Welcoming in Spring & Coddiwompling in the Cotswolds

April round-up

Hello Coddiwomplers,

And just like that, April whizzed by and we’re welcoming in May. If you’re new here, welcome! I’m so grateful to have you here coddiwompling with me.

Where did April go? How are you?

Spring is now well underway and I’m loving seeing Nature burst into life for a new cycle. Birds are nesting in the hedges and the Dawn Chorus is in full song, plus I’m noticing new families of Blue Tit and Great Tit fledgelings hopping around the garden.

The first half of the month felt slow and steady, just how I like it. I completed an online Challenge by Gabby Bernstein, called “Trust The Universe” which re-enforced my feelings of knowing I’m being guided and everything happens for the right reasons at the right time. To me it feels like being wrapped in a protective bubble full of unconditional love and I get a great deal of reassurance and comfort from it.

Trips and Coddiwomples

Tim & I pootled off to the Cotswolds for a couple of days when we were blessed with glorious weather for long walks and plenty of exploring. You can read all about our adventures here, where my trust in the Universe didn’t let me down!

Coddiwompling Through Everyday Life

I received some sad news when I arrived home; my last surviving godparent passed away aged 86. He hadn’t been well for a good while and it was his time to go. I haven’t felt sad exactly, because I know he’s at peace now and probably enjoying some very happy reunions Upstairs (especially with his family and my parents.) I’ve been having a few chuckles as to what sort of mischievous Guardian Angel he’s going to be if he teams up with Dad! They were friends since their teens and although their characters were very different, their friendship was strong and enduring; the kind of friendship many of us dream of.

Easter feels like a distant memory now. It was a busy one with Tim’s children and new granddaughter. It was fun having them around, however I sometimes find the noisy chaos a bit overwhelming and I’m figuring out how to be comfortable in the role of step-grandmother (or Out Of Step Grandmother as I called myself the other day!). As someone who is Childfree By Choice, it’s an uneven path to navigate.

I’m very lucky and privileged to have a part-time job at a local, privately owned Gardens near where I live and they host an annual Tulip Festival every April. They are a riot of colour and an oasis of calm in this cranky world; at least it is on the outside! Behind the scenes is very different as we all gear up for the thousands of visitors who come to admire the spectacle of 48,000 tulips on display. My role is in the office, answering the phone and the Great British Public can ask the daftest questions! I’m quite a placid, patient person most of the time, however I admit that sometimes I have to take a big breath and remember to smile when I answer the phone! I think my winner for the daftest conversation was when I asked a tour guide what time their coach would be departing from their visit and he said: “The group will leave right after the end of their visit.” That was no help at all!

Pashley Manor Gardens, Ticehurst in East Sussex

Arty Moments

There isn’t a lot to report here this month regarding new work due to work commitments but I have been pondering the pro’s and cons of taking on commissions after a couple of initial enquiries. To be honest, I’m torn and I’ve been working through the resistance feelings of “my work isn’t good enough”, “I’m not good enough” , “how do I charge for this?” and figuring out whether it aligns with my Purpose and Values. I’ve resisted them up until now because I was worried about being overwhelmed and taking on too much. I have turned the question over to the Universe to guide me to making the right decision. I’ll keep you posted!

My arty passion is sparked by creating cards from my work and raising money for charities, and I’m working towards updating my website to facilitate a shop with more designs and products.

Well, I think that’s all I have to tell you for this month, thank you so much for joining me. If you’ve made it to the end, please drop the word “Tiptoe” in the Comments, along with any observations or anything you’d like to share. I love to hear from you all and see how you’re doing.

In the meantime, I send you much love and will leave you with this peaceful video to enjoy and escape to until next month xx