Having quotes for removals is proving interesting. All this moving home is informing me of a whole new industry and how it works. In this day of recycling there are no tea chests anymore. Its all cardboard boxes and some companies charge you for all the boxes you use and some don't but do they include the charge within their prices? Future quotes will tell. I feel sorry for the actual removal men as it seems they only get paid for the jobs they do and apparently work is slow this year, well with the housing market slowing they are bound to be the knock on effect. An unheard of casualty.
We started properly on the loft yesterday finding old toys and clothes from when the boys were younger. Best find was a scrap book I had made with Chris about Wales. I was about 7 months pregnant with Phil at the time and its funny reading all the entries made at a time of hope for the new baby and still hope for our marriage. Who was to know that years of misery and warring was to follow although of course blessed by our lovely Phil. We also found a little book made by Chris at school about his boby brother whith a little picture of Phil with outstretched armes in a green babygro and a very pink face. Ahhh cute.
Lost wifi connection both here and at work which was both frustrating and a blessing because it gave me time to sort out the airing cupboard.
Monday, 16 November 2009
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Come in and welcome
Bovis phoned earlier this week about the carpet choice, they later found our original choice but it gave me the opportunity to ask about potential dates etc. Apparently the 30th of November is wwhen the carpets go in and then approximately a week to ten days after the house should beours. So this time next month we could be sitting in our new home!! Its all very exciting and I am busy but methodically sorting out stuff and packing things we don't use all that often. I've done all the ornaments and pictures and bits and pieces and cleared out the bureau yesterday. Today I aim to finish the area around this computer and possibly sort out the kitchen carousel and give that a good clean.
Jackie came round in the week and apparently Daniel and Sophie might now be interested in the house afterall. This would be brilliant in so many ways but also slightly embarrassing as I am sure my housework standards are not to Jackies!
We've had a quite a few visitors lately what with the boys and different people popping in for house stuff like yesterday we had the carpet people round who made a great fuss of Colin and we had a chat. Earlier in the week a young CID woman officer called by regarding the attempted break in at Mary's and she got completely distracted by Colin. I think both Richard and I like havng visitors and this is definetely something I would want to encourage in our new home.
I envisage our home being busy and often full of people. I want our home to be the place where you go a warm inviting and happy place where people enjoy our company. My ethos will be come in and welcome.
Jackie came round in the week and apparently Daniel and Sophie might now be interested in the house afterall. This would be brilliant in so many ways but also slightly embarrassing as I am sure my housework standards are not to Jackies!
We've had a quite a few visitors lately what with the boys and different people popping in for house stuff like yesterday we had the carpet people round who made a great fuss of Colin and we had a chat. Earlier in the week a young CID woman officer called by regarding the attempted break in at Mary's and she got completely distracted by Colin. I think both Richard and I like havng visitors and this is definetely something I would want to encourage in our new home.
I envisage our home being busy and often full of people. I want our home to be the place where you go a warm inviting and happy place where people enjoy our company. My ethos will be come in and welcome.
Monday, 9 November 2009
So let me tell you about Colin or rather Colin/Damien.
A week ago last Friday I had a text from Jackie next door asking me to call in. When they opened the door Leanne was holding in the palm of one hand the smallest blackest cutest and calmest and most chillest kitten. Wrong sex as we had said if you get a female stray kitten but how could you resist something that just sat in the palm of your hand and snuggled up to you almost purring?
We took him home on a trial basis just incase Bruce really did object and that night he had some kitten milk although was not eating just yet. We wondered how old he was although the vets thought he was 6 weeks we were not sure if he had been weaned or not.
The next day he was still calm but once we found he liked dried biscuits he found his appetite and still loved the kitten milk. Now he was pooing and weeing which was a relief and using his tray which was brilliant and now was really purring everytime we went into his room to make a fuss of him.
There was no more chilled and calm Colin the cat (named after the Collins) now we had a little demon who would jump out on your feet as you passed the clothes horse or bite your hands or your ankles. Now we had a little black imp who stood on two feet to get higher with paws outstretched to get to you.
Chris said as we got him the night before halloween we should call him Damien and although I resisted on nights like tonight when you can't relax without him jumping and biting and scratching I am beginning to wonder and so he is good calm Colin and bad naughty Damien. We must make sure that it is Colin who wins.
