Saturday 27 July 2019

Moving House

It is hard to believe after all the waiting but we have been in our new home for nearly four weeks. I could probably write about the move itself but we've all been there... and it's stressful. Trying to remember everything feels overwhelming, what to leave behind, what to pack in the last minute box, not to mention the several hours cleaning everything as we emptied each room. That was a complete waste of time as the new occupants of our old house haven't moved in but instead are gutting the place. Bathrooms, fitted wardrobes, carpets... you name it, it's all coming out. Wish they had told me... the place hadn't been that clean in years! Despite only being a mile and a quarter away from the last house, and us both having friends in this village, not to mention all the activities we already do in here, it does feel completely different... and we love it!


The view from our front door looks right across the road to the beautiful church and we love hearing the bells as well as the hourly clock chiming. It kept us awake the first night and we did wonder if it had been a mistake to move into a house right opposite a church, but we really haven't heard it since and I have already managed to get myself on the clock winding rota.


We're lucky that the house itself doesn't need anything doing to it. It's clean, well maintained and the decor is very neutral so we can take our time putting our own stamp on the place. However that doesn't mean that we are all unpacked and sorted... far from it! We thought we had done a really good job of clearing and getting rid of stuff, after all we were doing it for long enough. But we still have far too much stuff so the decluttering continues. And I no longer have a studio, so everything that was in my previously spacious studio is now in boxes scattered all over the house, which makes gathering things for teaching an interesting experience to say the least. The plan is to replace the rather tired looking garage at the end of the garden with a purpose built studio and shed, but all in good time. The garden also needs a complete overhaul but I have decided that waiting a year to see what comes up etc will be the sensible approach. Which of course is just a ploy to put it off for a year! At least it is looking a little greener today after all the rain than it does in the photo below.


One of the major changes I have had to adapt to is cooking on an Aga. I have never been one of these people who have longed for an Aga or the lifestyle it implies. I couldn't really see the appeal. I also happened to love my electric/gas range cooker and knew that would be the one thing that I would really miss in my old kitchen. But I admit, the Aga is a thing of beauty and I have started to get the hang of it.


Meals tend to be oven roasted combinations that all go into one pan and get cooked together.


Virtually anything goes and so far everything has been a resounding success (although I have yet to be brave enough to bake a cake). But... and it really is a big but... I just hate the fact that the thing is hot for twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, using electricity and pumping out heat when I might use the oven once a day if that, I boil the kettle a few times a day and sometimes make some toast. Maybe in the days of having four teenage sons at home when the oven always seemed to be on it would have been fantastic but with just two of us I am struggling to see how it can possibly be cost effective or in the least bit environmentally friendly. And so although it feels like heresy, I'm not sure the Aga will stay. The jury is out and there won't be a rushed decision, but I'm not convinced it's an asset.


Despite my doubts about the Aga I rather like the rest of the kitchen. There is a central island that has the sink, dishwasher and a fridge fitted along with some cupboard space. There is a free standing larder and these fitted shelves. I managed to find a real bargain in a closing down sale and bought this sideboard that fits snuggly underneath  the shelves. Except the cupboard is painted off white and the shelves were a sludgy looking green. Actually I'm guilty of heresy again... they were painted in Farrow and Ball "Vert de Terre" which I'm sure is very classy but just happened to look a bit dark and dingy! There is no before photo but I have spent the past three days painting them off white to match the cupboard and I think it's a big improvement. I might be over sharing here but it was so hot in the kitchen during the heat wave this week given that the Aga was also throwing out heat, that I was stripped down to my underwear to do the painting. Fortunately there was no-one but the dog to see me because it was not a pretty sight and there really was paint everywhere!


It has certainly brightened up this little corner.


The squashed bucket thing on the wall was left with the house and I was all for getting rid of it. It caused a bit of a debate on Instagram and suggestions were made that it could be used as a planter (too many holes), it could hold dried flowers (no way... dusty things), it could hold utensils (potential in that one) or it could be a magazine holder, which is what I have opted for... for now. The thing still doesn't really 'spark joy' as they say!


