did dig a new bed and plant some garlic this week! We also spotted a toad and a frog hiding out in the grass which was cool. Last weekend we finally visited Castle Drogo where we played in the crunchy leaves, peered into the bug hotel and checked out their restoration project. It was interesting to see restoration work actually happening on a National Trust project and we got to go on the scaffolding..eek! 

Taking the role as allotment Queen and our new friend the frog!

Autumn fun at Castle Drogo.

On wednesdays we wear pink.

This week I really want to talk about friendships. I've just moved to Cornwall which is miles away from any of my friends and I've been thinking about how it becomes more difficult to make friends as an adult. The concept of friendships was so much simpler when I was at school and University where you are thrust into a world of people that are a similar age and experiencing the same things as you. From playing with the same toys to choosing the same A-levels or complaining about marking books every evening, there has always been a group of peers to relate to.

Image from weheartit 

I've grown up in a world where girls are supposed to have a 'BFF' for life but I've never fit into that mould. For me, high school was a blur of making friends, falling out with friends, having really fake friends, battling with bully ex-friends and flitting from one group to another. By the time I got to University I realised that it is okay to be part of lots of groups and that actually, one person isn't going to be your mirror image and won't want to do all the things you want to do. Also, just because someone likes the same things as you, doesn't mean you will get along. What I have learned is that, as an adult, I require a handful of true friendships, not necessarily a best friend to do everything with. I lost a lot of friends as I got older because you grow apart as you began to have different experiences and understand yourself a lot better.

Image from Pinterest

There are those friends however that I do have a connection with and no matter what happens they remain in my heart. It's been said that everlasting friends can go ages without speaking and never question their friendship. These friends know that regardless of how long it has been or how far away they live, that you will talk as if you saw each other yesterday. These friends understand that life can get crazy and busy sometimes and they know that you will always love them.

 

Image from Pinterest

Now that I've decided to make another big life change and move to Cornwall, I'm going through the whole making new friends all over again. Everyone at work has been lovely and Ryan has already learned lots of their names from my many work stories. We'll have to wait and see how those friendships develop in the future! On Tuesday I'm going to my first yoga class at  Mind, Body and Soul Yoga; I'm both excited and a little nervous. Maybe I'll make a couple of Cornish yogi friends in the process... fingers crossed! 

A life update.

I live in Cornwall! YAY! The journey wasn't an easy one but we are finally snuggled in our own living room, cup of tea in hand and contemplating what to have for dinner. In true Jenny and Ryan fashion we are watching 'A Place in the Sun: Home or Away' and checking out other properties already!

I've already been in Cornwall for a week now as I started work at The Eden Project on Tuesday. There was a week long wait in a B&B on my own until my parents and Ryan, complete with a van full of our stuff, finally joined me here on Friday ready to move in on Saturday. In a way it was nice to have a week to focus on work before I had to stress about the big move - I learned so much!

I work in The Core which is a purpose built education centre both for the public and school trips. I spent the week trying to learn a few workshops and I team-taught a Chocology session on Friday.

The rainforest biome is where most of the fun happens! I've loved showing children how to survive like the Kombai tribe and where chocolate comes from. There are loads of cool plants to point out along the way but I've only learnt about a handful of the 4,000 different species at the moment. I won't be doing guided tours any time soon.

The Mediterranean biome is a little more temperate - it gets a little humid and sweaty in the rainforest! I haven't done any workshops in here yet but I've been sent off to complete plant trails and learn as much as I possibly can. My favourite parts are the citrus grove and the chilli plants!

After an exciting week I needed to rest and put my feet up but I had an equally exciting, whirlwind of a weekend! FINALLY it was our move in day after many frustrating weeks of the date being pushed back. We looked at loads of flats, bungalows and houses all over the place but finally settled on a winter let in a furnished holiday cottage. It was cute, simple and has friendly neighborhood cows on the farm. Once we saw the gorgeous views from the bedroom and realised it was a 15 minute walk to Eden we just couldn't refuse! For those readers that love a little nosy into home interiors, just like me, here are a few pictures...

Living Room:

Bedroom:

 It's early days still and we are currently battling with dodgy wi-fi and a lack of phone signal but I think we will be very happy here. I'm back at work tomorrow for week number two so fingers crossed for no rain on my walk there! I haven't been issued my Eden waterproof yet BUT I do have an official email address :P

 

Sweater Weather

Another one of my sketches that I photoshopped, eek! 

It's October, that means it is Autumn and I LOVE Autumn! It is my absolute favourite season for sure. You still get beautiful sunny days with the Summer sweat-factor but you can also lie in bed listening to the rain pattering on the window on a Sunday morning. I wrote a blog about my favourite Autumn things last year but I've made some adjustments!

Crunchy leaves have got to be the number one reason why Autumn is awesome. They are loads of fun and they make everywhere look so pretty and colourful. I'm always one for outdoorsy fun but I can also whinge if it's too hot or cold so Autumn is absolutely perfect - the sun on my face but with a refreshing chill in the air. I'm looking forward to Autumn strolls on the beach and watching the seasons change at Eden while I' m working!

I'm a sucker for a good cup of tea all year round but the Autumn chill marks the beginning of all the delicious seasonal drinks. Salted caramel hot chocolate and Pumpkin spice lattes at the ready before we quickly move onto the Gingerbread varieties. After being outside there is nothing better than hot drink to warm me up, especially if there is cake involved....

... or warm puddings! Or any Autumnal foods to be quite honest. It's that time for year when Ryan goes foraging and there are a crazy amount of apples that need baking into something delicious. One of my favourite desserts is apple pie so I'm not complaining! There is an apple pie recipe here if you fancy giving it a whirl. Last year Ryan made a pumpkin pie and a LOT of jam. It's been a very foody week that has involved picking parsnips, admiring pumpkins and eating Squash soup. Yesterday we went in search of sloes and even more apples along Pocklington canal.

 

As well as warming food and drinks it's also time to swap the flip-flops and shorts for cosy boots and woolly jumpers... maybe. It's been a very warm September and October so far, it was 20 degrees yesterday afternoon! However, I am still full of anticipation to snuggle up in my favourite jumpers and fetch the fluffy socks out of their hiding place. Yesterday I bought myself a beautiful new Autumn scarf from The Vintage Corner in Pocklington. It has a great pumpkin print and it's light enough for the warmer days so I will definitely be wearing it ALL the time. I've also got my eye on this Penguin Jumper from Topshop - who doesn't enjoy animal inspired knitwear!?

Bonfire night and Halloween are two of my favourite celebrations and they both happen to be in Autumn. I love getting dressed up in spooky outfits and playing with fake blood and scary make-up. Eden have an awesome Halloween Line-up so I'm probably going to be a massive geek as usual and spend lots of time a work. If I'm not too tired afterwards then I'll definitely be looking for somewhere to go on Bonfire night, fireworks and mulled drinks are a must!

Image from Pinterest

After packing all the blankets away on the top of the wardrobe for the Summer months it's nearly time to bring them out again! I love blankets and I have quite a few, including a hand-made patchwork quilt that I got from Sam for my 21st birthday. Little did I know that Ryan also loves blankets and has a collection of his own. We now have a selection to choose from on those chilly evenings to snuggle up in. Ryan's favourite is his green National Trust throw (you can still buy it here.)

Image from Pinterest