Every ending is a new beginning

After what seems like waiting for an eternity I moved at the end of last week, so I have been in my new home for about 9 days as I write this. My last few days in my house were a mixture of frantic packing and getting stuff done, sitting back and wondering how after what I thought was a ruthless cull of possessions I still had so much stuff. Over the last few days, I met several friends in Queens Park and always felt an impending sense of loss, knowing that I wouldn’t have this with a couple of hundred paces. As regular readers will know, the park was a special place for me and became more so during my treatment when I walked through it every day to and from Radiotherapy and it always gave me something to look forward to as I was being bombarded by radiation. Some days I would walk through twice if I had two appointments at the hospital and a couple of hours gap between them.

On the day of the move, I was up early, doors to the house open and generally checking everything was ready in boxes when I noticed my neighbour’s cat Jerry was again in the house. He was sitting in the downstairs bedroom on the window sill watching the world go by. When he noticed me the followed me out of the room, chatting away at me, I am unsure whether he was praising or being critical of my packing skills. I will miss the visits, over the last few months he had become a regular visitor and would often sneak in if the door was open or be waiting by the door when I went to check the mail or put something into the recycling bin.

The removal company were really efficient and had everything packed by just after 11:00h when my solicitors rang to say the money from the buyer was with them and the sale had been completed and that they would be sending the purchase price cash to the solicitors of the bungalow I am now in. I was able to collect the keys by about 12:30 and the removal guys were here putting stuff in the house before 13:00 and finished by 14:45. I was in my new home, exhausted but happy. Unpacked a few essentials and sat down to enjoy a mug of tea. The first couple of days I did a small amount of unpacking, partly due to fatigue and or exhaustion and partly because I had no real idea where I was going to put everything. On Saturday, I had my sister and niece visit over lunchtime and a friend from late afternoon into the early evening. They gave advice and listened to my ideas about where to put stuff, they had volunteered to help but I hadn’t been ready to do much by then. All I had unpacked was my clothes, which were easy to do and a few kitchen essentials, so I could cook basic meals.

When I awoke on Sunday morning I hadn’t intended to do much as I still felt fairly tired but thought I would put a few bits away in the kitchen. A few hours later and the kitchen cupboards were full and I was wondering where to put the last few bits. I still am, and pondering whether I should cull stuff further. Then I got started on the boxes dotted around the dining room, lounge and conservatory and spare bedroom. I still have some boxes but they are now neatly piled and the shelving unit is up. On Monday a friend came around to help set the hi-fi up, so I have music again. Also, have a TV again after buying a satellite box to go with dishes already installed. Started on the garden on Thursday when some friends came around to help and have done a bit more since then. Bought a new sofa to replace the old sofas that went to sofa heaven. Friday I had a quieter day went to visit a friend and then to the bank to sort out a few bits. And here we are on my second Saturday in my new home, on another glorious spring day. I have been eating on the patio most lunchtimes and look forward to being able to sit out there in the evening once they are warmer. The conservatory has been a favourite place for a morning coffee on the colder mornings.

There is still lots to do but I am already feeling at home here. I went for a walk Tuesday morning before heading out for an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening appointment when I realised the sense of being in the right place was like I have when I am in Dalyan or when I first moved into my old house 35 years ago. I feel that I have made the right decision and feel very fortunate to have found this quirky bungalow, as one person said to me, I have moved from a quirky house to a differently quirky bungalow. Life is definitely good at the moment, no need to look for the silver lining. I am getting to know my neighbours and have found out a bit about the previous owners of the bungalow, who sounded like really lovely people. I have been for several walks along the clifftops, I haven’t really explored inland yet but that will happen. There are myriad little jobs that I want to do and I will be getting around to them shortly or not so soon. The roofers are booked to replace the roof in early June and I need to book a couple of other trades for external works, then I can focus on decorating and having the bathroom re-modelled, so I can fit the washing machine in there and get a dishwasher in the kitchen.

Well, better end as I have some visitors popping around in a bit and I have a few things I want to do before they get here. Final thought, 35 years ago, when I moved into my old house I used to drive past the end of my road and never imagined I would live in Peacehaven. A year ago when I was seriously thinking about moving Peacehaven was not on my radar. Then last July, I went for a walk along the clifftop here and suddenly I saw this area as being a possibility. I never thought I could get a house so close to the clifftop but I have, so feel very fortunate, a question of being at the right place at the right time, much in the same way as I was when I bought my last home, as with here a sale had fallen through and I was able to step in and buy. I think it is unlikely I will live here 35 years, not because I don’t want to, more that it would put me at around 90 and I doubt I will last that long. However, I am looking forward to a good few happy years here.