We’d been on the motorway for 6 hours, stuck in a traffic Jam. The kids were going crazy. The cat, perched between the kids in the back, was miaowing loudly and clawing at the door of the cat box.
Michelle and I had both had about an hour’s sleep the previous night, and we were three hours late for meeting the removal firm at the new house.
Then they called us to tell us that they couldn’t get the lorry down the track to the house because of the overhanging trees, and they’d set off back to London. With all our stuff.
Storm Brian hit that night. We finally got into the house at 9PM with only what we had in the car. We had a couple of quilts and pillows in the car with us, pretty lucky since we were going to be sleeping on the floor.
Moving is never easy, but this was probably the most stressful and tiring one we’ve ever done. We completely underestimated how much stuff we’d jammed into the loft over the 15 years we lived at our old 2-up-2-down in Epsom, and even after the removals truck left, we still had to pack the car to the gunnels to get everything out.
Just when we were about to leave, the kids let the cat out of the room where we’d been keeping him safe and he dashed straight outside and was nowhere to be seen. For a while, it was looking like we were going to have to leave him.
But now we’re here, settled in a small village called Uley in the south of the Cotswolds. It’s been absolutely worth everything we went through to get here.
This is the front of our new home. It’s rented, so we won’t be here forever, but for now it’s lovely.
Another shot from the back of the house:
The village high street. It looks like this in rush hour, too.
The population of this village is about 1000 people, but it has it’s own arts centre! With a cafe! And the coffee is excellent! I think we came to the right place.
The lovely arts centre. I’m hoping to start running courses here before too long, it’s a fantastic venue and they already have people running drawing and painting courses there.
The boys love it here already:
One of my lovely north (almost) facing windows:
Easel is ready to go (and this post is currently being written on the laptop in this shot 🙂 ).
It’s lovely to have this space. It’s incredible, actually, I keep pinching myself.
Of course, you should paint whether your space is ideal or not. For years I painted in a tiny living room, risking my set ups being knocked over by the kids. And yes, on one occasion at least, one of them helped me with a painting whilst I was out of the room.
Now I have a studio with plenty of space and two almost-north light windows. I have more room than I really know what to do with, even with all the unopened boxes from the move stacked up in here.
I feel like one of those neglected zoo animals that’s been left in a confined space so long, it just keeps going up and down in the same small area, apparently unaware of all the space around it.
The other thing that strikes me here is the quiet. I’ve been keeping the window open in the studio, despite the cold, because all I can hear here is birds – mostly the clucking of the local tribe of pheasants who mill about in the garden every morning.
So what’s coming next?
Well, firstly I’m going to start painting again next week. Soon, I hope to start exploring and doing some landscape sketches. I haven’t painted landscape for many, many years, so that’s going to be interesting. I’m going to approach it as an investigation to start with, without trying to create any finished pieces right off. One step at a time. I’ll publish everything I do here, of course.
And then there’s the Prema Arts centre up the road. They already run courses there, so I’m going to look into doing some courses here myself. I’m to sure what the format will be yet, but I’m thinking about residential colour and landscape courses once I’ve got to know the area better.
And also (hot off the press so keep this to yourself!) the incredibly wonderful flower painter Kathleen Speranza has mentioned she’d like to do a course here too. So we’re going to see if we can organise something for next summer. How cool would that be?
The last couple of years have been pretty challenging. I was made redundant (a blessing in disguise) found I had a pretty serious illness and had a heart attack at the start of the year.
It’s been a struggle to stay positive and moving forward sometimes. But I look around me and I’m amazed at the beautiful place we’ve ended up, almost, it seems, by accident.
And I’ve certainly grown. No one wants to have to go through those kinds of difficulties. In fact, we seem to spend a lot of our time trying to avoid difficulties altogether. To keep our lives as uneventful and unchallenging as we can.
But that’s a recipe for stagnation. I’ve learned a lot over the past couple of years. The most important lesson I’ve learned is to be grateful. I have so much to be grateful for. And now we’ve ended up in this incredibly beautiful, inspiring place, the time I take out every morning just to breathe, listen and be grateful is more full and rewarding, more nourishing than it’s ever been.
On that first morning, when we woke up on the floor, wrapped up together in quilts with no furniture, Luc (our eldest boy) opened his eyes, looked around and the first words out of his mouth were:
“It’s a new day.”
It really is.
