So this is it, what we have been planning - in principle for a long time but 'actually' planning for the last couple of years - is now a reality. Over the past couple of weeks we have been making our move to the countryside, to a beautiful wisteria covered cottage on the edge of a village in the Ribble Valley.
Downsizing from a four bedroom, three reception victorian terrace, to a small two bedroom cottage has been challenging, even discounting the 14 week conveyancing process.
Just emptying such a large house, and sympathetically disposing of most of its contents, was really difficult; what to sell, what to give away, what to throw away (I am now on first name terms with the staff at the recycling centre) and sorting through it before we could even begin to make those decisions.
The stuff we had stored was ridiculous yet somehow precious. It told the story of family life over 23 years, cupboards spewing out games and toys, school books, toys and games, fancy dress costumes, photographs, orders of service for weddings and funerals we have attended...the list goes on.
My advice is to start early - I mean months before you will be moving. I went through each room several times until all of the cupboards and drawers were empty, and getting less sentimental each time. Let's face it, most of it had to go so mementoes had to be small.
And then moving day arrived. We had two vans and were moving ourselves, with the help of some family members. We were also moving our son out which is another story, and shifting some larger items to new homes or to the tip or local donation centre, so it was a busy couple of days.
Finally, after the usual moving day stresses - the cat going awol, solicitor hold up, waiting for estate agents to release keys, rushing to unload and then return the vans before the deadline, collecting the aforementioned cat who then pooped in the carrier making the next hour's journey quite unpleasant - before finally arriving in our beautiful cottage in the countryside.
Admittedly, we have a lot of boxes to unpack and sorting to do - our small living room looks like a giant cardboard box game of jenga - but it is all worth it because we are here, and the dream has finally become a reality.
I can't wait to explore the myriad of footpaths and beautiful countryside around us and write about all the new walks and lovely country pubs
we discover and adventures we have.
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