Sunday, 8 November 2009
This House
We've exchanged contracts now and are just waiting for the house to be completed and then its all systems go go go. I've gone from sheer terror at the thought of such a big mortgage and lifestyle change to really feeling frustrated at the slowness of things. I feel like we are running in slow motion and I just want to hurry it all up and get to the part where I am unpacking things and planning the garden and getting to know the area. I have to keep myself in check otherwise this new house is going to be such a dissapointment as it will never reach my expectations at this rate. I am excited though and found myself literally shrieking and jumping with joy and excitement when the contracts were exchanged.
I thought as we won't be here much longer I would run through this present house as a way of keeping a written reminder of what it is like in LGF.
Bedroom 2 is a apparently a double bedroom size (to us its the smaller of the two rooms). When we first moved in it was Chris's room with jungle wallpaper and graffe lampshade. Later it became our bedroom and later again it was back to being Phil's room now it belongs to Colin the kitten (he deserves his own post another time). This room faces north and out on to the garden. It was lying in bed in this room when I heard the chaffinch singing his heart out one spring which inspired me to find out what bird was making that gloriously loud song every morning. I then became really interested in bird watching and now regularly feed and watch my birds from all the windows overlooking the garden.
Bedroom 1 is a large double bedroom more wide than deep but big enough for when both boys were here for them to have a large space in the bedroom. Now its our room and this faces south and the road and opposite houses, from my bed I have a view of the roofs opposite and little bit of sky. From this window I would peer and squint through the bushes and trees opposite and just be able to see the window of Chris's first class when he started school. Sometimes I would think I could see a child at the class window and wondered if it were him? I see now I was suffering from anxious mum syndrome and give myself a little sympathy. This room is currently two shades of very pale lavender/white and a deep crimson maroon on a 'feature wall' (estate agent speak). The carpet was a donation from Marion whose husband was a project manager for a chain of pubs and earllier shops so our carpet can often be seen in various places and has worn very well although is actually a horrid red colour.
The bathroom is quite large and has its own story posted on here just 18 months ago. It is now a very smart white with grey tiles bathroom although I should clean those tiles more often I am a bit lazy where that is concerned.
Come through the hall which has bookcases and a very worn and cat torn carpet to the hall and into the sitting room. This is a large room which runs the length of the house with windows letting in the south and north. It used to be a warm house and sitting room however since we replaced carpet with laminate flooring and I dont think the heating is that efficient it is a cold and draughty room in winter. Last year I was going to bed at 8 just to be warm althouth I suppose I could have used the gas fire more often.
This has large flowery modern wallpaper on the fireplace wall and beige wallpaper on the others. We had a leak last year and it was decorated by profeesionals through the insurance but to be honest I think the dark flowery wallpaper was a mistake and another good reason to go. The fire is nearly thirty years old and looks terrible but to replace it would mean replacing the backboiler and we need to get some rental revenue in order to afford that.
This is the room where we live. We eat here either separately on our laps in front of the tv or sometimes at the table with family and friends. Christmases have been spent here playing games, not talking, rowing, opening presents, dressing trees and watching tv. Last Christmas we had a houseful and it was brilliant with lots of laughs, good food and plenty of drink. We all played games and opened presents and there was lots of love and good will abound. Iwant to take that feeling to the new house.
The kitchen is small and causes endless arguments as we jostle around each other to make a cup of tea or open the fridge door or cook a meal. This room had its own makeover a few years back and is much better than when we first moved in with its two plug points and a wonky worktop. We did however keep the oldfashioned broom cupboard and larder with its stone shelf. I shall miss these.
The kitchen goes out into the garden which is long and as wide as the house. Being north facing it only gets the sun on the patio area in May and June and early July but the garden is where I spend as much time as possible in the summer. My happiest memories are sitting at the garden table eating breakfast with both Molly and Bruce for company, listening to the birds.
I always tried my best with the garden although earlier mistakes still haunt this garden with the biggest mistake when both Jackie and I planted Russian vine to stop the dogs from rushing up and down and wearing out the grass. This plant now takes over everything and provides endless work for both our houses. A plague of russian vine on both our houses!! Success have included my hanging baskets and pots and I have to admit in the summer it does have the cottage feel to it and has given me huge pleasure in both producing and maintaining and sitting amongst it. This year I have grown veg for the first time and my cucumber was the best thing ever!! Although our new garden will be north facing and smaller than this one I am not daunted and intend to make it like a large patio with pots and plants that I know do well in the shady areas. I am also intending to put my name down on an allotment and want to grow that veg again.