Best wishes and thanks for reading
Paul
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Hey Paul- long time since reading the blog. So happy for you and your family. My wife and I had almost the identical moving experience when my kids were little and we moved without jobs to rural West Virginia. The best time of our lives were to follow. Wishing you the same.
take care of yourself
Peter
p.s. One day I may make the trip across the pond and visit.
Hi Paul, I’m ready-eyed with happiness for you! Your new life is filled with possibility and new adventures. My first thought upon seeing the photos was when is the first workshop? Looking forward to hearing about your “north light filled” days ahead!
Trudy
Correct that to “teary-eyed”, please. Curse auto-correct :-).
Thanks for sharing this, Paul!
A landscape course with the great Paul Foxton? Count me in. So pleased that everything seems to be coming together.
Congratulations on your move- looks like a wonderful house and town. Best wishes!
Moving – seems to be the thing artists do these days. I am moving in two weeks 😀
Glad to hear from you and look forward to any webinar in the future!
All the best from Hamburg!
What a lovely letter! You are in a wonderful spot. Best of luck.
Pleased to have you back. We’ve missed you.
Wish you all happiness in your new home.
Great stuff Paul..looks very beautiful and inspirational!! Val
Aha!! Yes, I think that may actually be the art place I had in mind after all!!
Glad to see you’re in after that moving experience. As per our private notes, this all looks very familiar – certainly I remember being red-faced jogging up that high street in the knowledge that I’m only about a third or a quarter “up the hill”.
Good luck to you Sir, it sounds a really really fantastic life change.
Steve
Just like to wish you every success in your new home Paul. Looking forward to seeing what you do with landscape.
Congratulations on the family move and delighted your happy with you new home.
Create many happy memories there and lots of paintings.
The positive outlook you and your children have to life is your strength.
I wish you joy, health and happiness in your new home. ☘️
Paul, I missed you in my inbox and so happy you are back! Looking forward to the landscapes!
Congratulations, Paul. Your place looks beautiful. My wife and I recently to a smallish town in southern Illinois and have found a great deal of charm living here. I hope your family finds the same!
Hi Paul,,
So great to hear from you. At first thought of your health then I remember you were moving. Blessed your heart you are now settling and it take a while but together with your family anything can be accomplished. I do understand what you went through between leaving one place and getting where you are now. I remember when I moved from New Orleans, Louisiana to Champaign, Illinois in the middle of a huge thunderstorm and got lost. Packing and unpacking and five months pregnant was quite an experience. It was also my first time driving across the country following my husband who was driving the Uhaul. Your boys are adorable! It looks that the outdoor environment is gorgeous! What a great idea about painting landscapes Paul! Looking forward to it. On November 23, here in the US we celebrate Thanksgiving Day! It is special day to give thanks! So, I wish you the best in the new area and I thank you immensely for all you do for us with your teachings, knowledge and experience. You are awesome! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Oh, Paul…I am sooo happy for you. What a beautiful home and what a gorgeous street you live on!!! My husband and I have been devouring that show on TV called “Escape To The Country”. It,s a real estate show coming from England and never having been in England, we couldn’t believe the beauty in that country!! And absolutely adore the old homes, towns and streets we see as well as the beautiful, beautiful scenery!! It’s beautiful where we live in Northern Ontario too, but a very different kind of beauty. Being an artist, I like your beauty better (but don’t tell anyone)! Hehe. Your boys are absolutely smashing and you are so lucky to have wonderful children. They are such a blessing (most of the time)! Haha. Excited to see what life brings you now and I hope you will keep us all in the loop as this is such an exciting new life for you. You will do well, and congratulations on a wonderful new life with your family and your great talents.
Congrats on the new home, it looks lovely! Wishing you the best!
It looks wonderful enjoy thAt beautiful scenery so much inspiration and thanks for your inspiring words.
Paul: As always, your experiences are more than just about art..it’s art-life and that makes the best kind, realest-kind of art there is. Thanks for sharing and all the best in your new day/new place. “The best is yet to be…”
Looks like an idyllic spot! I happy for you and your family.
Cheers
Nelson
Thank you for sharing this Paul.
Best wishes to all of you!
Hi Paul
We visited the amazing Cotswolds in September.
Our home is is the quiet countryside south coast of NSW Australia in a nook called Back Forest.
I can appreciate your gratitude.
Cheers
Roslyn
Absolutely, wonderful! What grand way to start your new adventure! Your house looks cozy and welcoming. Enjoy your new studio space and great success with your new art classes! So happy for you and your family!
