Mr Margie and I have been celebrating with family in Belgium, he and I have been together for twenty five years now, and his parents celebrated 50 years of marriage at the end of August.
We also spent a week in Majorca, relaxing, soaking up the sunshine in preparation for the Autumn and Winter.
Some of you who know us personally will know that this has been a particularly difficult year for us, Mr Margie's business closed, we faced financial uncertainty, and debt. I took Leiny to Dublin airport and had a melt down in the bathroom, angry with our political leaders when I saw how many young well educated people were emigrating. We planned a new start, I stopped listening to the doom and gloom on the radio and in the media, in order to function in a positive way at work. A few weeks later our big plan to emigrate, failed despite committments and assurances, at the last possible moment.
Our ability to adapt and an openess and willingness to change and to think outside of the box, (along with family and friends support and love) helped us through the difficult times. However, it was all put into perspective when two family members passed away suddenly in February. Some family members were taking flights to the USA for a funeral while others were flying back home to Ireland for another. I stood in the graveyard looking at the faces of people I had not seen for years, some family, some neighbours, and thought that family, community and our interdependance as humans is more important than everything else. I surrounded myself with like minded crafters used Chez Margie saturdays and tuesdays and the blogs to keep afloat. I cherished every comment left on my posts.
Now we face into the autumn (fall) with more uncertainty, but with the knowledge that we have hope (I think this tree sums up our year, I saw it growing strong on the top of a 15 ft building in Majorca, and immediately I was drawn to it, a wonderful symbol of hope).
I have already had my first day back studying and while I will continue to craft and blog, however, Chez Margie will not be open for business until after all assignments have been handed in (I am taking this on while still working full time). In 2005 I completed my MSc in Equality Studies and am now working on a H Dip which will open the door to some teaching practice, with a view to a PhD in a couple of years.
Thank you all very much for visiting my blog.
Big hugs,
Margie
