Friday, 25 September 2015

ALL ABROAD! FIRST STOP: KENLEY

Rhymes with Henley and starts with a ‘K’. Yes, folks, that’s right – one’s year of nomadic living has officially started in K-K-Kenley!


Virtually a village (it’s pitch black at night!), yet with the everyday conveniences of oh ye faithful post box(?!), Co-Op and a cash point - equipped with a mere half hour commute into central London – Kenley has all that modern-day-malarkey, as one makes the leap of faith from moving out of Central London and potentially onto the <gulp!> ‘property ladder’. Big stuff… You also have here the *beautiful* Surrey Downs – so ample green space - and at just 36 minutes away is Gatwick Airport. This really is South London’s suburbia at its finest… ;)


Sooo enough about Kenley itself, before you begin to think I'm employed by their tourist board, and let the adventure begin! Why am I here? Good question! For yes, I have mentioned nomadic living, and here I am on my very first house-sitting assignment with this cute lil’ fella; Hunter! A gorgeous, small cat who fits in all my little nooks and crevices when I sit or rest up. Bless him… I am taking care of him and his owner’s flat while they’re away.



Is that a bit weird? Living in someone else’s place…? Well, actually, surprisingly - no. We all need new perspectives, and a change in environment gives you exactly that. It keeps the senses attuned – but not overly - because I am still in Blighty, after all! But it definitely inspires, as it’s unlikely I would have created certain paintings, had I been in my normal location. Plus – you are living in a ‘human being’s’ place – not Martians! We’re all more similar that you may allow yourself to think ;)



Sounds good! Any challenges? Well, erm, I guess there was this small case of Hunter half-heartedly attacking a mouse, as cats do. On the stairwell. Close to the flat. I wasn't entirely sure how I would stop Hunter from bringing the mouse in either – he has a tag on his collar which ‘beeps him in’ through his cat-flap (so I don’t wake up to half a dozen cats). Anyway, it was all fine in the end. Just the minuscule embarrassment of me *yelling* at a tiny cat through a quiet block of flats, going ‘NOOOO, Hunter, noooo! – that MOUSE. Does. Not. Belong. here!’ In my high-pitched voice, saved for these very such occasions.  Ah well, at least no-one knows me round here ;0


So that’s all from me. Mahlia Amatina. Reporting live from Kenley. Over and out now… 

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