About
Life isn’t always comfortable but that doesn’t mean it can’t be amazing.
Welcome to The Cwtch, a personal blog featuring the good, the bad, and the ugly. I am Beth, your host for the duration of your visit. I am a 30-something, single parent to five young humans, freelance PA, history student (on a break), writer, thinker, Brownie Guide leader, and voracious reader.
In August 2020, we relocated from South Monmouthshire to a rural village along the Powys-Shropshire border and I have never felt more at home.
A to Z of me
A I spend time advocating for children with additional needs. One had a severe speech delay that required years of speech therapy while another has Di George Syndrome.
B I have been a member of Girlguiding UK for most of my life. I have recently taken on the running of the village Brownie and can’t wait for the new challenge.
C I have three cats. Gwennie is our biggest girl, she was the one who reminded how great cats are. Our newest additions are Caesar and Alfie and I love them just as much.
D Something I haven’t been able to do recently is start dating again. It is something that appeals to me, meeting someone new, but I’m not sure I want to share my space again.
E I like to consider myself somewhat of an egalitarian, upholding the rights of all people equality. It goes hand in hand with my recent realisation of feminism.
F Setting up as a freelance PA in May 2018 was the first step towards independence and played a part in the eventual oust from the house.
G I have a whole host of activities I find enjoyable. However, I regularly come back to my favourite of them all – genealogy.
H Genealogy brings me neatly to one of my other passions – history – the two fit together so well and I love this fact.
I I value my independence highly. Since my marriage ended in 2018, I have taken great pleasure in my growing independence and being able to enjoy life on my own.
J According to a quiz I completed, on of my strengths is that I am non-judgemental… It’s interesting because I find myself having to reign in some judgements.
K I am a big fan of knowledge. I often go out of my way to learn new things and I don’t stop until I’m satisfied I understand it.
L I am a member of the Labour party. Not because I believe in everything they say, but because they are the political party most closely aligned to my own beliefs.
M Over the years I have experienced a few mental health issues and, while I believe I have them under control, I know they can rear their head at any time.
N I actually use a nom de plume on this blog… The first name is accurate… the second is taken from a family of Cornish ancestors.
O I started studying with the Open University in 2010 and am within touching distance of completing my degree. I’m on a break at the moment but I will return in October 2021.
P Moving to Powys has been the best thing I have ever done. I first fell in love with the county exactly 2 years before when we holidayed in Presteigne.
Q Although I pretend not to be, I have a tendency for quixotism. I can be romantic and unrealistic, despite trying not to be.
R I am a voracious reader. No book is out of bounds and I read both fiction and non-fiction, regularly swapping between the two.
S I am working on my self-development and have been for two years. However, I don’t think it is a journey that will ever end.
T There is no act of nature that I love more than a thunderstorm. I enjoy sitting outside in them and feeling the charge in the atmosphere.
U I would like to travel around the United Kingdom in campervan. The kids laugh at me when I say as much – little do they know how serious I actually am.
V I enjoy playing Virtual Reality games. My son recently had his first VR headset and it provides hours of entertainment.
W Writing has always been a passion of mine and I love to create stories as well as write down my thoughts about my life.
X I remember coming across the word xenophobia as a teen and not being able to understand the concept. These days I understand the term but not the motivation.
Y I would love to practice yoga. I try it out every now and then but never seem to stick at it. Maybe this year that will change.
Z Astrology is a hobby of mine and I love the signs of the zodiac. I am a Gemini sun, Taurus rising, and Aquarius moon.