Last Day in Eastbourne

This morning the farm experiences continued as I went along as Henry took a bullock and lambs to the slaughterhouse. He told me about going to the abattoir a while ago so it was interesting to go along for the ride and see the place in person. I love driving through the countryside and towns here. Today the rolling hills and old villages covered in mist and a heavy layer of frost were extra beautiful.

On the way home we stopped by the butcher shop and Richard introduced me to the other butcher, Steve, with the words, "This is Amanda. She's from Canada and she shot and gutted an elk." The shop is the real deal with big chunks of meat and whole pigs hanging in the cooler. I was a little mesmerized by watching Richard rapidly twist a length of sausage into links. Yes, I'm easily entertained.

The Browns have been incredibly hospitable and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with their family, but yesterday I decided that today is the day to return to Hook. I want to leave before they get sick of me since I'm planning to come back eventually!

When I decided to move to the UK with a departure date in the fall I knew I would be spending Christmas away from home for the first time. I wanted to celebrate Christmas with a laid-back family who would remind me of home but with some British touches so I could have some new experiences. I wanted there to be kids to play with to keep me laughing even when I got lonesome for home. I wanted to blend into a crowd and not be treated like a formal guest. With so many people and books telling me about the British reserve, I didn't hold out much hope for finding a Christmas like I wanted. It turned out that I was incredibly blessed to enjoy above and beyond all I had hoped for - beautiful scenery, a fun family, and lots of new experiences.

Thank you to Richard, Margaret, James, Becky, Ian, Esther, Jess, Rosie, and Henry for welcoming me to join in on your Christmas celebrations!

Now it's back to the world of job hunting... though I'm working on other travel plans in case I can't find a job in the next little while.