Living on the edge

We now find ourselves on the edge of a very big decision here in FauxSurreyLand. We have in front of us an opportunity that very very few people get in their lives. The opportunity to STOP and never have to work again. Ever. Honest.

Buying The Mill was all part of a grand plan to start a completely different life at some point. Not retire as such - we're still a bit too young to do that - but to take a step back from horrific commuting, being at the beck & call of clients, bosses and colleagues and running on the endless mortgage treadmill. We have been beavering away at our "spreadsheet" for almost 3 years now and my taking a proper job last summer was all part of that plan. And my wonderful mother in law Joyce made a significant contribution to our spreadsheet after she passed away.

But recently things have accelerated somewhat. The FauxSurreyHomestead was valued at 2 x the price we paid for it (hurrah!) and after much to-ing and fro-ing and sleepless nights and stressful conversations (!!) FauxSurreyHubby took the plunge and resigned from his big job. But of course there's a spanner in the works. The Big Job people were horrified & essentially refused to accept FSHubbys resignation, asking him to give them a chance to make an offer he can't refuse! So we are now in limbo somewhat as we wait to see what they can possibly offer him that will counteract waking up every day to the sound of birds and the river flowing past and not having to do anything more strenuous than a bit of gardening, pottering about, going for a big walk or driving to the coast for the day.

But when pondering the realities of possibly doing nothing, FSHubby started to fret that actually, he may get bored! I have already got a plan to keep myself sane there (it's just a plan right now, not sure if I will be able to pull it off, but hey I have a plan!) but FSHubby hasn't got any thoughts of what he may - or may not  - do and it's paralysing him with fear!!

So here we are perched on the edge of a big decision. When the Big Job people come back with their offer will we take a leap into the unknown or will we scurry back to the devil we know??

This puts me in mind of the Christopher Logue poem:

Come to the edge.
We might fall.
Come to the edge.
It's too high!
COME TO THE EDGE!
And they came,
and he pushed,
And they flew.

Hip Hop?

Oy oy. I am falling apart. My bl**dy back is causing me problems again. I have not been able to walk any great distance without agony since the beginning of March as I have developed Achilles tendinopathy and had to go for an MRI yesterday as, despite 10 weeks of full on physiotherapy, it's not getting better as it should.

Basically because I am so lopsided post my spinal surgery 12 years ago I have suffered two stress fractures in my right foot and now my right Achilles has given up the ghost. The lovely foot & ankle specialist who I went to see - I saw him in 2010 when I suffered my 2nd stress fracture - is muttering about surgery - using phrases like 'gastrocnemius release' and 'paratenon strip'. Both of which sound horrific!! So I am being uber attentive to my new physio routine and have had long chats with the lovely hospital physio who agrees with me that surgery is likely NOT the answer, especially as the stretches the specialist wants me to do hurt my back .. I feel like I am a living bad version of  'The leg bone's connected to the thigh bone' .. once one thing goes, everything else comes tumbling down behind it.

However the biggest shock I got (bigger than looking at the truly scary images that pop up in full colour goriness when you put either of those medical terms into a Google search) was when the MRI technician weighed me. Oh. My. God. The number I saw could NOT be possible. Could it? Apparently I have increased my body weight by 10% since the last time I looked properly ... HELP! So I have decided. I will have to go on the diet to beat all diets! Cut out the booze. Drink water & eat lettuce leaves. As I can't walk for any great distance or use my wonderful life saving (and waistband taming) X-Trainer, what else can I do??