Paul,
This is such a great post. I’m beyond pleased for you and your family – your boys are getting so big! We moved a few years ago from a busy city to a much smaller place closer to the country, and now I can’t imagine being anywhere else. I am a bit jealous that you have pheasants nearby – our resident roosters disappeared after some new construction nearby! Best wishes to you and your family in your new home!
Mike
That sounds exhausting but so well worth it. I often quote Anne of Green Gables, “Anything worth having is worth at least a little bit of trouble.”
Glad to hear you sounding hopeful and like you’re finding your footing among all this change. Can’t wait to see what follows!
What a lovely post to read.
Wishing you and your family many happy times in your new home.
Paul,
First, congratulations!!! Your new haven is heavenly, indeed a paradise especially for city-dwellers like us who crave quiet bucolic life!
And your enthusiasm is infectious! So happy for you! Its seems like a turning point in your life and I am excited about the changes it would bring to your already incredible paintings. Please keep us posted , i would love to explore the village of coltswold through your postings.
Its like reading a novel. And novels which talk about hope, aspirations and never-give-up spirtits are my special favourites.
Many blessings and lots of good luck for this new turn in your life.
Best,
Noreen
I think, the best is yet, to come! Our love goes with you and the family! Thank You, Paul!
Felicitaciones, que bello lugar, espero que su inspiracion sea magnifica como siempre. Quisiera estar tambien en ese lugar. Saludos
Hi Paul,
Congratulations on your move. I always like to read your posts. I like the way you say it like it is, sharing your difficult moments, but always finding something positive , insightful and inspiring to say. Thanks again and best wishes for all your future plans. I’m sure you’ll be an excellent teacher. Judy
Hello Paul,
what an excellent report! Trials and hard times are never welcome, and we would avoid them if we could, but after having come through them, we have gained so much — truth about ourselves, about others, that we could not have gotten any other way. We grow. And we become more intentional in the way we do this life. I, too, am growing in gratefulness. There is so much to be thankful for, not the least of which is YOU! Wishing you all the success and continued good health, and
Happy Thanksgiving, Paul & family.
Paul what a lovely transition. And your descriptive writing is so warm and is also like a painting . I am a bit envious of that beautiful place you have found, but also happy that you have found an environment that is so suitable for you and fitting. Wishing you and your family many blessings,Cerise
Wishing you and your family much happiness in your new home – it’s a dream of a place!
So, on that street is where all of the doctors have their surgery?
I hope things turn out great for you in this new location. You’re a wonderful teacher, and an even more beautiful person.
Congratulations Paul and Family! What a lovely home in such a picturesque area! Please give yourself permission to rest up after such a harrowing experience; we’ve just moved recently too, so I know the stress. Can’t wait to see what comes next for you all.
New begginings with new inspirations. We all need to at times take a step back to appreciate the value of life!!
Cant wait to see your new inspirations!!
Wow so many posts wishing you and your family a happy, healthy and eventful future – your new home looks lovely – count me in on any future residential courses you organise – can’t wait – Linda
You have moved to the perfect spot for landscape painting, landscape painting workshops and slowing down and enjoying life. Your boys are stunningly beautiful, any girl would envy their looks, but if I know little boys, you have zero chance getting them to sit still long enough to capture them in a painting, LOL. God and the universe sent you a message to leave your high-stress job and lifestyle behind and slow down. Now you are living the life you have always dreamed of, involved in the career you always wished for, Your are free and with freedom comes risk. But I am sure you will figure it out. “Necessity is the mother of invention….” Your health may not be what it was when you were in your twenties, but you are not incapacitated, you will adjust and learn how to live with your illness. You can learn how to adjust to the challenges and you can manage and thrive. Looking forward to some of your courses; haven’t decided which one (love the flower paining video for starters). Have to wait for my nephew to set up my big computer. This laptop is not the greatest. And my computer has a very large screen.
Thanks Jan. Hah, yes, those boys will not sit still! I’ve been wondering if I might try breaking the screen-time rule and sitting them in front of a film for a bit, might be worth a try. I don’t trust myself to make a good job of working from a photo unfortunately.
It is beautiful here. Amazingly so, and more every day now we’re coming into summer. I’m hoping to get out and do some outdoor painting soon, very much want to get started on some landscape but am very busy with other things atm. I don’t thing the landscape is going anywhere, thankfully 🙂
And I’m glad you liked the flower video! More of that to come at some point, but I’m busy with the colour stuff at the moment.