Monday, May 15, 2006

And I wish I was on that N17 ...

Well, not actually the N17 - 'cos that's elsewhere [pause for whistful sigh]. Nope: we were on the A6. Doesn't even scan. It did, however, take us on our first Sunday outing to the Peaks. A jolly time was had, too. Even our eldest - who was doing grumpy teenager on account of inadequate sleep - managed to enjoy herself over a frothy hot chocolate (well, you would, wouldn't you?).

We sampled the touristy delights of Bakewell (home of the pie/pudding/tart of the same name). The children even learned something! [Not anything partuicularly useful, of course ;^)] Apparently, the Bakewell Pudding was created by accident as a result of a misunderstood recipe. Or something.

What with this and going to see Little Britain Live on Saturday we're beginning to con ourselves that we might be getting a life.

My family will now be off to collect our new puppy. We'd promised ourselves that our new life in our new house in a new part of the country would involve a dog. And hey - why not. There's loads of rolling countryside hereabouts. Roll on walkies: rain or shine, I'm sure there's something rather therapeutic about it.

... Stone walls and the grass is green

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

What a difference a day makes ...

That was then .. this is now.

We are, finally, moved in. That'll learn me to wax lyrical about how straightforward things seem to be. What'll learn me? I hear you cry. Well, the saga continues ..

Almost immediately following my last post [no, not the last post. tsk], we went to see our new house. All full of enthusiasm, we drove to our new home. I stopped off at the estate agents and was greeted at the door with a cheery "hello - come to collect the keys?". But keys there were none. "Sorry - we don't seem to have them yet." It was about that time I started to get that sinking feeling.

A quick visit to the house confirmed that the previous owners had not yet moved out - completely. The brief urge to ram the door, change the locks and sue them for the cost of dumping their remaining belongings subsided and we called it a day and went home, somewhat deflated.

To cut a long story short, all was resolved by the next morning and the removals duly transported our stuff in numerous boxes from old to new and we are now installed. I hesitate to say "moved in", as there is a significant proportion of our wherewithall which is still in boxes. We do, however, have a living room, a fairly clear kitchen and a pro tem dining room in the conservatory. We all have beds and are beginning to sort out the "occasionally used" items (junk to you and me).

So life is beginning to take some shape. The shape is embryonic at present, but becoming more real and believable by the day. The crowing of the cockerel which lives round the corner is already familiar - as is the neighing of the horse in a nearby field. The sounds of trunk road have been replaced by children playing and (as you can tell), civilisation has arrived in the form of broadband.

... brought the sun and the flowers ...