Saturday 4 May 2013

Welcome


Damn. The entire hob needs replacing - the back rings aren't safe, they're worn down like weathered fossils. The tiny electric shower head coats water like flour through a sieve, light and drizzly. Damp pock marks the pink wall in Little A's bedroom. Why hadn't we noticed this during the viewings? Today the sink flooded the kitchen floor. At the moment, I can hear the drip, dripping into the bucket underneath the piping.

When one rents, the property usually works.

When one buys, well, like a treasure hunt of errors, there are often lots of niggles to be found.

Welcome to our new home.

We wanted a project. And now we have one.

And I absolutely love living here.

At long last Little A has a garden. I can watch clothes floating like tethered kites on the line, drying in a mid afternoon breeze. It's such a novelty living in a house, not a flat. I walk upstairs to bed. I walk downstairs to breakfast. The kitchen is on the same floor as the living room - in our old flat, the kitchen had been carved into the attic space, casseroles made with wide views of tiles and chimneys from the small roof window.


The move. Sweat and dust, lots of dust. The men in blue t-shirts arrived at 9.00 am, climbing stairs, carrying boxes, a line of worker ants. In a matter of hours they were done, their lorry filled with the complete history of our family of three. Then, potential disaster, "Mummy, mummy, I can't find Peso." Peso is Little A's rabbit, her favourite teddy. "Don't worry, he'll be in a box somewhere." "But mummy, I want him NOOOOW." Think. Think. Think. Solution. Fast. Younger Dad doesn't like my idea, but it's the best option. On our way to our new home, I take a detour into Chiswick, to a toy shop on Turnham Green, a shop with an entire row of Peso's. "Oh s'ankyou mummy, I'm going to call this one Pinto." Now she's a happy bunny for the forty minute trip up the M40 and beyond.

The first evening Little A's bedroom is assembled, our bed made, old curtains loosely hung over the bay window rails. Peso is recovered from a card box box marked essentials. We eat fish and chips soaked in ketch-up out of the paper. We share a thick melting chocolate ice cream in the back garden. A swig of cool beer straight from the bottle tastes so good.

In bed that night, something irks Younger Dad, like an itch on the ball of a well socked foot tightly laced in a walking boot. "You've got to be kidding me... why hadn't this come up on my research... this is totally doing my head in." The echoing neeeeeoooooows are unmistakable. We have moved under the flight path of airborne traffic headed north east of Heathrow. It just so happens tonight is particularly busy, a neeeeeoooooow every five minutes. "Stop laughing would you....." I think it's hilarious, a home from home, a reminder of our life in West London.


The kitchen is unpacked. The living space made homely by a few choice paintings, the all important mantel piece looks inviting - the 'welcome' cards, the wedding present by my best friend, H, taking centre stage. We have shifted the many remaining boxes against a wall in the lounge - there are big plans afoot, projects that are likely to begin this year - an extension, maybe a double, at the rear, a master bedroom in the loft.

Of course there are repairs that need immediate attention, but we are living and breathing and functioning in our wonderful new home. And the best part is that Little A is settled and happy - she's really enjoying her new preschool, her new friends. She sculpts faces, makes puzzles out of the tawny pebbles covering the patio and pathway areas of the garden. She glides up and down the laminate flooring on her scooter. She looks forward to play dates with her little cousins, a five minute walk away.....

I think we are going to be here for a long, long time.  


Amazingly, unbelievably, I have made the shortlist of the Britmums BIBS Awards under the category, Lifestyle. I am so ruddy grateful to everyone who voted for Older Mum in a Muddle. Now if you would like to see me in the Lifestyle final six, then please, please, please vote for me one final time. The champagne is on me if I make it this far...... (nominations close on 12th May)

68 comments:

  1. Sounds like a happy home, congrats x

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  2. Welcome to your new home. All new homes have little niggles that you only find out about once you get there, but most of them are little ones and can easily be fixed - the big ones hopefully show up before you commit.
    We've been in our house for just over a year now, and its such a lovely home we feel like we've been here forever, and we finally finished the unpacking 4 days before the anniversary!
    Joy xx

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    1. Thank you! And you are quite right - these are all fixable niggles (we had a very comprehensive survey done, and everything was okay there). Lovely to hear you feel very happy in your home, and loved that you only finished the unpacking four days before being there on year! X.

