Somewhere to hang my hat.

I always miss sitting on my sofa, knitting, with one eye and all ears on a music documentary on telly. And cooking!

My own space..

I appreciate we are very lucky and I know the end is in sight (May16th) but I just want a home again, I need to feel anchored.

I know how you feel, sago
After six months of living with DD and DSiL, despite the fact we all got along really well, I was desperate for a home of my own again and to get all my precious things out of storage.

I’ll never forget the joy of finally completing and putting the key in the door for the first time.

When I last moved there was a delay in the new house being ready. I was lucky enough to find a flat to rent short term in the same road. It had no outside space and I really missed having a garden. I spent hours each day walking before and after work, just to be outside.

The other way round, but we had DS, DIL and 1 year old GS staying with us for 3 months when their new (but old Victorian) house was being done up after buying it.

We were happy to help them out, but also happy to wave them off!

This was nearly 20 years ago, am glad it’s not now. I like my own space and own routine.

To me "home" is a special mixture of a place to call your own, special people, and community. "Life" seems to be a constant attempt to balance these three areas but it's so good when you do or even when you nearly do.

My mother-in-law preferred to move in and have the decorators and electricians work round her than stay any longer with us or in her (lovely) little rental.
She was 95 and just couldn't wait!

My kitchen. It’s my safe place.

When we sold our London home and couldn't find a house in the new location, we rented for a few months.
Because all our belongings, apart from clothes and personal stuff, was in storage, I had no washing machine, the bare minimum of cooking utensils and crockery etc and three young children to get sorted out with schools, nursery etc. The older two were bullied and hated their new schools.

Mostly, we all missed our friends and neighbours I think.

We had three months in a one bed flat when we were between houses before moving here. I liked that I could do all the housework in half an hour! I didn’t like that cooking in a minuscule kitchen was difficult. It also felt a bit bleak without familiar items around me. I was overjoyed to see our books again when we finally moved.

I well remember that when we were first married, in 1965, we lived for six months with my parents, as we were waiting for our very own house. When we moved in, we had very little furniture, …a lot donated. But we shut our door and both sat on our sofa and had a cwtch and a cigarette. Away from my mother’s disapproving eyes.

DH and I spent nineteen years moving from one Army quarter to another and when we were between postings, which, to me, could mean months before another house became available, the children and I lived with my long suffering older sister and her family. She was great. Never said no to having us lodging for indeterminate lengths of time in their large rambling house but I felt the imposition deeply. When we finally bought out own house I can’t describe the proper feeling that we had finally come home. No more globetrotting - I didn’t care if we never left home again. And the icing on the cake was a garden. I couldn’t live without a garden now.

Calendargirl

The other way round, but we had DS, DIL and 1 year old GS staying with us for 3 months when their new (but old Victorian) house was being done up after buying it.

We were happy to help them out, but also happy to wave them off!

This was nearly 20 years ago, am glad it’s not now. I like my own space and own routine.

Years ago, my daughter and her husband were in the same position, house sold, new one not ready. They came to stay with us and it was wonderful. I was still working but my husband had taken early retirement. Bless him, he volunteered to cook meals for us all, even though my daughter, son-in-law and I were all on different shifts! So he ended up providing meals at all hours (he insisted on doing that as his contribution). He was totally unfazed by this. I would have been tearing my hair out! As it turned out, both our ‘guests’ used to cook when they were available at mealtimes, which was lovely.
I must admit, I did give them a few house-rules before they came. One was to do some of the cooking. Also, they had an en-suite bedroom so I said I would not be going in there, (I considered it to be completely private to them) so cleaning the room, washing sheets etc was up to them.
I can honestly say it was absolutely lovely. They were there for 6 months and I was sorry to see them go. We enjoyed the lovely meals they provided too, as their cooking was far better than mine! Once they got into their new house, they cooked for us (at their house) often after that.
20 or so years later, they still invite me (I am now widowed) for meals regularly, but not so much that I feel I am intruding. My contribution is an Indian meal now and again. I went there last week and my grandson (16) was there. Also, my lovely granddaughter and her equally lovely husband were invited too which was a lovely surprise as I had no idea they were coming. They are expecting my first great-grandchild (today, actually!
I am so lucky that they live near.

Hope all goes well Crosstichfan

We are facing this. Our house went under offer six weeks ago, and we have only just had an iffer accepted on our 'new' home. We told out buyers that we would move out to suit them, so there may be a gap between houses.

We are very fortunate, DD moved to a large house in the town we are moving to a month ago, so we will move in with her. The house is big enogh for us to have our own small sitting room as well as a bedroom.

Greyduster

DH and I spent nineteen years moving from one Army quarter to another and when we were between postings, which, to me, could mean months before another house became available, the children and I lived with my long suffering older sister and her family. She was great. Never said no to having us lodging for indeterminate lengths of time in their large rambling house but I felt the imposition deeply. When we finally bought out own house I can’t describe the proper feeling that we had finally come home. No more globetrotting - I didn’t care if we never left home again. And the icing on the cake was a garden. I couldn’t live without a garden now.

I had friends (with children) staying with me for some time when they returned from an overseas posting and the RN could not provide then with a quarter. DH was away at the time. It worked out fine as I was working and they did the housework and cooking!

Calendargirl

Hope all goes well Crosstichfan

Thank you my friend. 💐