Tuesday 25 September 2012

High after the Low

"That doorbell is INSANE!", proclaimed the chap from Virgin who came to sort my cables out this week. He was the owner of a rather impressive bedhead full of sun-bleached surfer-style hair and the typical dazed/confused look that so many beach bums have in this town. But he snapped out of it when he rang the bell.

The doorbell is the original Victorian one that came with the house. It jingles merrily whenever anyone comes to the front door, it's cool. The Virgin bloke was pretty impressed it seemed.



Yes the bell. Our bell. We live on the other side of the bell which of course means WE ARE IN! We have moved. Hopefully not moving again now for a very long time.




My dad worked out that the Husband and I have moved seven times in ten years. It has been insane, a bit like our door bell.

The last year has been a complete rollercoaster ride, right from when our landlord in Berkshire suddenly announced he was selling the house last autumn. We have had a crazy time of it, it has to be said, and the last few months have been stressful. But, things are calming down. And we feel happy. Very happy.

The move itself was horrendous. But then these things are never pleasant!




We planned to move ourselves but decided that was just adding to the stress so booked a local firm who had great reviews on Check A Trade.

Hmmmmm. On the day we moved (my birthday...oh the glamour), we were expecting the lorry at 7.30am. We waited and waited and were then told three removal men had phoned in sick (one had our lorry) so they were waiting for another van to get through its MOT before it could move us. Oh the joy.


I spy the Blanket of Glory! Look, no mattress protection. Tut tut men.

So things started late, a couple of things got damaged (which they are dealing with) and things didn't finish until 8.30pm. ON MY BIRTHDAY. Grrrr. But then we all scoffed fish and chips and then I opened lots of gorgeous presents and cards and we put the children to bed and cracked open a bottle of Champagne and breathed a deep sigh of relief that we were in.



Gifts galore!

Getting cosy with the Husband


The vibes feel right too. There was something about this house that we loved right back when we first viewed it last October. It waited for us all this time. It was meant to be!

It's in a great location, school for the Princess is a ten minutes walk and its round the corner from the Prince's pre-school and the first school which he starts next year. It just all feels right.

It's not right beside the sea, but I figured you can't have it all. We are only a seven minute drive to the beach and I would much rather have an easier school run on balance. We nearly bought a 1930s semi much closer to the sea but I realised how much hassle the school run would be and I feel we've made the right decision. This house also suits us better. It's only an extra ten minute walk to the sea from where we rented. So fear not, I shall still be updating you all on the shenanigans of fit kitesurfers.

The neighbours are lovely too (and anyone who knows me personally know we had bad luck with neighbours a few years back so this was a welcome relief). They came round the other night with wine, homemade biscuits and a card. And she's invited me over for a coffee tomorrow which I am looking forward to.

It's still chaos here at the moment but we have unpacked a lot of boxes and my headache is clearing. We still have one room piled up with boxes and "stuff" which is worrying as we always have major clearouts every time we move, but we will slowly plough through it.

This house will be a project, it needs decorating throughout but we are going to take our time and do it slowly, getting a feel for each room as we go.

We have already done the Princess's room. The Husband and the Father in Law decorated it two days before we moved in. It was dark terracotta mottled wallpaper with a dark green border - nice. It's now pretty pink with Laura Ashley wallpaper and she loves it. She gets a brand new cream carpet in the next few weeks too. One room done already! Check.

In between moving and unpacking, I've taken myself off to chill out in the cherry tree shops.

The manager of Scope kindly let me hang out behind the scenes for a bit and I picked up these beauties for 50p each. I also came away with an application form to volunteer in the shop, but I shall put it on the backburner until we are sorted.






My brother in law and his wife sent me some lovely flowers for my birthday so that was a gorgeous surprise.


And then I came across these M&S Pastel range mugs from Scope this week. I got all four for £2!

The chintzy crockery above the mugs came from Oxfam last year. 

Note to self, must strip that wallpaper!

The children are settling in well and we are all sleeping like logs. Here they are playing on their go-cart (or "Oat Car" according to the Prince) which the lovely next door neighbours at our rental property gave us when we moved last week.


The Husband worked on Saturday and we knew it would be a fine day so the children and I spent plenty of time on the beach, fully aware that we would be stuck indoors on Sunday which is when I broke the back of the unpacking.

9.30am on Saturday





A rest after a mental week

And so that is me updated. It's time to go - I have more boxes to unpack before nipping to pick up the Princess from choir.






19 comments:

VintageVicki said...

Sounds all rather hectic but glad you are now in your new home :)

Loving that bell - no excuse not to hear people at the door!!

Pink Milk said...

Hi lovely Gem.

I'm so thrilled you're all moved in and loving your new home. You sound so happy.

