So BIG ANNOUNCEMENT klaxon: we’re moving back down South in the summer, to Windsor most likely, or close by in the outskirts of London.
My heart is set on the Queen’s holiday town to be honest and we’ve found some pretty houses online we’re going to start viewing soon. The time feels resolutely right to make the move, and whilst I’ll miss my family up North, I’m looking forward to a shorter commute than the sometimes daily 7 hour round-trips I’m doing weekly, at the moment.
We love Yorkshire- I was born in Leeds and grew up in a quaint little town called Ilkley which is more the size of a village, in an Enid Blyton style childhood of tree climbing and days spent playing by the river than ran by our house. We moved to North Leeds when I was 7, to the house my parents still live in overlooking a reservoir and fields as far as the eye could see.
I left for London when I got a place at Goldsmiths, University of London at 18, craving the bright lights of the capital, dreaming big from those days. I would inform my folks I’d live and settle in the city one day so felt I was living the dream when I moved for uni. Whilst Leeds is a dynamic city, London has a vibrancy like no other city in the UK. It was, and still is the hub of the media and film industry, an area I moved into after my MA in directing.
I was a TV Director and filmmaker pre-kids and assumed I’d return back after my first baby, Oliver was born in 2010. I sadly suffered from a traumatic birth and spent most of my son’s first year feeling incredibly low and lacking in confidence. It was only when I started this blog when Oliver was 10 months old, I slowly started to rediscover myself again. I returned to directing ads but by the time I was pregnant with Alexander, blogging and vlogging had become my full time career. An accidental career I loved which was not only enriching but flexible too, something directing around kids was not.
..We actually ended up back in Leeds en route to Bristol, after we spent Christmas with my folks in 2010, and I decided I didn’t want to leave. I knew in order to heal I needed the support of my family. It takes a village to raise a baby-and a mum too. My twitter village helped immensely too as did a super therapist and support with raising Oliver from relatives.
And what a time it’s been since there.
These last 6 years back have been kind to us. Our house here overlooks the open countryside and it’s been a joy sharing our lives with my Big Fat Greek family and some of my oldest friends. I’ve continued to grow my business from my kitchen table (the one I’m writing my book from too) and life is honestly good…however it could be GREAT, in the sense that I wouldn’t need to travel as frequently or reject the most amazing invitations I can’t schedule around the kids and I’ll have loads more energy! What’s not to love?!
We spent half term looking at areas and are back again at Easter. We’re sad we sold our place in Barnes now, but no one has a crystal ball, hey. There are some beautiful houses in Windsor we love and we had a lot of fun exploring Berkshire so those are the areas we’re set on.
We’re lucky that we spent 11 years living all over London so feel we know it well.
The plan is a summer move in time for Xander to start school in September. Exciting and inevitably slightly scary times ahead.
I know in my heart it’s the right thing for us all and can’t wait for the adventures ahead…
Finally, LA is the plan for us as family but first things first.
Watch this space.
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So exciting. Moving to a new place is full of excitement and promise, and I love that you have a long-term goal of LA. Mine is Italy 😉 Good luck with the house-hunting.
Oh I love Italy and lived in stunning Rome for a short while after uni. Here’s to making our dreams come true x
Exciting times ahead, good luck with the move and LA in future how amazing, Chloe #BrilliantBlogPosts
Thanks Chloe xx
How exciting! Good luck with the move, I’m sure you’ll find somewhere lovely to settle. And LA? Gosh! Aim for the stars! #BrillBlogPosts
Thanks, loved LA when I was there as a film director. Think it will be where we end up x
good luck with the move – windsor is a beautiful place! #brilliantblogposts
Really is, love it and the surrounding parts, thanks x
I nearly went to Goldsmiths too! But I eventually went to the IOE… I hope you will find a nice new place. Coming closer to London must be exciting! Looking forward to reading it all !
