For those of you who have stumbled upon my blog, without having met us or connected with us before, let me give you a little more background on who and what we are, basically the stuff that’s too long (or boring?) to go on the home page.
Rich and I grew up in the same area of Salford, Greater Manchester. We went to the same high school and at the tender age of 16 began dating (well, we went to the cinema to watch Big Mammas House, getting a lift there and back from his mum!) like I said, a tender age. Rich went from success to success with his professional football career; making his debut at Manchester United in front of 70,000 people, then going onto stints at other English clubs such as Burley, Bradford and Plymouth. It was during his time at Plymouth when he played under the legend and recently deceased, Paul Mariner.
This connection would eventually see him being taken over to play soccer in the MLS. First to Toronto, Canada, where he lived and played for 3 years and then onto The USA where he played a season for NewYork RedBulls. During all this time, we remained together, growing up with each other, our roots always intertwined, even when our branches went in different directions; he with his football, me with my studies. After I graduated with a 1st class BA Hons in English Lit, I flew over and made Toronto my home too for the next 2 years, followed by a year with Manhattan on our doorstep.
In 2016 we returned to Manchester to start a new chapter, we had changed so much during our time overseas and we both had what can only be described as an urge, to start living a little differently; with more purpose. We got married, had a baby and Rich retired at age 27. Then in 2017 with a bag full of optimism, naivety and bravery we re-located to Totnes, and opened the UKs first organic, zero waste shop. We’ve since moved into an intentional community sharing 10acres of land with 43 other people, started the UKs first organic, plant-milk in returnable and reusable glass bottles…oh and we had another baby. So, two businesses, two children at home full-time, a community to participate in… we certainly found purpose! I have also found lots of challenges along the way, especially with my mental health and the exhausting anxiety I am learning to love and nurture. This blog will be the ramblings of my mind as I try to navigate motherhood, mindfulness, minimalism and much more. If you want to know more from Rich and his move from footballer to milkman, watch his TEDtalk on the link posted below.
Wow, that’s an incredibly condensed version of the last 15 years of my life.
thelivingfamily.blog 
Amazing insight to your family life. Inspirational ❤️
LikeLike