A leap (back) into the unknown

So, we're now on an official countdown to our move back to bonnie Scotland.

We've been planning it for so long, but not daring to dream about it too much. Trying to stay focussed on the here and now, getting through the daily commute, making our flat irresistible to buyers. We haven't dared think about what happens when February comes. Until now. That's when it suddenly struck me: I'm going freelance next year! Waaaaah!

Freelance writing isn't new to me. But suddenly it feels horribly frightening. Having to leave the protected bubble of corporate life, chasing invoices, no longer having a guarantee of work next week. Yikes.

I'm going to have to learn to sell myself and my writing skills all over again.

There may need to be a website. And a logo. And a new company name. Gulp.

But I am excited. I want to do more than write marketing bumf for pharma companies this time. I want to write articles and blog posts. Maybe even dabble in some non-pharma stuff.

I need to start networking my little butt off, dipping a toe in the proverbial water and seeing if anyone bites.

Geography shouldn't be a barrier to hiring a freelance writer in these techno savvy times of Skype and FaceTime. So I'm hoping that my location 600 miles away from any of the pharma companies I work with now, shouldn't be a problem. But old habits die hard. Agencies like the security of an in-house writer. Someone they can throw hideous 150 page slide decks at for proofreading.

So I need a plan. A foolproof plan to convince my current employers to keep me involved with my accounts and hire me freelance.

A great big sticky chocolate cake should do it I reckon. If in doubt, bribe with cake. That's a good enough moto for now I reckon. I'll worry about the finer details when I stop panicking.

Writer for hire: Healthy copy delivered with panache and a great big dollop of buttercream icing

A momentus decision

Last night, the husband and I had a bit of an epiphany.

We've been struggling since I went back to work to be honest and neither of us are happy in our jobs at the moment.

It's been a tough year healthwise with the husband in hospital for 2 months and all the worry that surrounded it. Then just when we were dusting ourselves off and getting back on our feet, Littler ended up in hospital. We're all back to full health now but I think those two episodes tipped us over the edge.

We've both been having a bit of a mid-30s crisis. We feel trapped. Our flat is too small and we need a bigger house but our jobs suck and we don't want to work longer hours, so how on earth were we going to afford a bigger mortgage?

Well, I think we made a decision last night. It won't happen overnight and it's going to take some major planning, saving and networking but at least we've taken the first step by making the decision.

*drumroll*

I think we're going to try and move back to Scotland.

Husband did some very rough calculations and it makes sense financially. It will mean a change of jobs for at least one of us, but being nearer family, having no mortgage (or a very small one) and maybe even being able to walk to work would be pretty darned good.

In theory, I could go freelance and work from home. So that would ease the pressure somewhat on the job front.

I'm rambling now, I know. But I need to write this down so we can start to visualise it and work towards making it reality.

No-one is suddenly going to give us huge payrises. We don't play the lottery. So we need to do something to turn our lives around. We have no firm ties to London and sort of ended up living here by accident. We didn't choose London, it sort of chose us....

So we bumbled along making the most of the situation, not really planning anything.

But now we have a goal. We're going to sketch out a 2 year plan and make it happen.

I'm excited and a little frightened but I also feel like a huge weight has been lifted from us. We can see a way out now.

We just need to work out the how. And save like crazy.

Home, not just for Christmas, but for good we hope

Home, where our boys can run the length of this beach every weekend if they wish

But it's all good!