#brillblogposts
No way, fab uni huh, loved it there. Thanks for your kind words. Excited to read about your move too. We’ll have to meet up!
Good luck with the move, we’re heading back to London too, I empathise with the whole uprooting your life and starting over. Berkshire is beautiful looks like you are kind of getting the best of both worlds. #brillblogposts
Oh that’s fab news, we’ll have to meet! x
I’m so excited for you. London really is amazing and I feel so fortunate that I can be in the city in 45 minuets. Good luck house hunting #globalblogging
Thanks Michelle, that commute is perfect, I think Windsor is 40 minutes commute. Where are you based? x
I’m so excited to continue following your journey! Good luck with the move, very exciting times.
I went to uni at Huddersfield so have a real soft spot for West Yorkshire. Good luck with the move #brillblogposts
We’ll miss it but we’ll be back lots
I lived in Uxbridge for a while and to be honest didn’t like it as was commuting in to work in Liberty of London every day on Carnaby Street. It was right after University and I had very little funds (hence living so far out) but I LOVE London so so much… would be great to meet up with you sometime as Im in Hampshire now so not far <3 Im going to be sending you an email this week about that interview you suggested lovely! #brilliantblogposts
Oh fab, thanks and yes we must meet. I think the older I’ve gotten has meant commuting isn’t so bad but 7 hours round trip is too much every week now. Love Liberty x
Wow exciting times indeed! As you know, I love Yorkshire, but I can understand the pull that London has too. I hope that the house hunting goes well (it can be tricky when you’re hunting over the internet rather than “on the ground”) and that you find the perfect place really soon #brillblogposts
Thanks Lucy, we are going back in Easter to look at the houses too, we won’t be buying online. Exciting times ahead x
Oooh exciting times ahead! Windsor won’t know what’s hit it! 😉 Hope all goes smoothly – I can imagine you won’t miss 7 hour round trips no matter how nice Virgin Trains are!! Xx
Haha, thanks lovely, love Virgin Trains and its’ only 2 1/2 one way but I need to move as need to be in London lots xx
Exciting times! Good luck with the move. Must’ve been a difficult decision but sounds as though it’s right for you! x
Thanks Megan, it was but it’s been on the cards for a while now and we know it’s the right thing x
How exciting for you all! I’m a northern girl through and through, we are in Lancashire and I genuinely can’t imagine that we will ever leave, but I can completely see the appeal of the south! LA sounds amazing, I don’t doubt for one minute that you will end up there! #Brilliantblogposts
Thanks darling, that’s the dream and after 11 years in the South, I feel like my heart is split so home feels North and South xx
good luck with the move. I hope the transition is a smooth one for everybody. Every once in a while I get the itch to move someplace a bit warmer! #brilliantblogposts
Ha true, here’s to LA in a few years!
Wow, that is so exciting. A new adventure. Good luck with it all.
#brillblogposts
How exciting Vicki! Windsor is absolutely gorgeous, I’m sure you’ll love living there. It will make such a difference not having to commute too. xx
Really excited for the move xx
Yay, I love London and couldn’t imagine not being here. Really exciting news. Loads of luck x.
Thanks, excited to be closer to the capital x
How exciting! I have always fancied living in London but don’t think that will happen for us, hope things go smoothly for you x
What an exciting adventure for you all! Good luck with the move! #brillblogposts
Exciting times ahead! Good luck with it all. #brilliantblogposts
What an exciting time for you! Good luck with it all. #brilliantblogposts
Change is good. Seriously, who wants such a long commute. Think about how much more you’ll get done when you’re not stuck on the road for all those hours. #brillblogposts
Exactly and thanks 🙂
Vicki I’m so envious… I’d do anything to get out of the South West and move back to London or the South East!! Hope it goes really well for you – Windsor is gorgeous, I’m from Berkshire myself so you’ve chosen well 🙂
Catherine x
Aw fab, maybe you can make the move too, would love to see more of you x
What an exciting but stressful time! I hope it all goes well! #BrillBlogPosts
Thanks Laura x
Ooh wow how exciting very very good luck thanks for inspiring me x
Exciting times ahead. Hope you will be happy in your new place. I know it’ll be hard, but it’ll be an exciting adventure xx
Thank you darling, really looking forward to the next adventure xx
What a fun & stressful time, Vicki!
