🦞 The Lockdown Gang still chatting 🦞

Grammaretto I'm going to jump straight in....I really know how you feel as when we were relocating here to the West Country it was the time when there was a stamp duty holiday and as quick as something came on the market it was sold. There came a sort of desperation to find somewhere and had we gone through with 2 of the properties we made offers on I would have been very unhappy and regretful that we didn't take the decision to wait and see. In the end we did rent and put everything into storage and it was the very best decision we could have made as it gave us time to look and see what we didn't want...I know exactly what you mean by suburban....my first home was just that and I never came up to scratch with the Stepford Wives who lived there, one of whom told me she dusted her wainscoting throughout the house every day....I had to look up what wainscoting actually was😅. Their washing was on the line at 8am and back in for ironing at 11am. Fifty years later I don't think my washing has been on the line at 8am more than twice!!!!. During the 8 months we rented it gave me time to think what I really wanted...( DH said he'd live in a shed as long as it was with me ❤️) and I realised I didn't actually need 4 bedrooms ( we had left a 5 bedroom house) and actually 3 would be sufficient...( the hope was still there that our children and my grandchildren would be part of our lives once more). A garden was a must, not necessarily as big as what I had but not just a courtyard either. A big kitchen like the one I left would be lovely but I was open to change.
In the end....it was just the feeling when I viewed this cottage that told me we would be happy here. It was overwhelming....and all my pre conceived wants and definite needs went out the door....We have ended up in a 2 bedroom cottage spread over 4 floors, the sitting room isn't even half the size of my previous one... There is what I call the Summer Kitchen with a traditional cooker, in Estate Agents blurb it would be described as galley style but is open at both ends and a large window on one side too so it is light...then there is the Winter Kitchen with the aga with the utility room off it ( it does have a toilet in there too). The dining room ( only so called as that's where the table and chairs are) are at the other end. The whole length being (DH just measured it as I didn't have a clue) 21ft. ( Not including the utility room). Previously my sitting room alone was 32ft long and the kitchen was 20ft square complete with peninsula, wall ovens etc.
I'm telling you all this because at the end of the day I'm happy here...I knew from that initial visit that my heart would find peace in this place and I think I probably speak for all your Lobstar friends in saying that's what we want for you. If it means renting for a wee while and putting your furniture into storage then so be it. Don't settle for maybe it will be ok... Your special place is out there...

I've now got to explain to DH why I've made him get on his hands and knees and measure the Winter Kitchen ( there's posh says he) and 'dining room'. He's also just said that the 'wainscoting' looks like it needs dusting. Oops.

You do make me smile ☺️NN 😍

Having not had close neighbours for nearly 50 years I can't remember what it's like but judging by some of the suburban roads, I am a bit uneasy.

I walked down a road recently where there was fake grass in one garden and a gent washing his car asked me what I was doing in his street! I know him slightly.

I am glad you found the perfect house for you. I am not convinced mine exists at least not in this town so the thought of renting for a year and still not finding it, makes me think I can and will compromise.

2 architects are now keen to help me to adapt a house which is exciting.

I'm still on the train and it's dark. At least it's not too crowded.

NN your home sounds lovely. I’m glad you’re happy there.
Grmmaretto I hope you find your happy place too.

Have been locked out for several days.
Back in.
No time to comment but hello again!
👋👋👋

Oh Notspaghetti glad your back in
Sit by the fire with your feet up and have a cuppa.

Hello Lobstars! I hope we are all surviving?

Apart from general aches and pains which up with, I'm afraid, just have to be put. I am so glad I came down. My siblings are lovely to be with although I daresay we'd get on eachothers' nerves if we lived together.

It's been good to spend time with my niece and nephew and their spouses or is that spice? The gt nephews have suddenly become tall young men with deep voices.

My DSis made a huge spread of Mexican food which took ages to prepare and was wolfed down in seconds. I helped chop veg.

I think there are plans to visit somewhere local-ish today. The "arts and crafts" exhibition we saw yesterday is on until next May at the Fitzwilliam and well worth a visit.

Cambridge is looking splendid as ever and it's good to be away from my house and all it's problems for a few days.

Just had one of my mother-in-law's truly lovely carers come to collect a wardrobe from her house. She came with her brother in law.

