Life lessons aren’t always easy. It turns out my partner didn’t have the same commitment to our long-term goals, so has moved on to find her own path. Meanwhile, I have been blessed with the opportunity to stay in a forest for a while. This is just what I need, to let the trees hold my heart while I mourn the loss of our joint story before I continue alone.

I am so grateful for this place, for the simplicity of waking and sleeping simply with the cycle of the sun, working with old tools, learning from the forest creatures, and for the community that exists even with strangers – thank you for providing the opportunity for me to live how I want to be, even if only temporarily.

The first week was grey, so I busied myself clearing out the shed that was on site (and the compost loo that hadn’t been used in quite some time), and made myself a little kitchen.

Then the sun arrived, and things started to feel homely.

I fixed an old sythe and started clearing the bracken (as requested by the owner), pruning trees, and general work around the forest.

These tasks are interdispersed with enjoying the forest, spending time with The Rachel (little miss piggy), and processing the changes that are occuring..

And at the end of the day, the night welcomes me.