as I dream on . . .

This would be my dream home LINK

Unfortunately it is not possible.

Fortunately however, I am at one, completely, with the idea of moving next year hopefully.

thank you all . . .

I am encouraged.

Now I know what I am going to do, without hesitation or looking back I'm just going to get on with it.

If ever there was any doubt there's non now. I've spent this weekend attempting not to get distressed with children peering through my windows and trampling over my veg patch with their dogs.

It was all okay and possible even with the huge compromises I had to make but I see now that it always was going to be tenuous; that it was only ever going to be possible and pleasant whilst things stayed the same. But the existing elderly neighbours are all approaching their nineties, they are my friends, but three of the six terraced cottages are now tenanted by people I am not sure I can live side by side with given the communal areas, so, c'est la vie.

People are saying to me 'wait and see how it goes', ' speak to the parents', 'don't act in haste', whatever. Others like my daughters and some friends know the people I am referring to, the children and their parents (some of whom have a reputation locally) and understand my fears regarding intimidation and my limits to cope with confrontation. My home has to be a haven, sanctuary, safe and secure. Just the way it is, there is no alternative. Once one flags up that one doesn't like something unreasonable people can see you as a victim or target and I'm not going to take that risk. By the way, I am a strong woman and was a probation officer for over twenty years so I think my perceptions are accurate which I suppose might be part of the problem.

I laugh at myself, downstairs here this afternoon, blinds down, music on, pretending rampaging ************ aren't out there!

I have started sorting out the loft, storing surplus things in neatly packed and labelled boxes up there, and a few plants and shrubs have already been potted up again ready to take with me. Unlike the previous two moves in 2008 & 2009 I can do this leisurely and thoroughly.

Quite a few jobs have already been completed by a builder, the sorts of things I couldn't do, and the new bathroom will be in and an electrician on site again 26th September. I will put the place on the market as soon it is sensible to do so, February probably if I can wait that long. One option is to rent it out and rent somewhere for myself. Yes, it's that bad and I'm not prone to exaggeration or drama.

Until I am safely ensconced in a new home with hopefully an even better studio and a private garden this time I shan't post here. So, see you all being well later on next year.

NOT A ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

April 2009, a search commenced, the decision to move to the south west had been made, the search concluded when I and my eldest daughter sat in a cottage that was for sale and silently concluded and colluded that it was 'the one'. Far from ideal, but the location was almost perfect, the price 'do-able' its considerable drawbacks rectifiable, and with her and her younger sister's support and agreement I put in an offer and started the process.

Fast forward through the day by day, month by month trajectory as revealed on this blog until today, a blow, a worst case scenario . . .

I halted the improvements and renovation of this cottage through lack of sufficient funds this time last year; three weeks ago works resumed, big time, a builder in place, a wonderfully thorough and trustworthy builder in tune with my aims and budget.

Today news that brought me up fast. A new set of tenants next door, people who want me to change use of one of the linhays I've been using as a wood store and half of my garden that for fifty or forty years have by consent and agreement been maintained by whomever owned the cottage I now own. Everything is turned on its head. I should have foreseen this.

Only last Friday and Saturday I arranged furniture from where it had temporarily been placed when I initially moved in.

I thought my turbulent and shifty existence had ceased. This is my thirty fourth address in fifty plus years. A thirty fifth looms.

I am unable to conceive of a co-existence with these people about to move in, for I know of them and about them, their lifestyle, values and history. We are not compatible, one of us is combative, aggressive and insatiable. One of us needs a quiet and harmonious lifestyle, calm and intelligent modus operandi.

Enough said. I shall be moving in the Spring, for I am not able to foresee anything other.

hello...

Dropping in to remind you that if you're missing me here I can be found during a period of enforced inactivity re: renovation work at http://www.mygenericmedium.blogspot.com/ and craft specific at http://www.linhaystudio.blogspot.com/ plus there's also a website now http://www.linhaystudio.moonfruit.com/ ~ this seems like overkill for which I apologise.

the lump hammer is asleep, the overalls washed and hung up...

http://geargurublog.com/2009/04/17/finally-a-tool-belt-for-women/

Well, what can I say?

June 2009 I had a one year, a two year and a three year plan.

By December 2009 the one year plan was complete. Currently the two year plan is about half done, and that is where it's going to remain stuck for a while, until September 2012 in reality, apart from a great deal of the fiddly little jobs and finishing touches.

This is because I have grander aspirations for the cottage than originally planned and don't want to be compromised by lack of funds to see them realised. I'm talking here about a loft conversion, new roof, new staircase, new kitchen. I'm done with doing heavy work. I finished demolishing the pitiful excuse for a bathroom a few weeks ago and no longer feel like I'm showering or doing the other sorts of things, in a broom cupboard, albeit it kind of al fresco!

Unfortunately a physical condition means I've had to pack that sort of thing in, but it's for the best, just means waiting a while for the finished result. Means also that I can devote myself to other things, like reading and working in the stained glass studio I thankfully organised back in the spring and summer.

I look back and see that the loft and fire end walls and other major and important structural jobs, plus guttering have been completed, and I am comfortable, warm, secure and fairly cosy. I have many small outstanding jobs to complete.

So, this blog is going into semi-retirement, temporary hibernation even. I could show you pictures of wired in sockets and plugs but how enthralling might that be? But I will return in the spring to show you how the garden's coming on, what will be it's third spring and summer since I came here. I'm excited already.

So adieu for a while! I blog elsewhere and here if you want to stay connected.