But that commute? I can’t imagine how you’ve been doing that! Wowza!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Even at just once a week it’s so tiring so can’t wait to move xx
Cannot wait for you to move lovely! We love Windsor, but anywhere around London is great, and you will be much closer to us xxx Bring on the summer xxx
Yay can’t wait to be close to you sis, excited xx
Your timing seems spot on mama, it’s been on the cards for a while at least in your heart, hasn’t it? But I imagine so difficult to pull away from the familiarity of nearby family and that lush Yorkshire countryside. However, Windsor and Berkshire are gorgeous and it will be amazing to have you guys so much closer to town. Can’t wait x
Thank you darling, definitely been on my mind a lot and so glad we’ve started making plans. Sad to leave my family here but know in our hearts it’s the right thing to do and we’ll still visit lots. Excited to be close to you and the girls xx
Exciting times! Hope it’s all hassle free – can’t be easy trying to find a place when you’re at the other end of the country. Hopefully this means I’ll get to see you now as our next meet up is like a year overdue 🙂
I know, that would be so fab Dave, we always have such a laugh!
Very exciting times ahead for you Vicki, sounds like the right time in your lives to be moving back down south again. I’m biased towards the big smoke as I’ve been here for 20 years now but Windsor is just lovely too. Good luck! x
Aw thanks Susie, really does feel like the right time. We love it here but are excited for our next adventure xx
V exciting times ahead for you! Must come and visit ? Xxx ( I love Windsor, and Js best friend lives just nearby….. ??)xx
You will definitely be coming gorgeous, missing you already xx
Ooh I grew up in Ilkley too! I lived on Valley Drive. Good luck with your move 🙂
Oh what exciting news lovely! You’ll have so much more energy without that huge commute. Just make sure LA is via Aus 🙂 x x
Oh yes darling, have to come see you in Aus for sure xx
An exciting move, and one that sounds right for your family at this moment in time. Not easy leaving your family behind I guess, but you’ve got to do what’s right for you. Hopefully we’ll manage to catch up for coffee dates x
Thanks darling, would love to see you more, yay! xx
What can I say? Welcome back! Barnes is very near to me and like you say, no other city is as vibrant. Winsor is lovely. Good luck with your move Vicki x
http://www.vanityandmestyle.com
Thanks Laurie, super excited xx
OO how exciting – I moved from Yorkshire south 24 years ago! I love London but am always back in Yorkshire visiting family! I reckon we have the best of both worlds – good luck lovely lady and I look forward to reading all about it
Clare X
Absolutely darling, love that, my heart has always been in two places and home is where you make it and we’ll visit lots xx
Aww Vicky I can’t believe you’re moving as you always feel so local to me but it sounds like a wonderful next chapter. I used to work in old Windsor for a bit and it’s so beautiful and so lovely to live in and family friendly. I will be following your journey on here 🙂 x
Thank you darling, ooh would love to meet before we go xx
Best of luck finding a lovely family home darling, it’s a big but sounds like worthwhile move for you. Exciting times!xx
Thanks darling, exciting times xx
Good luck Vicky for your big move. Windsor is a stunning place to live. My daughter left Yorkshire a few years ago to pursue a high flying career working for the Government in Westminster. I was heartbroken but I knew she needed to go to further her career as it just couldn’t be done living in Leeds. Everything will work out for you and you must follow your heart. My best wishes and all the luck in the world for you and your family. xxx
Thank you so much Susanna and your daughter sounds amazing. Really excited for the next part of our lives xx