And so there we are... we have moved, we are happy, there are lots of changes we would like to make but we are also in no hurry. Just don't ask if we have unpacked yet!

In other news, I am off teaching at the Festival of Quilts next weekend (it has been a challenge finding all my resources to say the least) and with the move etc I complete forgot that I have some complimentary tickets to give away. If you are going to the FOQ and don't have a ticket please email me and let me know. If I post them on Monday you will still get them in time!

16 comments:

  1. What a lovely looking property.Do you still have room for your boys when they come home?
    We moved to our present house five years ago and there are still boxes to be unpacked!!!No rush then.

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  2. What a pretty house ...and what a great job with the little corner!

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  3. Your new home looks delightful. I can see your point about the Aga, but the one you have is rather super. I have only just unpacked two large boxes of family photos and I moved two years ago, and I am still having to get rid of stuff that I thought I would have room for!

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  4. A little light under the cupboard perhaps

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  5. Glad the move went well. Have a great time next week.x

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  6. The cottage looks beautiful Gina - I can't wait to see it in the flesh (although I'll wait until you've finished painting, thanks!!) You might 'warm' to the aga in the winter months - people who have them seem to love them. And as for the garden - DEFINITELY give it a year is my advice - I might have been tempted to get rid of the boring deciduous over-large shrub in my garden, but then six months or so after moving it bloomed and turned out to be a pineapple tree - which I had always envied in a friends garden. Now all you need is a studio ....

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  7. What a beautiful new home, I hope you will be very happy there. The Aga is a thing of beauty, but I agree that it doesn't sound particularly practical. I'll be interested to see if you make friends with it. Definitely a good idea to take stock of the garden for a year to see what's what and where the sun goes etc. But it's a lovely space. So glad you're in now, and I hope the unpacking goes well. CJ xx

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  8. It looks gorgeous Gina. I’ve never wanted an AGA either, and give thanks in hot weather that I have a cool Victorian kitchen to hide in. You can always heat a cold house but cooling a hot one is much harder. I wish you many happy years in your new nest, far enough away from your old one so you can’t see the damage! X

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  9. So pleased you've settled into your new home Gina - it looks beautiful.

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  10. I am so happy that you are enjoying your new home. Love your little kitchen alcove, how very pretty and practical. I never so the point of an AGA, it seems not very energy efficient way of cooking, or heating (although I am not sure about actual energy usage stats for AGAs). I am curious to find out what you decide to do. I always enjoy the church bells marking time when I am visiting my mum, I miss this here. Have a lovely week xx

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  11. Good to know that you have eventually moved and settled in. I was brought up with an ever hot Aga - lovely in the winter but not in the summer (ours was solid fuel) - but would not want one. I much prefer gas/electricity for its ability to be controlled! I already have tickets for the FOQ but have been looking which stand you are on with no success. Please could you let me know. I hope the show goes well for you.

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  12. I have been reading and enjoying your blog for awhile now, but have never stopped to say hello. I was drawn here because you name was followed by the word, "Textile."

    I love your new home! I am looking forward to seeing more of it in future posts. ~Mary

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  13. I love the look of your new home. I can sympathise in a sort of way with your travails in packing - I just hope we never have to move from here as we have lived in the one place for 52 years and Bill is a HOARDER!!!
    I hope the new owners of your old home are not gutting that beautiful kitchen you installed - it looked magnificent to me and I can quite believe you preferred that range to the Aga.
    I am sure you will eventually get everything unpacked and find a home for all your stuff! XXX

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  14. The new house is lovely. Well done for making the kitchen so cosy - despite the heat! I know you have lots more to do until you're completely moved in but what you've done so far looks great.

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  15. So pleased you're in your new home (it looks very lovely!) and settling into village life. Kind of understand what you mean about the Aga as we grappled with one on holiday recently. The dog, who slept in the kitchen, was cooked by morning!

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  16. We will know you are happily settled at home once your first cake blogs up.
    Such a pretty proper cottage, and church bells <3

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