I hate those “I’m sorry I haven’t posted on my blog for months and months but I’ve been really busy” posts. Blogging should be a pleasure, not a chore that you must squeeze in. Plus sometimes it needs to be gently reminded of its place around activities that get you out spending time with the folk you love, or that just plain pay the bills.
Anyway, so I wasn’t planning to acknowledge my epic absence round these parts and just get on with things. But then I started thinking … we’ve been hanging out together here for a long time some of us … since 2007 in fact for some. Plus I know I always love reading what other people are up to in their lives (in addition to all that eating and cooking) and so I thought you might like to hear a little bit about what I’ve been doing.
We’re on the move
We moved into our current house nine years ago, the year before we got married. It’s been wonderful, but for a few different reasons now is the time for us to move on. In the process I’ve discovered that culinary experimentation, dirtying every pan in the kitchen then pulling out your photography equipment just don’t mix with keeping your house tidy for prospective purchasers. Especially if you happen to be a bit messy anyway, like me. Oh and finding somewhere to move to has been unexpectedly … time-consuming. Somewhere that suits the chickens, the cats, the cooks and the homeworkers in the family.
I have good reasons to believe that things are starting to fall into place finally, but let us not say too much and jinx the deal!
Portfolio careers
I’ve always loved having my fingers in a few different pies at once and so earlier in the summer I decided to reduce the hours I spend at my day job to be able to ‘pursue other interests’ (as they say). There are a few nutrition related projects in mind, plus I’m also doing some work with my husband’s ethical software development company, Versantus. He’s crazy busy and it’s rather good fun to do something arty and creative. Oh and we get to have lunch together, in our garden with the chickens. How cool is that?
Mindful learning
There has also been an extravagant trip to a far away place to learn with some amazing teachers. I’ve learnt how to use mindfulness to guide people towards a more balanced relationship with food, plus much more besides. It’s both a very different approach to how us dietitian’s normally work and a very complementary one. More on this another time if it’s of interest, and definitely more photos like the one above.
But anyway enough about me – how is your summer being spent?
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Sophie Roberts is a registered dietitian based in Oxford, UK. She loves combining her nutrition know-how with a sustainable approach to buying and preparing food and shares her tips and recipes here at Mostly Eating. 
{ 12 comments }
I’m so happy you posted this, Sophie. I’d been thinking & wondering about you lately, though I had a bit of an idea about your activities because of Twitter.
Venturing down new paths — so exciting. New home, new work, new approach to dietetic practice — I’m eager to hear more about everything when the time is right for you.
My summer evenings and weekends (ie, non-work time) are being spent in the garden and kitchen during the evening. Very pleasant for the senses and the mood. As Lucy said recently on Flickr, “don’t think there’s anything as exciting as pulling your own produce from the soil.”
I’ve been keeping half a eye on your gardening activities during my digital absence Elaine – you have such green fingers!
Out in the garden is definitely one of the best places to spend your non work time isn’t it? The house we’re hopefully going to buy is just around the corner from an allotment site. So tempted, but I mustn’t get ahead of myself…
Sounds like your busy-ness is yielding good results. The outdoor lunches with the chooks sound lovely. Do tell us more about the mindfulness next time — it’s definitely of interest.
Thanks Arwen – yes, it’s worthwhile business which is much nicer than being busy and stressed. I hope you are well too.
Good to hear from you Sophie, especially that your house moving plans sound like they’re finally coming together. Hope to catch up properly with you this weekend!
Yes, looking forward to catching up this evening hopefully!
I love the photo and wish you well with your new endeavours!
Our place is always so cluttered whether I cook or not – though it doesn’t help when I do – but I was interested to hear a friend say they have got a storage unit to unclutter their house in preparation for selling it
Thank you Johanna!
I must admit we had to resort to renting some storage to declutter our house enough to sell it. All those darn cookery books :-)
Glad to see you’re OK! Good luck with all these coming changes. may they bring some fresh breathe to your lives.
Take care, Egle
Just reading your post makes me feel excited for what the future may bring you. More on your wee jaunt would definitely be of interest: I’d love to hear more about the philosophy and psychology behind mindful eating. Did you come across any books on the subject that you could recommend, for those of us who would like to learn more?
Aaaahhh, thank you for popping by Kate – it’s lovely to have my real & virtual lives overlap. I haven’t found my perfect mindful eating book (despite diligent research!) but have found Jan Chozen Bays “Mindful Eating” one of the more readable. Will tell you more when we next meet.
oh, so wise, sophie.
(that pathway is an extraordinarily inviting photo!)
here’s to new ventures, to giving yourself the chance to catch your breath and to enjoying blogging for what it is – a hobby! xx