Tuesday 27 April 2010

Getting ready

Viewed from the kitchen sink, the yard is cheering up. It's still in need of a thorough pressure-wash, the fence and the bench need a lick of paint, but it's not as dreary as it was a month ago.

This year's planting will be entirely in buckets and recycling boxes. Why? So that they can move house with me. Amongst the baby bedding plants are clematis(es) and lavenders, herbs, a little oak tree, an ash, and, out of view, a bamboo. The acer and the two very big planters with climbing roses will stay; the rest comes with me.



Like the yard plants, I'm getting ready to go too. The rather peculiar house four doors up, the one with the garden of a million fag ends, was up for sale recently, and two weeks later, a Sold sign appeared. Very encouraging. It's time I got the valuer in, but I'm not quite ready enough. I love my house, and I want it to look loved and cared for when it has viewings. The newly-decorated sitting room floor was painted yesterday (I love painted floors), and the furniture, slightly thinned out, has been moved back in. The cats' climbing frame is back in the bay window, destroying at once any pretence to a sophisticated ambience. They liked it just fine in the kitchen during the decorating; they could watch cooker, cupboards and fridge all at once.

I even tackled the small attic, unlovely depository of books, boxes, stained glass and all its paraphernalia, a table, a large chest of drawers, and a horrible old carpet (the spray-on fluff kind, all we could afford, way back when). I cleared enough space to plant my feet squarely without standing on something. There is still much to do in there before I can paint the grubby scuffed walls, but it's the last major job to be tackled indoors, the last Room of Shame. Ok, so it will be full of boxes, but they will be tidy boxes, closed, labelled and neatly stacked!


Mark the paver called today to view and estimate for the repairs to the front path; if my garden grew healthy plants as rapidly as the broken concrete of the path does, I'd be happy. We think Indian sandstone will go down instead, as it weathers well and doesn't look as bleak as concrete. There will be Before and After photos.


I've stayed pretty much on track with this plan to move, but it's been slow; much better for my stress levels. It's a rather terrifying thing to do, move on your own, and in the teeth of disbelief and opposition. Eventually, though, it's going to be time to go. Dorset? Devon? Somerset? Who knows; not me, not yet. A garden, though, definitely. Those plants would love to be in real soil instead of black plastic. And we would all love to breathe country air.

Best get a move on, then.

15 comments:

Dartford Warbler said...

What a busy time Rachel. You are wise not to rush things, but your house always looks lovely and it surely won`t take long to sell.

When you have cats there is always the added worry about finding a cat-safe road to live on.

Those little villages in the hills by the sea, around Bridport and Dorchester are so beautiful. I wonder where you will end up? Exciting times!

Von said...

All lovely places to live but of course my connections are with Somerset so that's what I'd plump for every time!

Anonymous said...

I don't 'do' fast either so I'm full of admiration - they say less is more, so slow is ? You're on your way! Very well done.

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Very brave to move on your own, but very wise too. I am sure it will be a great move. And of course I am still here suggesting you look at North East wales, fabulous countryside and property prices not too bad!

Linda said...

Your yard looks adorable, as does your house. People will love it!

Lucille said...

The next owners will be very fortunate to inherit such a well prepared house. Wherever you go I hope that someone has done the same for you.

Lesley said...

Such determination - I'm eternally impressed. And you patio looks lovely.

Lesley x

Anonymous said...

Good luck with it all and keep us posted.

Jan

Susan said...

Your back garden is lovely. What a wonderful quiet and private retreat it must be. You are getting ready bit by bit - the very best pace. And I suspect that also, bit by bit you are beginning to feel quite excited about this new who-knows-exactly-where adventure you and the team are about to embark on.

Change "is" as good as a rest

xo les Gang

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Have you told the little furry ones yet?

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

By little furry ones Smitonius probably doesn't mean the spiders .
Sonata ( on a borrowed computer )

rachel said...

Cat-safe roads are up there at the top of the list, DW. I'm looking with great interest just now at the villages around Minehead, Somerset.

NE Wales looks lovely, but another language to learn? No thanks, elizabethm....

I'll certainly keep you all posted; I might even start a new blog once I've moved. Slo-o-o-o-o-o-o-ower Lane Life?

And no, the team haven't been told. Why invite trouble? I am already dreading the thought of stuffing them all into travel boxes and getting them down there!

Pam said...

I too would love to breathe country air.

That's a lovely picture of Hamish taking his ease!

Julie said...

I visit your lovely blog regularly so it's about time I stopped rudely lurking and told you how much I love it. You've obviously got plenty of grit and backbone and a great get-on-with-it attitude, I'm sure you will make the right choices and your new life will be all you want it to be. Someone is bound to snap up your lovely house and then you will be free to make your move. How exciting!

rachel said...

Isabelle - perhaps you could plan another West Country holiday, and come to visit?

Julie - thank you for your lovely comment, and welcome out of the Lurking Gloom. No link to anything of yours though - wot, no blog?

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