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  3. A new place is so exciting despite the inevitable repairs, so many projects! :o)
    Great to hear that Little A has settled in so well.
    I wish you all lots of happiness in your new home despite the plane situation!! xx

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    1. I know! There is much to be done :o) ... and we want to get motoring on the renovations once we've settled some more. Little A is very happy - and the planes aren't so bad ;o) X.

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  4. I'm with you on the trip to the toy shop & anyway a new teddy for moving in a new house is de rigeur for 4 year olds :) I lived under the flight path too for years, you'll get used to it. Have you met the neighbours yet??

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    1. Huzzah - glad you agreed with that - it was defo that right thing to do. The planes aren't that bad, and they are pretty high up.... neighbours are very nice (I've run out of sugar already) :o).

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  5. Exciting times - at least with some work to do you can put your own mark on the house x

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    1. Thank you - indeed! That's why we bought it, as we wanted to really create our own home. X

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  6. So lovely. I adore new beginnings. It sounds fabulous - and you never notice the little faults whilst viewing and trying to take it all in. But leaking sinks can be fixed, if the house is right you'll make it your own and be happy there for many years to come. So pleased you are all enjoying your new home x

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    1. Thank you very much :o). It really is a lovely home, and we are already happy living here. It's lovely to have the space, and all those niggles can be easily fixed. Can't wait to put our stamp on it. X.

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  7. Wishing you happiness and success in your new home. As a flat dweller myself, I dream of patio doors opening onto a garden... Enjoy!

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    1. Thank you very much :o). I feel very lucky we finally have a garden!

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  8. I am so delighted for you all. You finally made it to your new home, leaks and all and it looks fab! You did right to be buy a new replacement bunny, moving home is stressful enough. For the adults!

    (I am so relieved that you weren't upset at my comment, it was on my mind!)

    Just off to vote for you ;-)

    xx Jazzy

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    1. Thank you very much Jazzy! Yes, finally here and its fab - leaks etc are ll those little niggles we can fix. Bunny was the right thing to do!

      (no not upset at all :o) )

      And thank you for your vote - very appreciated X.

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  9. Welcome to your new home - it's lovely to hear that you love it already! x

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    1. Thank you very much.... and I do, such a novelty to live in a house! X.

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  10. This is such a lovely post to read Sarah and I wish you all many many happy years and happy memories in your wonderful new home. Imagine a lovely warm summer basking in your own green space x

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    1. Thank you very much Nicola - we already feel very happy here! This was such a good time of year to move - the garden is fab! X

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  11. Lovely, welcome to your new home! I love moving house, getting to know a new place. Sounds wonderful.

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    1. Thank you! We are loving living here already, and like you say, I am really enjoying getting to know the place. :o)

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  12. Sounds like a lovely and happy house already! What a joy to be able to make it your own :-)x

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    1. Thank you very much - very much looking forward to making it our own :o) X.

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  13. I'm so glad that you are settling in. I know what it feels like to move from a flat to a house. It's liberating and novel and wonderful all in one. The garden was also one of the best things for me. Wishing you all the best and many happy years there.

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    1. Thank you very much! It really is a big difference moving from flat to house, and it really is all very novel. Having a garden is fab!

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  14. Welcome home! It sounds lovely. And you so have my vote!!
    xoxo
    Selena

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    1. Thank you - it is! And thank you very much for your vote, really appreciated! X.

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  15. Goodness you're on form just now. More truly lovely writing. It sounds like you have arrived in the place that is exactly right for you all. Wishing you many years of happiness in your fab new home xxx

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    1. Thank you lovely! Yes, I believe this home is very right for our family of three. I think we are going to be very happy here! X.

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  16. So glad you're in, settled and happy. Creating a long term home is such an exciting prospect and it sounds like you've got a great blank canvas to work on. I like the tree in the garden. Silver Birch? x

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    1. Thank you. We are very much looking forward to turning this into 'OUR' home - we are here for the long, long term after all. Yes, that is indeed a Silver Birch X.

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  17. Welcome home! It sounds so warm and lovely despite the 'projects'. I'm so glad Miss A is settled. U must feel very content. Have a swig of beer for me too x

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    1. Thank you! It is lovely - we are enjoying it here! Little A is loving it. Gonna crack open another bottle now :o) X.

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  18. It must be so amazing to finally find a place to truly call home! We are still renting and it seems very far away when we will potentially be able to by. So glad you are all settled and I hope you have many many happy years together as a family at home!

