Time to write.
Last week, when my husband was here in England, we saw many incredible historic sights, both locally and in the surrounding towns. I gathered material, bought books, took hundreds of photos and videos, and was only back in the apartment long enough each night to sleep. (Our apartment is the middle and top floor of the building on the left. There is a real estate office on the ground floor.) Three days ago, my husband flew home to go back to work, and I stayed here for a while to get down to work as well.
I love that the village’s name is Settle. I love the connotations of the word. Over the weekend, I settled down and am settling in now, spreading my papers and books and computer all over the dining table and coffee table.
Settling IN, Settling DOWN
When we arrived, the apartment looked like this:
Now it looks like this:
Settling down has involved going inside my head now to sort through 
everything I crammed into my brain last week. I take time first thing in the morning for prayer and reading. I don’t rush. Then I check the weather and enjoy watching the mail carrier go down the lane.
The middle of the day is spent writing, reading, and eating! (A lot of each thing.)
At the end of the afternoon, I need another “settling down” time. So I take a walk, straight up the hillside to a paved path with stone walls on both sides, lots of sheep in the fields, benches that overlook the village, and so much GREEN. [See the photos below.]
Then when I enter the village on the way back, I stop at the local grocery store. Most everyone here shops daily, so you run into the same people. I love that. While I’ve heard that the British in the cities can be stand-offish, I haven’t experienced that here at all.
I am loving the language, and I’m understanding people better, like the tiny older man walking his dog on the trail. I remarked that it was a beautiful day. “Ah, smashing, innit?” he agreed. Or the “bloke” ringing up the groceries who always grins and says “cheers” when you leave. And I am remembering to call chips “crisps” and french fries “chips.” And very kind people loan you a brolley when you’ve forgotten your umbrella.
My Daily Walk in Pictures
Take my walk with me!
Retreating in My Retreat
I’ve decided that for the remainder of the time I am here that I won’t blog new material. I just want to settle down and work, pretty much cutting off the outside social media world to see how it affects my writing. From what I’ve read in books like Deep Work, it can have a profound affect on the quality of your writing. This is the perfect time for me to put that to the test. So until I return to Texas the first week in October, I will re-post popular older posts. After I get home, I will share some more experiences and pictures of places I still plan to see.
So, as they say in Settle, “Have a smashing day. Cheers!”
Your travels are inspiring. I really hope to get back to San Antonio one day. Connecting with you would be high on my list. Your writing is a gift. –from Jackie O.
Jackie, what a kind thing to say! It hasn’t quite sunk in that I’m here, actually. It has such a dream-like quality to it–probably because I have dreamed of doing such a thing for decades! I hope you get back to San Antonio one day too.
Enjoy this wonderful gift to yourself. I like the way you have organized your days to give you the best ways to enter your work and to enjoy your temporary home, too. Here’s to many creative and fulfilling hours and days ahead!
Bless you, Heather. I do like to have structure in my days, or I’m afraid I would just go out and play tourist the whole time and forget the work! 🙂 Thank you for your good wishes!
I love reading about this adventure! It is on my bucket list to stay in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England for a month (or more) each! I want to experience my time there as if I lived there. No rushing… just living, writing, and enjoying my surroundings! Thank you for sharing your pictures. They inspire me to keep hoping and pushing to achieve my goals and dreams of traveling there, too!
I’m very glad if anything I’m doing encourages you to hang onto your dreams. I still can hardly believe I’m doing this myself. Your comment about the “no rushing” is so true. It took me nearly ten DAYS to finally slow down. I couldn’t figure out why my stomach knotted up off and on, and when I stopped to realize what I was thinking, it was always, “Hurry up. Work — or walk — faster! Time is limited!” It’s funny how years-long habits stay in place even when there is (temporarily, anyway) no need for them. I still have to keep saying, “Relax! You have plenty of time! Breathe!” 🙂
I love your Adventure with the public. That must have been a great feeling to know that people can be kind to you in their home town. I enjoy all your pictures even with the Lambs. How was the weather there for the most part? Does it get cold at night ? Just in case I ever get out that way. Thank’s for sharing !
The weather has been lovely! The first week there was more intermittent rain, just showers here and there a couple days. The second week has been cloudy and sunny. This week is mostly sunny. So beautiful! It gets down to the mid-forties at night, but the apartment has gas radiators in all the rooms, so it’s toasty. I like colder weather, and it makes the hiking up the hills so nice. And the harvest moon last night was gorgeous here too!