LIFESTYLE
I couldn’t wait to return to the UK, and in June 2013 after a successful Parisian year, I was back on that train and heading to my new local train station in York. Adam came to collect me, although there was a point when he thought I must have fallen asleep and missed the stop as he couldn’t see me for the mound of suitcases I had carted from Gare du Nord!
Having spent the year apart, and really wanting to get a foothold in Yorkshire, I was anxious to spend as much time at home as possible so I could get to know the locals and other service spouses. Although I did work for a short while as a consultant at a couple of law firms in Yorkshire, I always knew that the only way to really be in charge of my own destiny was to set up my own business. I have since realised that there are many military spouses who have done just this, and perhaps our independent mind-set makes us the perfect candidates for being our own boss.
I absolutely love living here in Yorkshire and most of all I feel very fortunate to be living on camp. It surprises me that people assume I miss France, but I wouldn’t have it any other
way. And I was pleased when I learnt that Yorkshire was named as Europe’s Leading Destination at the World Travel Awards, shortly after I got home. This is also the neck of the woods my late grandfather was from and I can now see where he got his witty character and warmth from.
Despite being a relatively small base, there are new families arriving all the time and plenty of opportunity to meet the new arrivals at our monthly wine and catch-up evenings, cleverly disguised as ‘book club’.
Here at Linton, we really are fortunate to be at the centre of the village; there is an array of things to do and community projects to get involved in. I have found myself joining a volunteering association which serves the local community and beyond and have also helped organise coffee mornings at the newly renovated village hall. There is also a well- stocked village shop and post office and are always people to see and children to coo over at the Maple Leaf café on camp.
Shortly after I got back, Adam and I adopted our two adorable kittens Mini and Mr Perkins, a brother and sister who are as affectionate and cute as they are comical. We spend many an hour keeping them amused in the evenings, and cleaning up their muddy paw prints that they traipse in from their nightly mouse catching adventures in the fields behind the house.
After spending some time settling in, I decided at the end of last year that it was time I started thinking again about my own business and in this year I was given the go-ahead from
www.raf-ff.org.uk Envoy Spring 2014 45
the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority to set up Roche Legal. We are a bespoke Private Client Legal Services practice specialising in Wills for military personnel and things like lasting powers of attorney, elderly client legal matters and life changing matters such as death or managing the affairs of loved ones who are no longer able to because of accident or illness.. The foundation of the business is the people we advise, military or otherwise.
I hope I can draw on the success of other military wives and make the business a success.
Rachel’s new business website can be found at
rochelegal.co.uk or just pick up the phone and speak to Rachel: 01347 844 046, email
info@rochelegal.co.uk
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