Now my heart is full

My Facebook cover photo since 2009 - oak tree at Frensham Heights

I have a confession to make - I've been keeping mum about something that really is quite a major development in my modest little universe. 

Main House at Frensham Heights, under a light dusting of snow
(this photo taken shortly after our arrival from Australia, in early 2008)

A bit more than ten years ago, when the world of blogging was really in its infancy and outside my realm, I started sending out an email newsletter called Hello From Surrey. Over a period of 20 months I kept family and friends informed about the adventures Kevin and I were having, after packing up from Australia and arriving at Frensham Heights School, where we expected to be for only six months. 

Late summer at Frensham - farmland below the school
(taken in 2009)

It was something I really enjoyed doing because I've always written creatively for fun, but mainly because it was a pleasure to share the beauty of the Surrey countryside, which very rapidly captured my heart. I was frequently inspired, and the gushing superlatives and gorgeous photos came very easily.

A decade later, people still tell me how much they enjoyed those newsletters, and indeed, when speaking about me to her friends, Lesley still identifies me as 'Hello-From-Surrey-Maree' - ha! 😆

Entrance to The Secret Garden at Frensham Heights

Roberts House, where we lived for the better part of two years
- this photo taken in early 2009

The entrance to Main House, under a shroud of autumn leaves
- taken in October 2008

Leaving Frensham, though it was our decision to do so, was an incredible wrench for me. To return to the heat and drought of Australia - away from the lush green of England... all I did was wish myself back in Blighty for the next five years.

Happily, of course, we returned to the UK in 2014. It was to the other side of Surrey (Epsom), and much closer to London - so not our ideal location - but we were very glad to be back in this lovely county. 

View over the lawn from Main House, Frensham Heights
- taken one fine Autumn morning in 2008

If you're friends with me on Facebook you might have noticed that I've never, ever changed my cover photo. Since I first joined Facebook in 2009, the cover photo has been a winter shot of my favourite tree at Frensham - an ancient oak estimated to be about 300 years old. I couldn't bear to change the photo, because in some weirdly superstitious fashion I thought that leaving it there would some day guarantee my return to that beautiful place.

That shot was so special to me, and so representative of the beauty of Surrey, that my wonderful niece Eliza did a painting of it - which she presented to Kevin and me for Christmas just after we returned to Australia. It has hung in every place we've lived ever since, and is a precious reminder of both Frensham and the talent of this wonderful young woman.

Frensham Heights oak
- original painting by Eliza Persen (2009)

OK, preamble taken care of.

I am very excited to announce that after many years of wishing and hoping...

Kevin and I are moving back to Frensham!

One of Surrey's glorious tunnels of green

My delight is unbounded.

Now, some of my readers will recall that our two-bedroom flat in Roberts House was what might generously be described as 'bijoux'. It was tiny. Quite a few of you visited, not having fully believed my description of the size of the rooms, I am certain. A kitchen not large enough to accommodate anything other than a bar fridge? [Hmmm.... perhaps] No space even for a garbage bin? (it had to stand out in the hall) [Surely not!] Only a few tiny cupboards with room for four cups / glasses / bowls / plates, two saucepans, a packet of pasta, a jar of Vegemite and a few tins? [You exaggerate...] A living room so cramped that the knees of people sitting opposite each other were almost touching? [Maree, you jest!]

Those of you who did visit, quickly realised I had not been embellishing.

I'm sure some of my readers also thought I added colour for the sake of entertaining reading, with respect to the shenanigans of the Roberts House students. Trust me, I didn't need to invent drama; the escapades of the 17 and 18 year olds in the boarding house - from whose marauding we were protected by a mere door adjoining their rooms - were enough to provide dramatic content to my newsletters. 

This time around, however, not only are we moving back to Frensham, we're going to a house up the other end of the school campus, with a reasonable distance between us and the little horrors. 

It's a three-bedroom house. *gasp*

It has a small garden - squeeeee!!!!!

It has a shed (I'm sure you can hear Kevin's whoops from here...).

It has THIS VIEW:

This will be the outlook from our garden

I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that, for the first time in four years, I will be able to hang sheets outside to dry. Yes, folks - it's the simple pleasures in life that count the most.

I am like a pig in mud. The cat that ate the cream. Now my heart is full, and I urge you to take a listen to this beautiful, beautiful, beautiful song with that title, by my adored Morrissey. This is one of my favourite Morrissey songs, and it quite perfectly captures the current emotional state of yours truly.

A frosty sunrise across the front lawn at Frensham Heights
- taken in December 2008

Back at Frensham. In late August. I could just about burst with anticipation.

I'm off now, to change my Facebook cover photo.

Watch this space.

Until next time,
- Maree  xo