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Well remember that post, where the boys came around and talked us into staying in the old house?  

And now we are in a hovel soon to be lovely bungalow....

You are probably all thinking what?  WHAT?  Well I was thinking that anyways.

Then whilst every one else is moving to a smaller house, getting rid of their mortgage etc and we wanted a house with land...  How the heck did we end up in a really large ugly bungalow, in a village, with no land and it being pretty much a shed...?   Well.. It all happened quicker than I thought it would.

Our old house went on the market again on the Saturday at 3pm, using a different estate agents.  The new estate agents worked their telephoning socks off and called everyone they had on their books looking for a house.  On the following Monday at 11am, the house was sold subject to contract, (this just proves that a new school with an Outstanding Ofsted report can shift your house quick).  The people buying wanted us to move out within 8 weeks.  That kind of accounts for some of this crazy move.

We knew we wanted to not live in a location like the last house and I wanted to stay somewhere a little longer than we normally do.  Maybe even into retirement, (I am chuckling to myself even typing that).  With that in mind it had to be big enough on the ground floor to have a bedroom.  A bungalow obviously fits that bill.  It also had to be in an area where it doesnt flood.  This village is on a hill.

The state of the house is in some ways a bonus to me, although I am bemoaning it now, better to know it all needs replacing than to move in and find everything bodged and you have paid top money.  The rougher it is the more I get to make it mine.  Nothing worse than moving into a house and the previous owners added a new kitchen to sell and it is their taste and you hate it.  But because it is new you cant get rid of it as it is wasted budget.

I have moved so often, that in most of the houses I have learnt more about the way we live, each time we relocated.  

We can cope with a really small bedroom and bathroom, but a galley or a small kitchen, (especially the last house's kitchen) will drive me slowly nuts.  We also dont need a huge dining room, but a larger square lounge and a porch really work for us.  I controversially dont allow shoes in my house.  I know a lot of people think this is really rude of me, but I think it is rude that people would tread dirt into my home and god only knows what you have stood on, or in, with out even noticing.  Makes me retch thinking about it.  So a porch where coats and shoes live, is high on my priorities list.

We have therefore upsized the house to get the features we want.  We have maximised, whilst others are minimising their square metres.  We obviously arent ones to go what everyone else is doing.  (This doesnt mean we will be filling the house with stuff.  We need storage, but very little else.)

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would score a house with a porch so large.  I love this house just for the porch so far, (it is the only room, that doesnt have carpet that stinks like an old cigarette reeking nightclub, doesnt leak or have plaster falling off).

This is for {Dave}... Although I dont have a pavement out side my house, there is one on the other side of the road.  We have some street lights.  I can ride my bike if I want to the next village that has a villagers run shop.  If I am really brave I could go to the larger village that has a Co-op! (circle K for any one in the States). 

I went to Ikea Yesterday.  LOL  Badminton Horse Trials are on.  It could have all gone really wrong, but we got there are 9.30 they open officially at 10am, but they let you in earlier...? We were off to a flying start as there were only about 10 cars already there.  We think we have found the kitchen we want.  A designer is coming to measure and help us make the most of the space.  I really love the whole house in the films Somethings Gotta Give.  Especially the kitchen.  I am hoping to replicate it.

We also bought a huge wardrobe for the porch for all our coats.  Along with a new door mat and a replacement tray for tea (our one was broken in the move), these were not on the list to purchase.  *Impulse buy*.  Altogether in and out of Ikea in less that 1.5 hours.  All being delivered today.

I have ordered a blue door, it is more navy than the blue I wanted.  But it will do.  I have also noticed that even the lamp posts in the village are National Trust green... eek.

The Ikea delivery is here, so I best go.  How is that for service!  Excellent.

P.s. the tray we bought is National Trust green...  LOL