Happy St David's Day and the last St David's Day that we will see living in Wales.
While I have actually lived in England since October of last year, Isfryn ... our house and smallholding in Wales ... has still in my mind been thought of as home. However, I noticed last week that in my head I have at last made the switch, now I see my flat as home and my future home ... only a hop, skip and a jump away ... will be even more my home.
When the tractor is sold and gone you know for sure you are no longer going to be working the land.
So next it's on to the tiniest home I have ever had and one I am so looking forwards to living in. Once again I will be living near water, only this time it's the canal ... and here's a tantalising glimpse of my new home.
I walked past my new place yesterday.
I was taking a round about way to the shops to get my daily exercise by getting onto the canal towpath near where I live now and walking along until I came to the white bridge that I have featured before on this blog ... not knowing I would one day be living by it ... and when I left the towpath and walked past the house and annexe the current owners were busy moving all their stuff out. I wanted to time my walk to the shops, it turns out it's just a ten minute normal paced walk to the door of Aldi or Booths, just perfect.
And in a strange twist of fate I now live almost exactly opposite the mooring of my favourite miniature canal boat. I wonder if they would sell it to me? A small home and a teeny tiny barge would go brilliantly well together. I could cruise down the canal to the shops and when I got home with the shopping my house would feel soooo big. 😀
I'm not back to blogging regularly yet but I will be back occasionally to keep you updated over the next couple of weeks and don't worry you will not miss out on any of the house before and after photos.
Stay safe and enjoy the daffodils.
Sue xx
So good to read new from you, I missed you, but please keep posting in your own time. Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to finding out about your new home. The location is v. pretty - and convenient :D Thank you for this first glimpse!
ReplyDeleteHappy St. David's Day!
I think my blogging mojo has leapt out of a cupboard full of boxes and got me going again. Yes, I am loving living in Garstang and having trialled it in the flat I know for sure that this is THE place for me.
DeleteHello and thank you for the update, Sue, how nice to live so close to the canal...and what a gorgeous dinky little barge!
ReplyDeleteOh, and just to let you know, we've decided the pitfalls are too big 😉. Thank you xx
The barge is gorgeous isn't it.
DeleteI've emailed you :-)
Hello Sue - good luck with the move. Looking forward to seeing the before and after photos :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, we exchange and complete in Wales on 17th and here in Garstang on 19th ... soooo close. I'll be able to show the empty interior photos then. :-)
DeleteFantastic that your plans are moving ahead and so looking forward to seeing the before an dafter photos :-)
ReplyDeleteI'll show you all my 'dafter' photos, but then I always do don't I ... lol ;-)
DeleteHave missed hearing from you. I'm excited for your next chapter.
ReplyDeleteBonnie in Minneapolis
Aww ... that's nice, I've missed all my lovely readers too, it's nice to have a bit of a chat via the comments isn't it. I've not missed blogging rather weirdly, but I have enjoyed the month off and now I am back!!
DeleteSo exciting!!! I'm very much looking forward to9 the next chapters of your story. xx
ReplyDeleteYep, I am definintely gearing up for the next chapter. :-)
DeleteHappy Saint David's Day to you.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to live near to a canal - good luck with the eventual move. Look forward to seeing/hearing about it all.
Carole.
Yep the daffodils are out in force back in Wales there's no disguising that we have just had St David's Day. Here in Garstang they are slowly catching up though. It's just nice to live near water isn't it ... weird since I can't swim, so I will just have to keep my wits about me on the towpath during those early morning doggy walks!!
DeleteI was so happy to see this today. Thank you for the sneak peak. Happy St. David's day. Jo in Wisconsin.
ReplyDeleteHappy to be back too. Thanks for watching out for me. xx
DeleteI will be watching for your next post! Good luck with the move!
ReplyDeleteIt will be here before you know it.
DeleteThank you. xx
Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. xx
DeleteOh man, no land... only very close neighbors. You are brave, my dear! I hope I can be as brave as you are one day. I know that's our fate but I fear the tears I'll be shedding will come through my blog onto everybody's keyboard who's reading about it. Happy moving and anxiously await more pictures. ~Andrea XOXO
ReplyDeleteNope, no land as such, and no grass cutting ... phew, what a relief after managing so much land for so long.
DeleteYes the neighbours are close but it's a very small cul-de-sac so no through traffic and the neighbouring gardens are all fenced off, so I will have privacy and room to grow some veggies and flowers and the dogs and Ginger will have space to play and bask in the sun. And also I will be able to tell you all about me learning to grow food to eat in a teeny, tiny space once I get going.
There are many more positives than negatives for me, so there are most definintely no tears ... maybe by the time you move on you will feel the same?
good luck with the move it all sounds fab, love that little boat.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, it's delightful isn't it. I would love to see the interior.
DeleteDo you have the entire semi with the raised up roof?
ReplyDeleteIt looks so nice. I imagine this summer will be a delight for you with canal walks etc.
No I don't thank goodness, Alan does ... I have the little property the arrow is pointing to.
DeleteI'm really looking forward to canal-side walks again, since I moved so close to the river I have hardly walked along the towpaths, we used to come most weekends from the Van and go in one direction or the other. Of course the fact that there is a pub at the end of the walk had nothing whatsoever to do with it ;-)
Good to see an update - hope your move continues to go well.
