What’s behind the country gate?

Part journal; part almanac – the story of life in a Wiltshire cottage through the seasons.

In 1994 a country girl who’d been working in London had an epiphany in a bookshop in Muswell Hill. City living was not for her. That girl was me. Later the same year I moved with my East End husband to a Wiltshire village. Three children followed in quick succession and this blog began as a way of documenting our family’s adventures and keeping me in touch myself, my roots and the things bringing me contentment when the rest of life is busy and demanding. 

Low cost, feel good activities were vital to my well-being. We were free to enjoy the great outdoors, the garden and the kitchen in a leisurely and comforting way – what the Danish call the art of hygge. We were money-poor but time-rich when our children were little. In time they grew and I returned to the classroom to teach. That’s when I became time poor, more so during the pandemic years. 

The benefits of getting a good work/life balance have never been more in the spotlight. Getting outside, reconnecting with nature and each other and slowing down were well-documented, even before the Coronavirus pandemic. Young people  – all people – today have to navigate a complex and ever-changing world, facing challenges and pressures in numerous aspects of their life. 90% of schools have reported an increase in the number of students experiencing anxiety or stress over the last five years. Workplaces report high levels of staff absence due to stress. And in 2022 the situation has been brought into even sharper focus. 

Country Gate is my way of decompressing. I hope you’ll find ideas and inspiration for yourself, your family and your community in this blog. Follow or connect via Twitter. 

I’d love to hear from you. 

Cally

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