WE ARE FINALLY HERE!

Hooray! We moved into our new home last Thursday and after LOTS of hard work it is looking great.
We are in the village where Charles Dickens lived and worked - it is a small village with 2 churches; one public house; a library; school and a few shops. We live opposite the shops and have a view of the newest church from our front windows. I absolutely LOVE it!
I'll try to get some photos later on when things are more settled.

HOW TIME FLIES ...

when you're having fun!
Well - we finally exchanged contracts today on our bungalow sale - why, oh why did it take SO long to reach this stage?
No chain -  cash buyer - yet it still took 8 weeks to get to this stage.
Still - we're very happy and are now hoping to buy our new home within the next few weeks - back in Kent.
Packed 36 boxes - absolutely shattered - have done NO crafting for over 2 months!
Early night tonight - I haven't slept for more than 5 hours for weeks and weeks.

1 Month into bungalow sale

Well - we've had only 2 viewers - the first ones were 'downsizing' but decided they wouldn't be able to get all their furniture into our small bungalow! Doh! Don't they realise they will have to get rid of about half of it if they are buying a smaller place?
The second lady came for a good look around and decided she really wanted gas central heating - DESPITE the brochure stating quite clearly that we had electric storage heaters!
They both said the bungalow is beautiful and well displayed (which we already knew) so I guess we just have to wait for viewers who are more intelligent and able to read!

Our bungalow is up for sale

Well - after much deliberation we have decided to make the move after 14 years on the South coast of England.
We would like to be nearer to our families. So here we go - lots of clearing out to be done - even more internet surfing in the hope of discovering our future home.
My crafting will have to take a back seat temporarily as I endeavour to keep the conservatory tidy for the viewers. I have quite a stock of cards already done for future birthdays and anniversaries so will only have to make the unexpected ones!
Wish us luck!

21st February 1948

Today I was 8 - no celebration because my beloved Granny was unwell. I did receive a new dress though.
When I woke up next morning it was to the sound of my father crying - my dear Granny had died during the night. I was sent to stay with an aunt in London - Billy stayed behind.
When I returned 3 weeks later it was to find that he had been taken in by our maternal grandmother. She had agreed to look after both of us for the princely sum of £2-10s per week - which did not include the purchase of clothing.
Overnight I went from a 2up 2down wooden cottage to an 8 room detached bungalow standing in a large plot. The garden had plum, apple, cherry and damson trees, 4 lawns and a sumptuous 4 seater garden swing - it seemed like heaven to Billy and me.
We had never met this lady before so you can imagine how strange it was to us - my granny had been 72 and had raised 10 children - my new Nanny was 52, with 5 children and my youngest uncle was only 17 - a whole new world opened up before us - but were we happy?  ...


to be continued

I did some patchwork!

I thought I'd have a go at some patchwork - especially as i already had a bag of squares just longing to be sewn together! X

I was pleased with the result XXX

February 1941

I am one year old and find myself the subject of a newspaper advertisement!

'Good Home Wanted - for a brown-eyed little girl - one year old etc. etc.'

Well, at least it wasn't in the Pet section!

My new foster mother was a married lady whose husband was in the army and away fighting in the war.  She was childless and I suppose I was company for her and the money would have come in handy.

I stayed with her until her husband was invalided out the services and decided he didn't want someone else's toddler disrupting  his life - can't say I blame him. I did meet her when I was about 14 and she had gone on to have her own little girl, whom she named Christine.

Back I went into the bosom of my family - grandparents; uncle; father; brother and myself in a 2up, 2down cottage! I was 3 years old.

to be continued ...