sand prophets

On New Year's day 2010, Andy and I were strolling along a sunny beach in North Devon, trying to make sense of the year we were leaving behind and dreaming dreams of the year ahead. As well as feeling the importance of a certain 'carpe diem' factor in the year ahead, we found ourselves talking more and more about the idea of moving to London. This was in part because we've always known that's where the jobs are for Andy, and in part because both of us tend to get an itch to move on to new things every 2-3 years, and we had both begin to feel the biennial of winds change.

In what was probably a mixture of hubris and hope, we scrawled '2010 LONDON' in the sand. I think at the time the idea was more representative of our hope for change - to shake off 2009 and a certain feeling of inertia it had engendered, but now the action feels oddly prophetic of a new chapter for us both.

About a month ago, an incredible new job opportunity dropped out of the sky for Andy. Imagination called him up and offered him a job (it actually was almost that strange and simple) and it was just too good to pass up. Given that we have grown really fond of Manchester and especially its residents, we'd always said we would only make a move if there was a compelling reason, and this opportunity most definitely falls into that category. Challenge, creativity, travel, variety...the job itself holds a lot of good things for Andy, and a new adventure in London presses both of our buttons.

I've become convinced over the years that the heart is often prepped for the things that life will next bring it, so now it seems no coincidence that we both have been feeling the itch for a new chapter, and that I have - in the space of a few months - gone from loathing the very idea of London to chomping at the bit to see what a new life there holds for us.

I'm not unaware that the move will be bittersweet - we'll be leaving behind some incredibly dear and inspiring people in Manchester, and I know from New York that big-city living is taxing in both the literal and metaphorical sense. Nonetheless, a move to London feels timely and exciting; a new door which we'll step through together to see what happens!

Andy started his new job this week while I'm holding the fort up north for the summer, continuing my work at the Medical Foundation and on my dissertation to see out my Masters. It's funny, somehow just writing this blog post makes it all feel more real - so far I've had a vague sense that there should be someone else in my bed at night and the enormity of the change ahead hasn't sunk in. We've handed in our notice on our tenancy so by the end of August we'll be moving to southern climes...in the meantime, I'm grateful that my head still feels very much rooted in Manchester for now. I intend on soaking up all the great things about life up here while it continues! I kicked the summer off with a skydive and this weekend sees the wedding of a dear friend and a mini-festival to keep the good times rolling...