Sunday 28 February 2016

Climbing back aboard for a new adventure


So... What's the best approach to adopt when you inadvertently fail to update your blog for nearly two years?

I think maybe the best bet is to just get on with it pretty much as if nothing happened.  I mean, nothing really did happen - no really big life changes, just maybe not having enough that I was interested in enough to spend time boring telling my readers about it.  

Things have, of course, moved on a bit.  Miss U-t-B did that thing that children will, and grew up enough to head off to the North in search of a university education.  






Mr U-t-B retired for about the third time, this time properly.  No more lessons, no more financial managing and no more board meetings.  Freedom!  

And then a series of things happened, none of them major, which has resulted in the adventure that we are just embarking on.

First I decided that enough was enough and the woodchip wallpaper on the stairs and landing would have to go... 

This involved peeling two extremely stubborn layers of paper off an awful lot of wall.  My brain has mostly erased the pain and boredom of this, but I seem to remember it took about six weeks!





We then plastered and painted and re-carpeted, ending up rather pleased with the results...






Walking into town one day,  a wave of something risky overcame both Mr U-t-B and I.  We decided to go into an estate agent and get them to come and give us a valuation, what with the house finally having that 'walk-through-the-door' appeal.  

(We'd only a year before upped the kerb appeal by replacing the old front door of every 'first day back at school photo' ever taken...




...with one we rescued from along the terrace...

(Last day at school!)

Then a pane of Edwardian decorative glass above the front door became broken.  





We didn't want the estate agent to base his valuation on a house with a broken window, but replacing the glass in time meant we had to drive to Cheltenham to collect it.  And that's when fate decided to lead us a merry dance...

Zipping along the A419, Mr U-t-B saw a sign saying 

Cricklade
A Saxon Town

'Let's have a look at that,' he says.

So we do, and it's rather lovely.  We have a wander and some fish and chips.  






First town on the Thames.  


And there's this place up for auction.

Long story short, as they say.  We are now the somewhat surprised owners of a Grade II listed cottage in desperate need of updating.  And we sold our house, so I guess, in the words of The Village People, it's time to 'Go West'.




(Actually - and this is very strange and makes me think this move is fate - on the afternoon we were waiting to hear from the estate agent that it was all okay and we could collect the keys (there had been some doubt as to whether the sale would fall through) I was listening to Radio 2 and this song was played.  And about ten minutes later, the phone call came!)

Tune in next time for the photos that will show we may need our heads examining!


15 comments:

  1. It's great to read your blog again after so long. Quite a bit of change, but it all sounds very exciting. Can't wait for the next instalment.

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    1. Thanks! It's nice to be part of it again. I don't know what kept me away so long (well, maybe I do!) but I hope to find my way again...

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  2. Welcone back! And all the best for your new life in the wild West x

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    1. Thank you! One little toe dipped in the water (blogging), one big toe with the move! We're probably not going far enough west but heading away from the Home Counties sprawl seems like a good idea x

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  3. It is good to see you back here - Cricklade is where I visit during April/May to see the Snakes Head Fritillaries flowering in North Meadow - it is a wonderful and very special sight.

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    1. Thank you Rosemary! I am very much looking forward to the Snakes Head Fritillaries - and to planting up a little cottage garden!

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  4. So missed you. I too have had a long break (4 x cancer) and hoping to catch up with you - sadly you are now soooo far away. Happy house settling anyway. Welcome back.

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    1. Thanks Annabelle! Sorry to hear you've not been well. I've not been doing so many markets recently though I'm still in the area for a few weeks and may squeeze in a last appearance at The Maltings in April.

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  5. Welcome back ... keep us posted as you embark on your new adventure! M x

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    1. Thank you kindly! I'm rather surprised anyone has found this post after such a break but glad x

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  6. What a great catch up post. Brilliant to hear how exciting life has been...looking forward to hearing more. Jx

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    1. Janice, thank you! It's nice to be back. I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone else's adventure too 😀 x

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  7. Hurrah! Glad you've made the return too. And congratulationson the new home, looks like it's going to be absolutely gorgeous. You remembered to tell Miss U-t-B, right?!
    x

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    1. Dammit! I knew thee was something I'd forgotten to do! X

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  8. Ohh exciting and brave stuff! Welcome back, looking forward to following your adventures in your lovely new cottage.....lots of potential!
    Good luck!
    Gill xx

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