Can we settle now?

The last two years have been a bit of a whirl! Actually, it goes back just over two years to the day we decided we were moving back here (which is where this blog began). At that point, we knew the future was an unknown quantity but we had a fairly set idea of how it might pan out. We decided on Scarborough as a base. Josh would carry on as normal with his daily 2m commute from his bed to his desk. Andy would go to 6th form college and do A levels. Neil would find work in finance, probably not in Scarborough, unless he got really lucky, but possibly in York or Leeds - doable by train. I would get a job in a village school as head of a primary school that 'requires improvements' and turn it around. We had a plan. Plan A.

Plan A didn't happen. Well, it did for the boys but not for Neil and me. We did both find work but only temporary contracts. We found a house to rent but then ended up moving after 6 months and again after another 10 months and then living half in Scarborough and half in Goole. Oh yeah, Goole. After just over a year, Neil got work in Goole and then almost immediately, so did I. Scarborough to Goole is a rubbish commute so we had to move. When you have a 17 and 19 year old, you expect them to soon move out but there's something a bit weird about the parents moving out.

Anyway, we're both now permanent (as much as any job is permanent) working for East Riding of Yorkshire Council. We are both thoroughly enjoying our work. I do sort of miss aspects of teaching but not as much as I thought I would. Now, the latest development is that we have bought a house, which hopefully means no more moves.





The area where we are now living is quiet and pretty. It's not what I ever imagined Goole to look like. Now we have the exciting task of adapting the house so that I can try and do 'normal', whatever that might be. First is the bathroom. The bathroom has been ripped out and we are in the process of putting in a walk-in shower room. It's taking ages but hey, life in Finland taught us to cope with this kind of thing. Why were swimming pools originally invented?