Look what they discovered when they moved it!
😱

John Lewis!

Ooh Notspaghetti what did they discover? 🤔
Grammaretto so pleased you’re having such a lovely time with your family. Enjoy your stay.
I’ve been to church today. Lovely memorial service.
Sadly a dear friend and parishioner of long standing died on Thursday. He’s been unwell a while but still sad news.

Sorry to hear about your friend Doodle 😞

I watched the TV rememberance service and then we went a fairly long walk to a wee pub and had lunch there. You have the best pubs in England. 😊

Tonight friends joined us for delicious supper which DSiL and DB cooked.

I will be sorry to leave.
Tomorrow will be a tour of King's college.

I hope all Lobstars are doing well.

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Sorry. Photos didn't upload.
A cut out in the carpet where the fitter didn't move the wardrobe!

That's awful NotSpaghetti. Quickly put the wardrobe back?

No.
It's gone!
😬😬😬

Not impressed with John Lewis though!

No! That’s awful Notspaghetti. How silly and annoying. Don’t suppose you’ve got an off cut you can put there.
Grammaretto I’m so glad you’re enjoying your stay. Maybe you can visit again soon. Yes we do have some lovely pubs. Some of the rural ones are great. Not the city ones though. Too modern.

Ha ha.
We did have one till about a month ago Doodle - it went to the tip with some other carpet offcut, no longer in the house.

I've managed to get caught up in delays.
power lines are down so after 2 hours stuck at Peterborough we were moved onto a diesel train bound for Aberdeen. It's very busy but at least it's moving and I have a seat. I do seem to have adventures on trains.
😕

People always tell me their life story on trains.
Usually quite weird things... and things they haven't (apparently) told anyone before.

I'm that traveller NotSpaghetti !
Not the whole story it would take too long but the poor man next to me has had to pretend to be interested in my train journey adventures 😃🤣

DS has just texted to tell me British trains are the safest in Europe but that could be because they are often stopped.

Peterborough x2 seems to be your nemesis, Grammaretto. I hope you are chugging safely homewards now. At least having a seat is a relief essential to someone of my age.
Did you get any interest in, or support for, your prospective move from your siblings and family?🤞

Your MIL's carpet laying experience reflects exactly that of my mother's, NS.
You are not alone. My mother's carpet came from John Lewis too, newly fitted when she moved house in her early 80s. Like so many household names of her generation, John Lewis were her 'go to'.

She had a massive Edwardian triple wardrobe, one that broke down into 3 separate units, all held together by a plinth and cornice, I suppose you'd call it.
Hats off to the removals people who got it into her new bedroom, but after that, there was no-one who was interested in deconstructing it, finding somewhere temporary to put it and to rebuild it afterwards.
I think it must just have been too much hassle to do anything other than say to the fitters 'oh, in that case, just cut round the blessed thing it'.

After all, it was always planned to be her final move and in those circumstances, I think I would have done the same, tbh.

I find these days that one doesn't usually have to engage one's fellow long distance traveller in life story conversations - fine details of others' lives are mostly broadcast during mobile phone conversations they are holding.

Whatever happened to simply I'M ON THE TRAIN. ?

grammaretto i Hope by now you are home. So pleased you had such a good time with your siblings.
I’ve had a busy day and just sorting myself out for bed.
Hope everyone is ok. Church for me in the morning.

Safely home and in my freezing bed, I am chuckling at Ixion's description of our fellow travellers who broadcast their lives on their phones.

Actually it wasn't too bad at all. More wartime spirit and very few noticeable phone conversations.

My oldest son doesn't use trains very often but he always comes off a flight with new "business connections".
🙄

I remember reading about a young man who, on his mobile, throughout a long train journey passed the time by regaling his life and business history to the whole carriage, who, in turn, were getting increasingly angry about the intrusion.

He closed by spelling out his mobile number and a great, knowing, smile went round his fellow passengers who spent the rest of his journey ringing him non stop.

Very clever ixion.
That made me laugh!

Re "business connections" my son took a call whilst he was last here - it was from someone asking him to quote for something... He was very chirpy.
It was someone he just met on a flight from Los Angeles the week before.

I keep thinking about the phone calls ixion
😂😂😂