Coming up for air.

Well, here we are six days later. We've just managed to resurface and as I look around me I can't believe that this is now home. It feels as if we've just stepped into someone else's life and it's - strange.

The move went very, very well. We had a great company that did all the packing and all we had to do last Monday was to clean the house (and boy was it dirty once we'd moved the furniture out). Arrived here last Tuesday and the removals had dumped most of our stuff by tea time and then we spent the next few days unpacking. We both realised that although we're only in our mid forties we're certainly not as sprightly as we were were seven years ago because we were knackered. By Thursday morning the children's rooms were done and they were packed off to school so we could get on with the rest.

School was good even though Rohan burst into tears as soon as he walked though the door. "I don't like it. It's too big. I don't like the house either because it's not countryside" he wailed. Poor lad. The house is lovely (the landlady had given it a thorough clean by the way) but he's right we're not surrounded by fields and it's on the blind bend of a busy-ish road. But we're only renting I told him and after Tom took him into the woods at the bottom of the garden and showed him where the fields were he was fine.

I guess you'll want to see what the house is like. It's been extended quite a lot over the years so has a lot of rooms downstairs that lead into each other. At one end there is a large sitting room:

that leads back to the front door through this room:

that leads to this room:

that leads to the conservatory:

that leads to the (tiny) kitchen:

There are three loos and two tiny bathrooms and four bedrooms upstairs. Then at the other side of the sitting room there is a separate granny flat/annexe with a bedroom, sitting room/kitchen and bathroom. You have to go out of the main house and along to the front door to get in. At the moment all my craft stuff is there in boxes:

The house is lovely and sunny and has a sloping garden with a wood at the end:

We have been told that the wood is out of bounds but when you're used to roaming the countryside and you have that staring at you all day it's hard to keep away from it really.

As I said I haven't unpacked any of my craft stuff yet and I don't know whether I should. I don't want to work in the annexe as it's a bit dark (and cut off) and the two downstairs rooms are too small for a table and all my stuff. I was thinking about that last night and I wondered if not crafting would stop me blogging too. If I don't make anything what would I write about - how many more 'moving house' stories can you take?

I guess I just need time to settle, to get to know the area without the pressures of crafting and blogging hanging over me. I must admit that not having the computer on for the whole of the last week was liberating. It was wonderful. It meant that I spent more time with the children (which is very important at the moment) and I even started another book. But I don't want to stop blogging though because I love it. I love the community it creates. I love the interaction and even more I love all the new friends I've found all over the world.

So I suppose I'll just take it easy over the coming weeks. Tom goes back to work tomorrow and it will stop feeling like we're on holiday. I will start a new routine, do some more unpacking and suddenly it will all fall into place ....................

Comments

[Jo]

So glad to see you managed to come up for air and all is going ok.x

[belinda]

So glad the move went so smoothly Simmy- I have been thinking of you over the last week and hoping everything went well.

[TACE]

holy cow, you have so much done. I still have an odd box or two that I haven't unpacked and we moved...ummm 3 years a go? Also everything looks lovely, you have pretty furniture pieces.
P.S. I think you ought to write about what you want to. It's YOUR blog after all, want to write buckets and buckets about your *moving* (har har) experiences? then go for it. :)

[melody]

It looks lovely...

[Dawn]

You've been busy! It's nice to see you back and your new house looks great! I hope you meet lots of great friends in your new home.

[Simone]

I am so happy that you all got moved in safely. It will feel strange at first as you are dealing with so many changes at once. It looks like a lovely place. Those woods are tempting....

[Ali]

Gosh Simmy, you've made it homely fast! That'll help the children settle I'm sure.

And I think you're right to go blog-lite, but stop and say hello once in a while. Blogland will still be here when real life settles down.

[Rada]

Very good to see you are setteling in for awhile. I really like the pictures of your rooms. I would have no problem tolerating life there while looking for another home. The back yard is inviting. Still thinking about you and wishing you much luck with all that is ahead.

[Liz]

Lots of love and luck to you all in your (temporary) new home. I hope new school goes well too.