Back though the kitchen and sitting room to the hall where I sit now listening the Archers omnibus while typing this blog. The computer table is under the stair well and surrounded by boxes of books and cd's and other paraphanalia. You could describe it as a cosy study area or a small place in amongst all the stuff we accumulate where you can just squeeze your body in. I am going to sort this place out today. However this place has been busy since the advent of internet with Phil playing games, Richard talking to different people across the world about races etc and me reaching out of my lonliness to find comfort, excitment and new friends and some mistakes via the internet. Its from here I met Craig which was a horrible experience but which also led to other more positive friendships including Bristol and Aurora and Tony. I have booked so many holidays from this chair and explored so many places and of course typed up this blog.
This hall is a sunny room on good days but today with the rain and drizzle its a bit November gloomy. Out of our blue front door and onto the street with Jill and Paul and Mary and Pete on the left hand side. All very good people but Elvis is not my favourite singer and listening to the incessant laughter and noise every suumer day has driven me mad and yes I know it was my own intolerance as they are all very nice people who don't keep you awake wiht loud noises and would help you if you needed it. The otherside is Jackie and Ian who have been neighbours for 26 years and who cried when I told her we were moving. Phil and Daniel used to share both our gardens with the little gate between them they could choose from twice the toys and even decide what dinners they wanted best. Phil was lucky playing on next doors swing set and Daniel could play subbuteo or lego in our house.
In this house I have cried with sadness for pets, miscarriages, broken marriage dreams and bereavement when my Dad died. In this house a young couple with a small toddler son moved in and grew to include our second son. The marriage died and many horrible battles were fought none of which resulted in a satisfactory peace. My biggest regret is what did our horrible marriage do to the boys. In this house we played with our children and tried our best to show them the right way to behave, we worked and study and did our best to be upright respectable people. In this house we struggled with money and tried to buy furniture that would both be comfortable and reflect our tastes and likes. To this house we arrived young and poor with still little idea of who we were or what we wanted. From this house we leave middleaged, more sure of who we are and what we want. From this house we leave in friendship and companionship our marriage more settled and comfortable than it has for years. Now we can talk and share ideas and even enjoy each others company. I leave this house for the new with a great sense of excitement and oppotism for the future. Now I just want to get on with the rest of my life.
I thought as we won't be here much longer I would run through this present house as a way of keeping a written reminder of what it is like in LGF.
Bedroom 2 is a apparently a double bedroom size (to us its the smaller of the two rooms). When we first moved in it was Chris's room with jungle wallpaper and graffe lampshade. Later it became our bedroom and later again it was back to being Phil's room now it belongs to Colin the kitten (he deserves his own post another time). This room faces north and out on to the garden. It was lying in bed in this room when I heard the chaffinch singing his heart out one spring which inspired me to find out what bird was making that gloriously loud song every morning. I then became really interested in bird watching and now regularly feed and watch my birds from all the windows overlooking the garden.
Bedroom 1 is a large double bedroom more wide than deep but big enough for when both boys were here for them to have a large space in the bedroom. Now its our room and this faces south and the road and opposite houses, from my bed I have a view of the roofs opposite and little bit of sky. From this window I would peer and squint through the bushes and trees opposite and just be able to see the window of Chris's first class when he started school. Sometimes I would think I could see a child at the class window and wondered if it were him? I see now I was suffering from anxious mum syndrome and give myself a little sympathy. This room is currently two shades of very pale lavender/white and a deep crimson maroon on a 'feature wall' (estate agent speak). The carpet was a donation from Marion whose husband was a project manager for a chain of pubs and earllier shops so our carpet can often be seen in various places and has worn very well although is actually a horrid red colour.
The bathroom is quite large and has its own story posted on here just 18 months ago. It is now a very smart white with grey tiles bathroom although I should clean those tiles more often I am a bit lazy where that is concerned.
Come through the hall which has bookcases and a very worn and cat torn carpet to the hall and into the sitting room. This is a large room which runs the length of the house with windows letting in the south and north. It used to be a warm house and sitting room however since we replaced carpet with laminate flooring and I dont think the heating is that efficient it is a cold and draughty room in winter. Last year I was going to bed at 8 just to be warm althouth I suppose I could have used the gas fire more often.
