Decisions, decisions...

We moved 'oop narth' for DH's job in 2007.  It's not something that we had ever planned to do, but he wasn't really given a choice - so rather than live apart during the week and only seeing each other at weekends, we decided to up sticks, leave Essex and ended up in a village in beautiful Northumberland.  Over a very short period of time, we have become fully integrated in the community, active members of our new church and both regularly volunteer.  I also fell into a part-time teaching role and have joined a choir which I really enjoy and we all have a busy and active social calendar.  The children settled quickly and love their new life in the country.  We have all made a fabulous group of new friends too.  Life couldn't be better.

DH had his annual appraisal yesterday, which went very well.  He's currently on a fixed term contract for the company he's been with since he left school, but we are very aware that we are in the final 9 months of the term and that he needs to move into another position in the autumn.  This situation may force another house move, which we are keen to avoid.  DH could change jobs within the company at any time though, whenever he sees something that interests him.  Funnily enough, an interesting job opportunity was mentioned to him during his appraisal, which he has been researching today.  It sounds as if the role calls for experience and a skill-base that he already has and may also have the flexibility to work from home, which would mean that we don't need to move and the job also carries an enhanced benefits package.  The downside is that it calls for regular international travel and could entail frequent and possibly long periods of time apart, over a period of years.  We shall have to think long and hard about this before he applies.  Although the autumn seems a long way off right now, there may not be many other interesting opportunities between now and then.  If he doesn't go for this job, there is a risk that he may end up being forced into a job he does not want to do, to meet the company's requirements and the non-negotiable time scale of the autumn.  A very difficult decision.

The decision I need to make today, however, is do I take DH up on the offer of an evening out at our local gastro-pub, alone, together, tonight.  Whilst this is a relatively rare and very attractive proposition, the prospect of eating out could completely blow the potential results of the self-deprivation I have endured since the beginning of the year (curry excluded).  The thought of thickly buttered bread, rich cream sauces, hand cut rustic chips, fine wine and a dark chocolate pudding are extremely alluring, but could quite probably reduce my weight loss potential this week to nil.  Admittedly, one can always make intelligent choices, even when eating in a restaurant, however, if I wanted a glass of water with grilled chicken, steamed vegetables and boiled potatoes I could just as easily save the money and make it myself at home.

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