It’s been a bit quiet here, hasn’t it? I’d apologise, but for once I’ve got a VERY good reason for my failure to update and the lack of doll/crochet/knitting/whatever related chatter. This is BIG news people!

Back in April I applied for a random graduate scheme vacancy I stumbled upon, not really expecting anything to come of it. I was called in for an interview, which went very well – well enough for the company to send me away with some programming tests for a software engineering role instead of the graduate scheme. Skip a couple of months of testing, going back and forth, meeting various other people, and it turns out Dan & I have to up and move to Leeds as soon as possible. I start my new job as a software engineer as soon as we’ve moved over to Leeds.

I’m gutted to be leaving Rocky Horrors, but I’ve always known deep down that this day would come. I’ve not locked up once this past week without tears in my eyes. I have poured so much of myself into that shop over these past three years, it really feels like home. My colleagues aren’t colleagues, they are family. The role isn’t a job, it’s a part of my identity, part of who I am… But as much fun as it is being a professional Rockys Wench, it’s not a career. It’s never been a long term thing. One day Dan & I want to be buying our own house, getting married, and having cats/dogs/babies etc.  We can’t do this without this huge leap of faith. This is a fantastic opportunity for both of us – I’ll be starting on an amount equal to our combined income two months ago, and I’ll be given so much in the way of training and other benefits it’s almost unbelievable. There are heaps more opportunities for Dan out in Leeds too – everything is very exciting right now. Exciting and terrifying, but we have each other. I don’t think I could do this without him.

We’re in a total state of chaos at the minute – turns out trying to pack your life up into boxes and move to another city as soon as you possibly can is horrible. We’re super stressed out, barely sleeping, and very thankful of our close friends and family. I’ll be updating my Twitter as much as possible, so if you want to keep up to date follow me here.

Thankfully life isn’t all stress and panic and nostalgia – as always, toys and cute things are keeping me sane and happy.

This is Captain Cobalt. He is an exclusive Super Duper Caped Cavey, only available at San Diego Comic-Con 2010. I’m lucky enough to have some awesome friends, who happened to be out in San Diego for said con, and happen to be very enthusiastic about seeking out toys for me!

Hope everyone is well in internet lands – I’m off to listen to some Ministry and wait for Dan coming home.

Today I picked up my Hey Cavey from the Post Office! Caveys are a new line of adorable plush toys from Holly at A Little Stranger. Mine is a Brown Bear Cavey, limited to just 10 of his kind, and I was lucky enough to just get the very last one!

I fell in love with the Brown Bear Cavey because his colouring makes him look just like the teddy bear I had as a child, Mr Ted. I will have to get a picture of them together some time! Brown Bear Cavey has been hanging out with me all day – hiding with Dan’s chilli plants, and enjoying the shade outside our house. I think I’m going to have some wonderful adventures with my new friend!

You can find out more about Cavey and future releases at the Hey Cavey website. Be sure to check out the Hey Cavey pool on Flickr too for more cuteness!

Last Wednesday I went galavanting around Manchester with my darling friend Hevs, and our Belgian Blythe sisters Iggy & Estée. My robot bunny Dunny of joy came too.

Yes, that IS an Oreo cupcake. Yes, it WAS delicious. The cakey part had chocolatey cookie flecks, the buttercream was to die for, and the Oreo was just… nom! Hevs had a vegan Jammy Dodger cake that looked (& I assume tasted) equally wonderful.

I tried bubble tea for the first time -

I had strawberry flavoured bubble tea – it was as sickly sweet as the colour may suggest. Strangely addictive, I’ve been looking around for tapioca pearls online since last week now, and aching to try more flavours. I still can’t get an accurate picture of my green fringe – it’s actually impossible.

We rounded the day off in Oklahoma, with more tea drinking and cake consumption. This is the (amazing!) vegan toffee cake I had.

Cake and tea and chatter with Hevs is something I have missed. It’s hard to believe that the last time we saw each other was in November 2008. We used to hang out and visit each other loads, but since we both finished university work has always gotten in the way, and trying to arrange to spend time together has been like trying to herd cats. Hopefully no more!

Anywho, today is my first proper day off in ages – nothing urgent to do, nowhere specific to go, and I am a happy bunny because of this. What do you like to do when you have, well, nothing to do?