I’m writing with the news that I’ve been waiting FOREVER to announce: we’re finally moving house!
On Monday, Keith, Riley and I should [notice I still say “should” as if I don’t want to jinx it] be in our new house. I feel like this has been forever coming – it will be 15 weeks in total, and could have been a lot less – but we will both be SO glad when we’re in and enjoying our brand new pad.
It’s a much more spacious house than our current 19th-century terraced worker’s cottage – we still love it but we desperately need more space for lots of reasons. Plus, after nearly 14 years we felt like it was time for a change and a new adventure. The new house has a big lawn at the back and a private car parking space (coming from London and then living in a town centre means we’ve never known the luxury of being able to park right outside our house without any restrictions). We’ve also not had a hall before (old cottages like our current house have the front door open straight into the living room), and it’s the one thing Keith is most excited about.
In fact, he thinks “we’re posh now because we’ll have a hall”. Funny the things that you get excited about, isn’t it?!
It’s been a long, tiresome process, and Tuesday morning this week was one of the most stressed days I’ve ever had… I don’t often lose my sh*t with people but I came very, very close – you know when you just can’t believe the level of incompetence of people who are meant to providing you with a service? Ones that you’re paying a LOT of money to do so? Without boring you with all the details, I’ll just say I’m glad that I stuck to my guns and said I wouldn’t compromise anymore. We’d done all the compromising up to this point to ensure the sale went through but I was tired of getting nothing back.
But thankfully now it’s happening, full steam ahead.
I’m writing this on Tuesday and scheduling in advance so I’m going to keep this post short and sweet – although we’ve done a huge amount of packing the last bits always take so much longer than you think (my parents moved a year ago and aaaargh did it take ages to pack the everyday essentials you have to leave till last), so I really need to get on with it.
I also don’t want to be having to pack during the World Cup final on Sunday if I can help it. England ARE GOING TO WIN OF COURSE – I say that even though I’m writing this the day before the semi-final against Croatia (on Wednesday 11th). I’m THAT confident that we’ll be in the final (and win!) that I’m not going to come back and amend this draft before the post gets published. The tension and stress of that on top is doing my head in, but we WILL win, I know it 😀
(Hopefully I’ll be able to schedule an #iwillwearwhatilike link up post on Monday in advance as well so don’t miss that.)
Wish me luck, I may be feeling half dead and about 20 years older by Monday night – but happy. I can’t wait to call our new house “our new home”…!
DO YOU HAVE ANY CRAZY HOUSE MOVING STORIES THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE? TELL US IN THE COMMENTS!
LIKE THIS POST? YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO READ…
– Why Saying Goodbye to a Family Home Can Be Heartbreaking
– We’re Moving… Our House is Under Offer!
– Someone Else’s Advice Could Be the Best Idea You Never Had
So all that’s left to say is – I’ve shared my thoughts/stories/tuppence-worth this week, now it’s time to share yours… LET’S GET THIS [LINK UP] PARTY STARTED!
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Catherine, you look stunning in this dress and hair color. As I’ve stated many times before, this color is absolutely stunning. Although I haven’t yet, I know I’ll eventually succumb.
Sound excited when you move to new house, I hope that you will have great time !!
https://weekendsale.club/
Yay congratulations to you all, hope you’re settling in and enjoying your new home. We have moved a number of times, it’s always been a stressful experience….on our last move we broke the chain just to get things moving as the people either side of us could not agree on a completion date… we stayed with my parents for the weekend, then got a call from the estate agent to say we can come and collect the key as the people who lived in the house we were buying had now moved out….we drove from Hull to Cheshire, two packed cars, three young children only to discover they had made a mistake (but flatly refused to admit it!!)!!! We ended up in a hotel for the night which was another nightmare….near Manchester Airport, school holidays… it took a while to find a hotel….anyway we got there in the end, we are still here 14 years later and love our home xxx
SO excited for you and Keith and Riley! And I’m with Keith on the hallway…it just ADDS something!
Can’t wait to see pictures soon!
Bettye
https://fashionschlub.com
Congratulations on your new home.
I’m so with Keith on the posh hall – I live in a cottage like your ex-home and I’m manic for a hall after living here for 15 years, yet it’s the longest time by far that I’ve stayed in any house, so that weirdly doesn’t stack up with my hall-lust.
