Wow it's been a long time since I wrote on this blog. If this blog were a book it would be full of dust. My last post on this blog was on the 7th of April 2013. I remember starting this blog when I first moved to the Uk as a way of updating people on my life here. That was back in 2010. On the 31st of January 2017 it will be 7 years since I first landed in the Uk. 7 years of my life spent here. What an incredible time it has been!
I came with everything I owned here, just one suitcase full of clothes and a carry on bag. I began my journey as an aupair then I became a housekeeper/waitress and now I'm a support worker. This journey has seen me living in many different towns, including by London and by the sea in Devon to now living the Midlands. Last I wrote on this blog I was still living and working in a hotel on the coast in Devon. I left the hotel in June 2013 and moved up north. I wanted to try something else and I'd done live-in jobs since I moved here so I wanted to try a different sort of job.
I thought I might do freight, doing imports and exports and shipping and applied for those sort of jobs. I also ended up applying to do some marketing of all things. When I realised it was door to door marketing I quickly escaped from there! My friends worked in care and suggested I try it. The more I thought about it the more I thought I would like care so I did try it and I have been at my job now for over 3 years and I love it. It's nice to find a job you really enjoy and I am sure this was the line of work I was supposed to do.
I have been living in the Midlands for over 3 years too. It is colder than Devon and there is no sea but I live in the countryside which has it's own beauty. Since my last update on this blog my sister has got married in 2014, my brother has got married in 2015 and I have been back to South Africa for both weddings. My grandfather passed away. I always used to visit him and have lunch with him every time I went to Zimbabwe.
I visited Zimbabwe with a friend in November 2016. It's amazing to go back to the place you grew up in and see all the people you know. I had such great catch ups with so many people and I had a really amazing time there! Zimbabwe has really modernized since I used to live there. They even have wifi! I remember using our laptop in Zim and waiting for the dial up modem to connect. I was impressed with the cinema in Zim and the recliner chairs. I never thought I would be reclining in a cinema in Zim! Thanks so much to those I met up with, it was great to catch up with you :) and for those I didn't get a chance to see, will see you next time!
I also visited the house I grew up in and lived in for 16 years of my life in Zimbabwe. It has been modernized and changed a lot since I lived there. I used the photo of me standing outside it in November 2016 when I visited as the picture on the top of this blog. It was nice going down memory lane while I was there. I have had such special times there.
The whole Christmas season last year went very fast and I worked part of it. I think this year is already going fast. I see lots of hopes and dreams posted online at the beginning of the new year. I hope everyone's hopes and dreams come true! I think any goal is achievable but you have to be willing to put in that special ingredient - effort!
This blog post is similar to when you press fast forward on your remote and it skips through. I am doing a quick catch up of the years gone by. How do you catch up nearly 4 years of your life! I still write on my writing blog and I will be writing some new posts on there too. This was my first blog for all my news and then I started another one for all my writing.
This may not be the most informative news post ever but I know you will be waiting in high anticipation of my next one ;)! Or maybe not. I think the best way to catch up is over the phone or even better in person but this will be a few of my news highlights in the meantime.
Congratulations on all the new babies, new engagements, weddings, graduations and lots of happy birthdays! There are so many all the time I don't get around to wishing everyone and miss a few. It's really nice to see people enjoying life whatever you are doing :). I hope this year is kind to you!
Until I write again I shall love and leave you,
God Bless,
Nicola Hill