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    1. Thank you, it is, we are already really enjoying living here, but now need the time to settle down before we get on with the rest of the work. Fingers crossed you are able to buy at some point - I feel very fortunate we were able to! :o)

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  19. Welcome home!! Sounds like you're finally there...now let all the mini DiY projects begin! And welcome home Pinto :)

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    1. Thank you! We are.... we have arrived :o). Looking forward to turning this into our home - Pinto is happy too :o)

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  20. It looks amazing. Welcome home and enjoy x

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  21. Aw, congrats to be in and settled! I dream of having a kitchen on the same floor as our living room and having French windows open out onto our garden, rather than a kitchen door leading onto a verandah (ok, metal walkway! ) then down some steps and eventually to our garden. Hope you have many many happy years ahead of you in your new house x

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    1. Thank you very much! If that was a picture of your home in that recent post you did, then it still does look lovely. We are so far very happy here. X.

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  22. Congratulations on your move - it seems to have happened quite quickly really. I know it seems an age when you're living through all that uncertainty and dependence on so many people, but it doesn't seem that long since you put your place on the market and Hey Presto you're in your new home. Magical - on so many levels! Love the cracking open the beer in your own garden, all of you together. Bliss : xx

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    1. Thank you lovely! I know what you mean, once you are in it's like.... and what was that all about then eh? That beer tasted very good! X.

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  23. Wonderful it's become home so quickly! Happiness shines through your writing (even the bits about the niggles!) Such an exciting time :)
    And brilliant news too about being shortlisted, you've got my vote x

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    1. Thank you very much! And it is very exciting. (thank you very much for your vote - most appreciated). X.

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  24. Congrats on your new home, what wonderful news! How lovely for Little A to have cousins on her doorstep :) We lived right under a flight path for the best part of 5 years and after a while never noticed it? Amazing since I am such a light sleep now! I hope you will all be very happy x x

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    1. Thank you very much! Little A is loving playing with her cousins. And as for the flight path, it isn't that bad really. I am a very light sleeper too! X.

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  25. So happy that you are in and settled, complete with little niggles and big plans :-)

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    1. Thank you very much! So far, so good, with all the little niggles (which are now getting fixed) :o).

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  26. You did it! Welcome home. And how nice to have cousins so close. x

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    1. Thank you! We did! We did it! Little A is loving being near her cousins! X.

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  27. I hope you will be soooo happy in your new home! Moving into a new place is so exciting isn't it. When I moved here I was also shocked to discover that we are on the flight path to Southend airport. It was a bit annoying at first but I dont even notice much now, and when I do, I give a wave x

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    1. Thank you very much! We are very excited at the moment, that just moved in honeymoon phase. The planes flying over us aren't actually that bad and not that frequent - I'll wave too! X.

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  28. Congrats on your new home! Looks amazing and so inviting:) it does make a difference having a garden, although we live in a cottage flat, we have our own back garden:) enjoy making wonderful memories in your lovely new home:)

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    1. Thank you very much! Having a garden does make such a big difference, and it's still such a novelty for us. :o)

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  29. Welcome to hertfordshire!!
    When you are all settled in, let me know and I'll introduce you to the gang - well maybe we'll have a coffee first!

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    1. Thank you very much! That would be lovely.... a coffee I mean :o).

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  30. Oh congratulations and welcome to your new home. May you spend very many happy years there x

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    1. Thank you very much - we intend to :o) X.

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  31. A house is a never-ending project. We've been fixing bits that have fallen off, and covering up new cracks, ever since we moved into ours 4 years ago! You're right, though - it's wonderful to have your own place.

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    1. Tell me about it, and I can clearly see that this home will keep us busy for many years to come. Loving living here!

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  32. Huge congrats with the new house and enjoy your garden! Looks wonderful and your little one will love it I'm sure :) xx

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    1. Thank you very much! It's already making such a difference, and Little A is loving it! X.

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  33. How exciting! I hope that your new home will be happy and fulfilling. I love the pic, it sounds as if the moment that goes up the house became your home.

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    1. Thank you so much..... there's something about putting up paintings that turns it into a home :o).

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  34. Hi, just popped over to have a read after finding myself in your company at the BritMums Positively Inspirational Round-up. What a fab happy post, it really sounds like your dreams have come true, good for you :-D

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    1. Thank you very much! We are very happy... now I am going to pop over to see you :o).

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