Belated birthday wishes too.

I literally squeaked when I saw the fridge magnets from me!!! :-)

Oh and I have the M&S bowls to match your cups!

Hxxx

Miss Magpie said...

Moving is hell, I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Wishing you lots of love and laughter in your new home. x

Marina said...

Oh Gem i'm sooooooo pleased for you!! I know only too well just how stressful all this is and I'm very pleased that you've come through it and are now settling in to your gorgeous new home!! Ohhh I'm loving that bell!!
We are having a similar time here, it's all ups & downs with the sale of our house and now the house that we've fallen in love with the vendor is stalling - it appears he doesn't want to sell but has to as it's a divorce settlement :( But i'm keeping positive thinking that if it's meant to be then it will happen - just like your house it would seem definitely waited for you!! So pleased hunnie xx
P.S. I also love the plates and mugs - I bought one of those very same plates from Oxfam only last week!! :)

thriftwood said...

Happy New Home, Gem and a Belated Happy Birthday ... so pleased for you, it looks fab and glad you are already settled and happy! xxx

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Gem & family,it certainly sounds like your new home is meant to be,it waited for you all of that time , I am so glad for You all. Lovely to have you back in blogland,I missed YouXxxxx

Anonymous said...

p.s. forgot to say love the bell :) Xxxx

moleymakes said...

Belated Happy Birthday wishes. Moving is such a stressful experience. I do hope that you'll be very happy in your new home. Looking forward to seeing lots of pictures as you turn it into your dream home :)

Michelle said...

Glad to hear you're all settling in! My mum has just moved house, and I know how stressful she found it all, but now it seems like she's been there forever!

Happy belated birthday too!

Andi's English Attic said...

I picked up one of these bells in a charity shop in Devon in the summer. Mine is rusty so it's nice to see your pic and what my bell can aspire to. xx

Sarah Jane said...

What a nightmare! Moving house is horrendous. Hopefully you can put down roots in this one and fill it with cherry tree treasures that will never have to be wrapped in newspaper again! Love the Victorian doorbell. I'm pretty sure that the novelty will never wear off! xx

Jay said...

What a busy birthday you had but at least it ended with champagne! I'm so impressed you've managed to decorate 1 room already, we've got rooms that have been built for 7 years and still not decorated :( Good luck with the rest, I'm looking forward to seeing how the new home takes shape.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

DEAREST GEM! I must have taken off early this morning and missed this post during my morning routine!!!

I am so glad for you and can literally feel the relief in your life!! I am so glad you will continue to report on the happenings on the beach!!! Ahh...where to begin with this fantastic news of you being IN! HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEM! How was that pink champagne???? AND THE SCHOOLS are so close! YAHOOOO! Now tell me, are you buying this home?

I hope you will get settled in quickly before the weather gets too bad. But at least the kids are in school now!

HUGS TO YOU DEAR GEM. SO HAPPY FOR YOU! CHeers! Anita

Grammy Braxton said...

Oh yay! So glad you are moved and getting things sorted. Moving is a hassle. Thank goodness we haven't had to move since we built our house. I shudder to think how much junk would have to be gone through if we did. Glad you are close to the schools. Happy Birthday, by the way.

Hugs,
Sharon

Julia said...

Glad to hear you are settling in ok, moving is pants and especially on your birthday too! I hope you all will be very happy in your new home xx

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

MORNIN', GEM!

Oh, it was a delight to see your comment and to learn that you BOUGHT THIS HOUSE! Here in the states, young couples usually rent for a few years, like you have, and then eventually, buy a home. We had a different situation since we moved from Los Angeles to Boston for school and traveled so much. We finally bought our home after 17 years of marriage, but it was well worth the wait. We had moved across the country three times! So imagine the headaches with that! I truly am so thrilled for you and your lovely family Gem! And to have the kids' schools so close, what a TREAT!!!

Now sit back and enjoy another flute of pink bubbles, and think of me; I LOVE THE STUFF and while in the wine country in Northern California one year, we went to the Korbel Winery. They had CHAMPAGNE TASTING and their offerings were quite generous. However, they saved the PINK STUFF for the last and by that time, I couldn't stand up STRAIGHT!!!!!!! The Rose BRUT was my favorite.....

LOVE ON! Anita

Vintage Coconut said...

Happy Happy Belated Birthday.
It must feel good to finally be in your new place. I have't moved in what seems like AGES.... I actually am looking forward to the day I have a change of space.
=D

. said...

Happy birthday, Happy moving and just Happy Happy!!! xx

Tracy ~ If I Knew You Were Coming I'd Baked A Cake said...

Hey Gem I am catching up on posts I am glad you moved ok at least you can relax now. The kids look like they are enjoying the garden. Look forward to your next update. Tracy x