"Meet me at the start of this adventure..." PippaFoxen's Profile

Serendipity has long been one of my favourite words. There are a number of definitions: finding useful things by accidental sagacity; the art of finding beautiful things in unexpected places, finding interesting things when you are looking for something else

All of these definitions suit me fine and pretty much sum up my attitude to life. Whatever happens, planned or unplanned, desired or dreaded, something beautiful, useful or interesting is likely to pop up anyway. Just be ready to appreciate and enjoy it!

Looked at with conventional eyes, life has been pretty harsh to me lately. Within the space of 8 months my husband left, I lost my job, had to put my lovely house on the market and just when people said "it can't get any worse", it did, and my car was stolen and written off. I survived, and I'm enjoying my new future. So much so that I want to share it with as many people as possible.

Me - Dublin Airport -October 30th 2005

... there has to be a pony somewhere!

Another of my favourite words is 'synchronicity' ("temporally coincident occurrences of acausal events.")

As it happened, just the day before my husband unexpectedly up and left (the day after my birthday, October 6th), I had booked a short break to Ireland with a friend. I hadn't left the country or held a passport for over 10 years. In the words of K T Tunstall - 'suddenly I see, this is what I want to be'.

Three weeks later I was in Dublin. You can read about it in my travel pages very soon.

l - r - me, daughter Sara, son Arrian, his dad

Well, I thought, I've got a passport so I may as well use it.

The first Christmas after a marriage break up is always hard. Best to spend it in Amsterdam. So off I went, me and my daughter, fitting in Christmas Dinner in the Hague with my previous ex-husband and my son who had gone over to visit him a week or two before.

Christmas in Amsterdam is highly recommended - especially the Leidsepleine with its fair, music, bright lights and ice-skating.

Milnthorpe, Cumbria - January 1st 2006

Going away again for New Year wasn't really an option, sadly.

So I spent it with with my brother, sister, their partners and children, at my brother's house. Fortunately he lives in an apartment in a stately home in Milnthorpe, Cumbria.

Milnthorpe might not sound very exotic, but all of Cumbria is exceptionally beautiful, and walking in the crisp, clear light of New Years Day must be one of the best ways to start a New Year and a New Life.

I'll be writing about the area for you shortly.

Me kissing the Blarney Stone - Feb 18th 2006

First task of the New Year; book a flight to Cork, four days in a hostel - alone.

I'd not travelled alone for 20 years, and the urge to do so was irresistable. I planned it for half-term (I was a teacher), but by the time it got that far, the job was already going pear-shaped.

Didn't matter, because Cork was fantastic! I even kissed the Blarney Stone.

French Guy in Ayr

My first morning in Cork was interesting. At breakfast in my hostel, I met a lovely, friendly Frenchman. We chatted for half and hour, but he was leaving immediately for a job interview. He asked me to go with him to Galway.

I didn't (of course!). But back home and several emails later, he persuaded me to meet up with him. We spent a weekend in Ayr, Scotland. I'm afraid I can't really recommend Ayr in March, or Frenchmen at any time of year, but if you want to know more... read more in my travel pages very soon.

Me in Prague

So many changes forced upon me called for drastic action. The Universe clearly wanted me to kick out the deadwood and start a new life. I signed up for a four week course - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. I could have done it in England, or even online, but I thought 'Prague? sounds nice'.

In June I went on a four day reconnoitre of what will be my new home for at least August. Maybe longer if I can get a job there and choose to stay. It was a whistle stop tour of familiar tourist attractions and an amble through Zizkov.

Going to work, February 07

I've been living in Prague for over six months now and everything is going well. I try to document as much as I can, and if you have ever thought about teaching English (or any other language) and just need to know the ups and downs, then check out my pages. I also keep a diary on MySpace blog which I update regularly.

But lets not forget my roots in Ulverston. Still worth a mention, and one person's hometown is someone elses' holiday destination.