July-(147)

One year ago today, on Indy’s fifth birthday, we waved goodbye to England and set out on a grand family adventure. Today we celebrated Indy’s sixth birthday and one year of Happy Coulson.

At 1am on Friday 20 July 2012 (it’s exactly 1am on 20 July 2013 as I write this), we unlocked the doors of a rather rundown and musty smelling old farmhouse. The next day we had our first alfresco lunch in the overgrown garden and plucked up the courage to tackle the marshy pond the estate agent had optimistically called a swimming pool.

July-(160)

July-12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One year on and I think we have earned the right to pause for a moment and look back at everything we have achieved:

 

028

And it’s not just the things we can see that we can be proud of. So far, we have provided accommodation for 58 pilgrims and 12 B&Bers, started local yoga and Zumba classes and witnessed our children becoming bilingual. The house is always full of life – sometimes we have 12 for dinner, often from several different countries. It is hard work and there is still so much to do. We will never be rich but we might just make this work. With help from friends, family and workaways, Happy Coulson really is becoming the dream we had.

Be the change you want to see in the world.
Or as our French student, Pauline, would say: “Quand on veut, on peut”.
Happy days indeed.

Filed under: Happy Coulson

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