This has large flowery modern wallpaper on the fireplace wall and beige wallpaper on the others. We had a leak last year and it was decorated by profeesionals through the insurance but to be honest I think the dark flowery wallpaper was a mistake and another good reason to go. The fire is nearly thirty years old and looks terrible but to replace it would mean replacing the backboiler and we need to get some rental revenue in order to afford that.
This is the room where we live. We eat here either separately on our laps in front of the tv or sometimes at the table with family and friends. Christmases have been spent here playing games, not talking, rowing, opening presents, dressing trees and watching tv. Last Christmas we had a houseful and it was brilliant with lots of laughs, good food and plenty of drink. We all played games and opened presents and there was lots of love and good will abound. Iwant to take that feeling to the new house.
The kitchen is small and causes endless arguments as we jostle around each other to make a cup of tea or open the fridge door or cook a meal. This room had its own makeover a few years back and is much better than when we first moved in with its two plug points and a wonky worktop. We did however keep the oldfashioned broom cupboard and larder with its stone shelf. I shall miss these.
The kitchen goes out into the garden which is long and as wide as the house. Being north facing it only gets the sun on the patio area in May and June and early July but the garden is where I spend as much time as possible in the summer. My happiest memories are sitting at the garden table eating breakfast with both Molly and Bruce for company, listening to the birds.
I always tried my best with the garden although earlier mistakes still haunt this garden with the biggest mistake when both Jackie and I planted Russian vine to stop the dogs from rushing up and down and wearing out the grass. This plant now takes over everything and provides endless work for both our houses. A plague of russian vine on both our houses!! Success have included my hanging baskets and pots and I have to admit in the summer it does have the cottage feel to it and has given me huge pleasure in both producing and maintaining and sitting amongst it. This year I have grown veg for the first time and my cucumber was the best thing ever!! Although our new garden will be north facing and smaller than this one I am not daunted and intend to make it like a large patio with pots and plants that I know do well in the shady areas. I am also intending to put my name down on an allotment and want to grow that veg again.
Back though the kitchen and sitting room to the hall where I sit now listening the Archers omnibus while typing this blog. The computer table is under the stair well and surrounded by boxes of books and cd's and other paraphanalia. You could describe it as a cosy study area or a small place in amongst all the stuff we accumulate where you can just squeeze your body in. I am going to sort this place out today. However this place has been busy since the advent of internet with Phil playing games, Richard talking to different people across the world about races etc and me reaching out of my lonliness to find comfort, excitment and new friends and some mistakes via the internet. Its from here I met Craig which was a horrible experience but which also led to other more positive friendships including Bristol and Aurora and Tony. I have booked so many holidays from this chair and explored so many places and of course typed up this blog.
This hall is a sunny room on good days but today with the rain and drizzle its a bit November gloomy. Out of our blue front door and onto the street with Jill and Paul and Mary and Pete on the left hand side. All very good people but Elvis is not my favourite singer and listening to the incessant laughter and noise every suumer day has driven me mad and yes I know it was my own intolerance as they are all very nice people who don't keep you awake wiht loud noises and would help you if you needed it. The otherside is Jackie and Ian who have been neighbours for 26 years and who cried when I told her we were moving. Phil and Daniel used to share both our gardens with the little gate between them they could choose from twice the toys and even decide what dinners they wanted best. Phil was lucky playing on next doors swing set and Daniel could play subbuteo or lego in our house.
In this house I have cried with sadness for pets, miscarriages, broken marriage dreams and bereavement when my Dad died. In this house a young couple with a small toddler son moved in and grew to include our second son. The marriage died and many horrible battles were fought none of which resulted in a satisfactory peace. My biggest regret is what did our horrible marriage do to the boys. In this house we played with our children and tried our best to show them the right way to behave, we worked and study and did our best to be upright respectable people. In this house we struggled with money and tried to buy furniture that would both be comfortable and reflect our tastes and likes. To this house we arrived young and poor with still little idea of who we were or what we wanted. From this house we leave middleaged, more sure of who we are and what we want. From this house we leave in friendship and companionship our marriage more settled and comfortable than it has for years. Now we can talk and share ideas and even enjoy each others company. I leave this house for the new with a great sense of excitement and oppotism for the future. Now I just want to get on with the rest of my life.
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