Link to new blog

http://livinginlondonandlovingit.blogspot.co.uk

Moving on to new blog

Having moved to London I have decided to close this blog and start a new one, called LILALI Living In London And Loving It...

New working area

My Great-grandparents' table was delivered today and completes the new area that we can use for working at home.

Our Local

We've found our new local. Hope to share a drink there with you soon...

First art piece

Celebrate with us; we put our first piece of art on the wall of our new house today, finally beginning to feel like home. Also put the clock that we bought to celebrate out 10th anniversary (tin, since you ask) onto the wall to try and disguise the "Murial" a bit - think we'll have to just paint over it eventually.

A Surprise Parcel

This unexpected parcel was from our mortgage people at Nationwide. Packed full of useful things like washing up liquid, bin bags, loo roll and coffee. It even included two mugs, shame there were no chocolate biscuits though!

Monday and back to reality

BH went to work today. It only took him 28 mins door to door, which is considerably better than the 2hrs15 it used to take, and reminded us if one if the main reasons for all this upheaval.

Some rooms are beginning to take shape. I'm pleased with the chair in the kitchen where I can sit and listen to Women's Hour, and I look forward to a friend sitting there chatting while I cook.

The outside space, though small, has proved a godsend as it provided the only place to sit during the chaos, and is still where we eat most of our meals.

The sitting room looks okay viewed one way, just don't look at the pile of boxes behind.

The clothes rails from WSM (wicked step-mother) are brilliant and sturdy, and I'm so glad to ditch those flimsy things we got from the store that shall remain nameless. 

Moving Day Before The Van Arrives

Having said our last goodbyes to the old house, we set off like intrepid explorers for the wild unknown land that is London. Took less than an hour!

Unloaded the car of the valuables that we had brought with us (can you spot the basket of wine in the kitchen?) and rushed round the new house as if it were a holiday let. 

Re-Discovered some delights and some horrors...

Our Moving Day - no sleeps left

Well we've slept for the last time in this house, which is no longer our home, and are in that strange limbo land. The floors are washed and having moved the fridge we had to Hoover behind it. Yuk!
BH is doing a final run to the tip and picking up coffees on the way back.

Saddest thing is seeing all of our front door keys...

Only 1 Sleep Left

Well the curtains are down and the pile of boxes in the conservatory is growing...

Funny thing happened this morning - about 8.30am we heard a huge lorry and were greeted by two nice blokes who thought they'd come pack for us! I wish! Next time.

Anyway, turns out that they were meant to be packing for the people who are moving into our house, and had looked at the address for tomorrow not today. Made it all seem dreadfully real somehow.

Well pizzas have been ordered and we're watching Murray trying to claw back the advantage. I don't even like tennis, but its good to sit down, even if the sofa is really low because since the legs were removed so that it will fit through the door!

2 Sleeps Left

Is there anything as sad and empty looking as bare walls?
Yesterday I packed most of the art work (have left the picture hooks for BH to struggle with tomorrow) and it is now stacked in the hallway, safe in the cardboard sleeves.
No wonder I had to go to a big storage place to buy more boxes - the art has taken 15 boxes!

5 sleeps left

D - day minus five, as we used to say, but the child-friendly 5 sleeps left explains it too. Maybe it should be M - day (moving day).
Paul cut the lawn for the last time; we won't have a lawn in the new place, more of a back yard or sit-outerie, and took the mower down to the tip.
Everywhere I look are packed and half-packed boxes...

Boxes, boxes, boxes...

Boxes delivered.

Boxes already packed

Labels for boxes

Well the completion date is set, the removals company secured and I'm working the last few days at my old job, finishing with a Readers' Day on Saturday 22nd June in Winchester.

Lovely to have new boxes but there are barely enough to pack the art, let alone the contents of cupboards and shelves. Do people really manage to fit their lives into 25 boxes?

Find myself split in three: working, trying to continue to keep on top of shopping, cooking and laundry, and sorting, packing and planning for the move.

We went down the pub to make a To Do list - glad to say first thing on the list was to arrange a Goodbye Party: room booked and invites emailed.

I have developed a 'say yes' policy to social events too. I can sleep in London! Out for girls' drinks last night and I have both Writing Group and Reading Group today. Planning to go as it may be the last time...

Exchange

Hooray!

We've exchanged!

Finally.

Planning to move on 4th July so the Americans won't be the only ones celebrating.

Generous Measures !

Down the pub last night, discussing everything to do with the impending move, all we need is a date and we're ready to go. Soooo frustrating waiting and waiting and not able to do anything.

As the evening ended decided to treat myself to a port.
New bar staff, "port? Is that wine?"
"Well, it's a fortified wine," I reply.
The darling pours me wine measure!

I return to my seat, stunned. I should have said something but didn't want to embarrass...

Kaffe Fassett Exhibition

Trip to London for pleasure to see the Kaffe Fassett (rhymes with safe asset) at the Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey Street.
So a lovely walk along the South Bank from Waterloo; well it would have been a lovely walk if it hasn't been pouring with rain!
Wonderful couloirs and textures. Reminded me of the lovely things that Aunt Jane made. Must make more time to be creative...

...oh and rose bud tea in the cafe.

Using Up Store Cupboard Goodies

Well first the discovery of a can of already boiled condensed milk led to the making of a Banoffi Pie.
Today, using Nance's old recipe, I made a Very Easy Fruit Cake. Does this count as one of my five a day?

Wrapping paper

A thoughtfully wrapped present

The contents! Such fun!

Writing Workshop

In my attempt to say "yes" to everything social and fun in the run up to the move, I went to Jane Austen House Museum yesterday for a brilliant Writing Workshop led by author Rebecca Smith, aided by Reader and volunteer Olive Drakes.

Sunshine, coffee, biscuits and writing - an almost perfect day.

One exercise focused on using postcard prompts and working within the theme of Arriving. I choose this rather elegant postcard of a smart couple and a distant tropical island, and wrote 3 postcards from the woman to her friend:

Cissy
Arrived safely. What a journey! Train to Southampton then ship to Windies. Delightful cabin all compact and cleverly designed to provide everything one could desire. First night dinner at Captain's table a bore as sat next to a Rev Payne. Still must do one's duty. Hotel marvellous! All staff smart in crisp whites. Dark skin a shock - how their teeth shine! Hal resting while I dash off letters. Blissy-bags to feel the sun on my back!
In haste Cyn!

Dear Cissy
Days settled into routine. Up early. Walk along beach then breakfast in room. Hal off to club. I to hotel lobby for coffee and letters. Lunch at club then Hal rests. Too, too hot. Even sand burns feet. Reading Evelyn Waugh - rather turgid! Swim in the sea. Pestered by smiling hawkers. Then back to hotel to prepare for dinner. Evenings spent on hotel verandah with Hal and new chums Audrey and Geoffrey Payton-Smythe - from Sheffield of all places!
Love Cyn

Dearest Cissy
The sun is evil. Saps all my energy. Hardly written anything today. Can't wait to be home. You will meet us at Southampton, won't you? Longing for rain and home
Much love Cyn x

Destruction or Preservation?

Well the lumberjacks have been to Bluebell Woods. Are they even called lumberjacks now? Suspect its something like arboreal technician or some such.

Anyway, they've made a real mess of the main path through the woods, and just as it was beginning to dry out after that dreadful wet winter. I know that woods need to be managed and kept productive and safe, but the timing is poor. So many people are visiting the woods at the moment; not just the regulars, but the ones that come especially for the bluebells. It's such a short season, already they are beginning to go over as the tree canopy fills out.