And yes, I understand your frustration when dealing with ‘professionals’, I’ve dealt hands-on with several family house sales and a house buy in the past 5-6 years and oh how I feel what you’re going through! My biggest frustrations have been with poor (zero?) project management and poor (zero again?) 4-eyes controls. Sound familiar?! Glad you dug in your heels and so pleased you’re now on your new hallway today! Hugs, x.
Hello Catherine,
Good luck with your move!
Best,
Sigrid
Whoo, sounds exciting 🙂 Good luck with the move. Thanks for hosting.
Every best wish for your move and much happiness in your new home. When we moved 34 years ago (!) it was so stressful that I said to my husband I was never going to move again. So far I haven’t! Wishing good weather for the actual move and cool nights so you can sleep after it’s all sorted
Wonderful news. Good luck with the move.
Good luck Catherine, we moved to our dream house 3 years ago and understand the incompetence of so called ‘professionsals’! The boxes took ages to unpack but it was fun and I love my house more each day. So enjoy your beautiful new homex
Congratulations, Riley is going to be so happy with the new garden!!
Congratulations and have a lot of fun in your new house 😉
https://4highheelsfans.wordpress.com/2018/07/13/a-quiet-week/
Yay! Congratulations! Hope all goes smoothly and that you enjoy your new place!!
Excited for you! Our family used to move every three years for my husband’s job. One time the movers packed our boxes and nailed shut the international shipping crates. Our goods were destined for Spain, but my husband had a medical appointment the upcoming week to determine whether he could take the job they were packing us out for. Watching them drive off with the truck with our belongings, and not knowing whether we would join them at the end was a bit dicey…
So sorry it’s been so stressful, but a BIG congratulations…how exciting and I hope all goes smoothly from here on out! Looking forward to the next chapter!
xx
Suzanne
http://www.AskSuzanneBell.com
I’m so happy for you & your boys Catherine! I know first hand what a nightmare it’s been for you, the stress is ridiculous. I wish it was a more enjoyable experience, I mean for the enormity of such a decision you’d like to think it’d be more fun right? Never the less you are all but in so let’s focus on the positive & start looking for awesome MCM pieces to decorate your new home.
p.s. In honour of all big moves everywhere I’ve linked my post about my move Stateside 😉
Love you babe xxx
Sending strong arms to help with the boxes, a strong mind to keep it all organized and a huge hug because it is one of the most stressful times in our lives!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I’m so pleased for you, it’s such an exciting time! Shame about the football! Have a productive weekend with all your packing. Cute your hubby is excited about his hallway! xx
Congratulations, finally. I hope you are not too deflated about the footie and get on well with packing up your things. And I really hope Riley will love the garden especially. Best of luck in your new home
Good luck Catherine
I’ve moved so many times (including to Spain) that I have to say I have smiled, rather cynically, at your optimistic forecasts throughout this experience. I could tell some horror stories but life is too damn short!
Best wishes to you both in your new home, Sarah aka badassbabyboomer
Very nice. I am so happy for you. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you will have a wonderful weekend. Good luck moving.
Finally – yay! Wishing you such good luck! What an exciting time you’re entering. Looking forward to seeing photos and reading about your move! Jacqui Mummabstylish
Good luck for Monday Catherine! Exciting xx
Have my fingers crossed for you all …..you’ll soon see that light at the end of the tunnel….or should it be ‘hall’ !!!!
I sympathise totally with you as I have moved a few times and the amount of feet dragging these ‘ professionals’ do is unbelievable given what they are paid. Incidentally, I lived next to a solicitor who managed to complete the process in 4 weeks…..that says it all really !!!
All the best x
That’s great! Finally, right! Enjoy the weekend.
Good luck Catherine remember to put the kettle somewhere handy, so its there when you need it!
will be thinking of you all on Monday, so exciting too!
best
Ashley xx
Ha, I so relate to Keith – our last house had a front door that opened into a tiny porch, which went right into the living room: when we bought our current house, I was SO excited to have an ACTUAL hall!
Fingers crossed that everything goes as planned! I for one am looking forward to see how you decorate, not to mention the garden.