[somewhereoutthere]

Congratulations on getting yourself organised enough to blog so soon after moving! You are such a positive person I am sure that you will soon be into the swing of things in your new home. The children will soon adapt to the change of school and friendship groups. I have been thinking of you and your family all last week and I am so glad to read your latest post. Welcome back to blogland.

[ramona]

oh good to hear from you. i am glad all went well. it looks so light and cozy, your new home. can't wait to hear more from you and your adventure. happy settling then!

[Tara]

It is amazing what 7 years can do to your body's physical abilities, isn't it? I'm feeling it even from 19 to 26. Your back yard looks lovely!

[Shirl]

The new place looks lovely. Best of luck! .... :0)

[Ana]

Hi Simmy, the house looks lovely and I especially like the beautiful garden. It seems that you are getting organized very quickly. My best wishes for an easy adjustment of your family to schools, jobs and everything in your new community

[TheAmpuT]

I looks so cozy already! I moved last summer and still have a few boxes to sort through.
I often say that blogging is an "oBLOGation" that I'm not sure how I feel about keeping up, but I too, love the community. I vote for your writing about anything you like. I love your crafting, but your posts about you and your life have been my favorites.
Enjoy settling in!

[Marie]

Glad the move went so smoothly Simmy! I have been thinking about you and hoping that all was going well. Looks like you have a nice roomy house there, even if the kitchen is a tad on the small side. It looks lovely all round and I am most impressed that you have managed to settle in as well as you have done in so short a time! Well done girl! No wonder you were exhausted! Praying that the children find the transition not as bad as feared and that you keep blogging and treating us to whatever snippets of your life that you wish to share with us. Count me as another one who loves to read anything you write! A few minutes with your words, no matter what they are, is like a visit with a long lost friend.
XXOO
Marie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/mariealicejoan/MariesMuses/

[Lizz]

What a big lovely rental and those woods do look inviting.

You guys worked very hard and wow, just like that you are all moved in. Moving is tiring, take some time to put your feet up now.

Blessings~

[sarah]

Wait...is that an AGA I see in your kitchen? It looks like it from here. It looks like a sweet house. How is Amber and the new school? Helen is spending the day today visiting a new school. Sniff. I have very conflicted feelings.

[Georgia]

Simmy for all your going on about MY house and how huge it is, I was looking at your house with total envy. It looks lovely. And the yard looks lovely and the flat next door looks lovely (I'll come and move in!). It's not what you had and I can hear a sense of loss in your voice, but it's great. It will take the kids a while, but once they start to make friends at school they will feel more connected to the neighbourhood. Let the dust settle (so to speak-it actually all looks very clean). You may feel you need an outlet to talk, to share your experiences of settling in-check out my early blog, that's really all it was! Just know that we are all sending you supportive, happy thoughts.

[julie]

That's great that the move went well but it's such an upheaval and it must feel strange. Take your time to get settled and find your feet - we'll still be here!

[mathea]

Best of luck in your new home. The crafting bug will bite again, I'm sure. It just needs for you to find your feet in the new place, and to get a bit of rest.
Give some extra hugs to the kids in the meantime, they'll come around :-)

[louise]

oh you just can't stop blogging - don't be silly! good on you for such a great move. i think you have done really really well not only the physical but the holding of your family through it all. the house looks lovely, lots of spaces to be in. look after you too simmy xxx

[bex]

Phew! Well done!
It looks very homey already, you've done so much. If you don't craft for a while you can just post pictures of the rooms as they evolve or the garden or the woods or...;) Xxx

[Tracy]

Great to see you're getting settled in your new place, Simmy! So glad the move went well...and your new home looks lovely--very cosy! Hope in time it will truly feel home. Thinking of you as you begin a new chapter... and sending ((HUGS))

[liz]

welcome to your new home, Simmy. You have already put your stamp on it and it is reflecting your personality. I am sure it will feel like home soon. Craft, don't craft - blog don't blog - do whatever feels right for you when it feels right - good luck.

Lizzi