The Saga continues! ..........
2009 onwards
In 2009 it became clear that self employment was not working. It was getting harder and harder to find work and our house needed to have money spent on it. Money which we didn't have. The previous year, we had lost my mum so I felt free to do what I liked, and live where I liked and we put the house on the market. It sold very quickly and in 2010 we moved to a lovely new park home on a quiet site overlooking the canal......
It had LPG central heating and was beautifully warm and cosy. It was a lovely, friendly community within walking distance of a lovely little village with 2 pubs, a post office, butcher's shop and a little Tesco. We bought a motorhome and went off on a trip every few weeks. Just a few months later it was my turn to be made redundant 👀
Gray took a job in the gardening section at B & Q, we sold the work van, and the motorhome and rejigged everything to replace them with a caravan and a car to tow it with. Then followed several years of exploring the UK on a budget, confident in the knowledge that friends watched our park home for us whilst we were away.
In 2018 Graham's health began to fail. He has a spinal problem which no-one seems to know what to do about. The caravan had to be sold as he could no longer tow safely and our little holidays ceased abruptly.
In December 2019 we sold the park home and moved to a new build semi. It was beautiful. A small tidy garden, enough storage space and within easy reach of shops. The neighbours were lovely....apart from one....and she lived NEXT DOOR 😡 She was hell on legs. I'll say no more.
To save our health and sanity, in September 2021 we moved to a shared ownership bungalow in a lovely quiet area. We don't see the neighbours apart from a quick wave if they pass in their cars but it's better than sleepless nights due to noise and swearing right into the early hours and beyond......
The bungalow is not cheap to live in due to paying rent on the proportion we don't own but it's warm and comfortable now we are in our twilight years. We've been here over 3 years already and it's so much easier not having stairs to climb. I think we'll only move again when one of us pops our clogs. I've said before that if I go first then Gray would have enough coming in to make ends meet (just) but if I'm left alone I won't have enough income. This is why we've put aside enough money to pay the bills for a year to give the one left time to decide what to do next. Hopefully, that will be a while yet.
I have adventures to plan! 😁
Thanks so much for reading our story.
How many times have you moved home so far?
Stay safe and well wherever you happen to be,
Angie ♥️
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Oh gosh I remember well your upset with 'Mrs Hell on Legs' next door to your old place. That is a period of your lives best forgotten about isn't it. You've always lived in such pretty looking homes, I'm so glad that this one is good for you now, even if you do have to pay some rent on it too. I've no doubt you would qualify for some benefits if Graham were to pop his clogs before you, so perhaps the future wouldn't be as bleak as you imagine.
ReplyDeleteMe, I've moved home 17 times, if you don't count the Welsh flat and the caravan. Two childhood homes, six moves with my first husband, one on my own when I left him, and eight were with Alan.
Yes, Sue, she is best forgotten. Maybe I will be OK if Gray pops his clogs before me but the way this government is changing the rules and cutting benefits 🤔 makes me doubt it somehow. That's why we have a back up plan; a plan B to move to a retirement apartment if one of us can no longer afford the rent here . Another move! 😂
DeleteGolly...17 moves for you 🤪 I can't beat that !!
We've been in our current house 40 years! The idea of clearing the loft terrifies me; it's completely full of accumulated stuff...
ReplyDeleteWe did consider moving to a bungalow last year, but installed a stair lift for me instead. Much cheaper than moving and we didn't need to tackle the loft!
It's amazing how much stuff we accumulate when it's out of sight isn't it Kirsten. It sounds like you made an excellent decision for yourself. I'm determined not to hoard stuff here!
DeleteThis is my 19th home in almost 70 years, and the first I've owned. I am so grateful for our bungalow
ReplyDeleteGosh, Angela, that's a lot of moving, even more than Sue above. I suppose it went with your husband's calling. It's so lovely having a bungalow as we get older and I'm glad you are happy in yours 😊
DeleteHaving a horrendous neighbour is hard, ours moved back with her mother 14 years ago, ours slams doors all day and throughout the night. We decided not to be bullied by her. We have been here 16 years and made it our own, we have an upstairs bedroom, but we have our second bedroom and full bathroom on the ground floor, our hope is to finish our days here.
ReplyDeleteI remember you telling us about her in your blog. What an awful woman. As you have great facilities where you are, you have no need to move. Good for you for standing up to her 👍
DeleteI remember you writing about that awful neighbour, thank goodness you were able to get away from her.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember how many times I've moved unless I count again, but I'm sort of regretting the last move.
Oh dear...you fought long and hard for your current home. I do hope you settle. It looks lovely.
DeleteI remember your comments on the neighbour from hell, horrible for you both. I've moved 8 times and hopefully this last move will be it. It was such a stressful experience I swore I'd never do it again. But we did get rid of lots and its so nice to have much less in rooms. Xx
ReplyDeleteYes, Gill, moving is VERY stressful isn't it and so infuriating when you feel forced to do it. It is quite liberating downsizing and getting rid of stuff though xx
DeleteI've really enjoyed reading your story. In my childhood I moved house with my mum & dad 6 times. In my adult life I've moved 6 times as well. I've lived in 2 houses twice! Confusing!! We've lived in our current house for 34 years. Prior to that it was my parents house (my late childhood house)& we bought it off them. The other house I've lived twice in was a farm cottage- my parents rented it from an uncle then many years later husband & I rented it as well. One of my childhood moves was to Devon (from the Midlands) and the only positive thing to come out of it was that I met my husband at school in Devon aged 14. My parents hated Devon, so after about 18mths we moved back.
ReplyDeleteGosh Mrs LH, you could write your own story! And as for meeting your husband at 14 yrs old...well that was certainly fate!
DeleteI've loved reading your 3rd part series of posts Angie❤️ I also remember the awful neighbour you had☹️ I left the UK in Dec 1982 and lived in So. California for 9 years. We moved to Australia in 1991. I'm rather embarrassed to say I've moved 25 times😱 We live on the Gold Coast in Queensland. I think we may have one more move😉
ReplyDeleteCrikey, Manchester Lass, I think you've won the prize with 25 moves! Are you staying in Australia with your next move?
ReplyDeleteYes Angie, we staying in Oz Qld but hoping to move to a smaller Country town 2 and a half hours drive from the Gold Coast 🙏
ReplyDelete