A quick post on the importance of saying thank you and being grateful.
Two years ago yesterday, Chris and I moved into our home in beautiful Bedford. We packed up our place in the suburbs of West London, loaded all of our possessions into a lorry, and leapt. It was a big change, especially for Chris who had been born and bred in West London.
Packing up the old house, cup of tea in hand!
Since that leap, a small group of friends in Bedford has grown into a wider circle of incredible folks who I am proud to call my friends.
These creative souls have enabled me to do much over the last two years; I have been able to rebrand my business and rebuild my website, thanks to the amazing Jason Kahl Design, rebuild and renovate my kitchen space thanks to the design teams at Wickes Bedford, host my very first Macmillan Coffee Morning at 44 Harpur Street; The Business Parlour (raising £500) and have been involved in countless creative collaborations with Sarah’s Doo-Wop Dos and Jez Brown Photography. Our most recent photoshoot last week took place in my new kitchen, with my new branding very much on display!
Dress by Voodoo Vixen (click for details)
I’ve started filming for YouTube in this kitchen thanks to the talented Emily Porter, a film student at Bedford College. There is some talent in this town.
I have even been able to rediscover my musical side, picking up my bass guitar for the first time in years to play at a local jam night to honour David Bowie, hosted by Mat Roberts at our local independent venue, Esquires. This venue, since being taken over by local music promoter and general facilitator of fun, Gareth Barber, has seen an onslaught of really interesting new and upcoming bands visiting Bedford on their tours. New music championed in a small town. I always wish that my workload was a little lighter so that I could go out to play more and see some more of these bands.
Therein lies the curse of the self-employed… you can’t really wish to be less busy than you are!
There is something about being surrounded by creative people, much in the dream ‘Warhol’s Factory’ way, that inspires creativity and I have found more inspiration to write and create than ever since moving to beautiful Bedford. I’ve even been nominated for the Self-Employed Business Woman of the Year award by the Bedfordshire BusinessWomen Network! The awards will be announced on Friday 10th March so keep your fingers crossed for me.
So, with a million things on my to-do list today, this is a quick but important note of thanks to all of the people of Bedford who have made Chris and I so welcome over the last two years. You know who you are. You continue to inspire us and we think that you are all awesome. If you are lucky enough to live in a small town with a thriving creative community, support it with every fibre of your being.
Stay gorgeous!
Cxx