ReplyDeleteEven a normal canal boat is small but that one is teeny!
and re your other blog.... I treated myself to the Julia Watkins book and saving it for my weeks in limbo in the holiday let. Made a decision that books are the things that make me most happy so I'm planning many more book treats in my new home
We are renting at the moment awaiting out house purchase to go through. I have also decided books make the situation happier!
DeleteHi Sue, yes after viewing another 40ft canal boat the other week that Alan was going to buy, I now realise that this one must be miniscule inside. Definintely a boat for a single girl and a Pug ;-)
DeleteIt's a good book with lots of nice, simple recipes for homemade cleaning products and edibles as well as the text. It's definintely a keeper for me. Oh and I would say you need at least one new book a week for your new home. Books are Life.
Lynn, yes books really do make life better and stressful situations easier to cope with don't they :-)
DeleteGood to hear from you. Thanks for the update!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to be back :-)
DeleteThere will be so many updates over the next few weeks you'll be wishing I was gone again!!
Lovely to see you Sue. We are renting now. We found a house last week. No chain so should be quick. It needs a lot of work doing so we shall stay here til its done as our minimum tenancy was for 6 months. So we should move end of July. Looking forward to your pics later. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteOh brilliant news. Renting before a purchase does simplify things doesn't it. I intend extending my tenancy for a couple of months while I have some work done to my new place, so perhaps we'll be moving in at similar time to each other. I can't make up my mind whether to get a new kitchen installed or not, so I'm waiting to get back in there and have anther look at it. It would just be so much easier to do it while my little space is empty.
DeleteHow lovely to be near the canal - what lovely level waterside walks to be had. I hope it's not long before you are able to move in. I fear the close proximity of neighbours would blow it for me - we are so used to complete privacy, although that said, we do have next door neighbours at the back of our stable block, but can only see their roof. They have children and I love to hear them playing, and he has already helped with a repair on the stable roof and they seem very nice.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing photos of your new home.
I didn't realise how much I missed the sound of other people until I moved into this flat. Suky is used to it now but Mavis does have the odd bark when she hears people outside so close to the house. They will get used to the new place just as quickly though.
DeleteHaving no neighbours that we could walk to back in Wales (unless we risked life and limb on the busy A470, which had no footpath or even verges) meant for very rarely seeing them, it was a very strange situation to not even live in a village. I really did find myself getting very people phobic, I love being back in a town.
Exciting, look forward to reading more when you next blog
ReplyDeleteIt really is, and the next post will be coming shortly :-)
DeleteSo nice to hear from you again. Looking forward to photos of your new home.
ReplyDeleteThank you ... and I am looking forward to getting in there and being able to take some. Itchy feet, itchy feet and it can't come soon enough.
DeleteSo lovely to have an update. Hope the move goes well and look forward to seeing more in the future.
ReplyDeleteNice to be back, there will be lots of see and read in the coming weeks. You'll all get fed up with me ;-)
DeleteLovely that your plans coincide with the ccming of Spring - a perfect timing if I may say so.
ReplyDeleteIt's like Spring is the start of something new for so many of us. You are at last getting out and about with Priscilla, lots of us are in the throes of moving house and our strange Covid world might just start to feel a bit more normal as the vaccine rolls out down the age groups.
DeleteIt's good to see you! How exciting to see where you will be moving. I look forward to hearing about your new home. Before and after photos are always so fun especially with a decorator as talented as you! Good luck with the moving!
ReplyDeleteOh you'll be seeing and hearing all about it for sure. I'm not sure about the decorating though, this time I am going to pay someone to do the painting and wallpapering, the curtain making etc and I am just going to do the interior design once the basics are in. My frugal years have earnt me the money to be able to set up this home just as I want it.
DeleteWishing you all the best on your move!
ReplyDeleteThank you Mary. xx
DeleteMy comment has disappeared - is there a reason for this or shall I post it again?
ReplyDeleteSorry, but yes you got my new address right and I just thought it best for it not be on here for everyone to see. That was the only reason, you are more than welcome to repeat your comment, just minus the address please.
DeleteThere really was no need to get upset and Unfollow, a simple 'Oops sorry' would have sufficed. The rest of your comment was lovely and I really appreciated it.
DeleteIt's getting sooooo close! looking forward to more pictures.
ReplyDeleteToo close, I have itchy feet and need to get stuck in. All this packing up the Welsh house is bloody hard work though!!
DeleteAn exciting new chapter. I hope everything goes well with your move. X
ReplyDeleteIt really is, thank you so much. xx
DeleteHappy St David's Day, Sue! It's lovely to see a blog post from you pop up!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to live near that stretch of canal where you used to enjoy your walks and to be within walking distance of the shops.
Our friends live in a old toll keeper's cottage on the banks of the canal, he's obsessed with water and regularly canoes up and down - she's not quite as keen! xxx
Yep, I back!!
DeleteIt will be nice to be able to walk to the shops each day for supplies, once this lockdown thing is over that is ... I don't think I could carry a weeks worth of food on my own! It must be lovely to live in a toll keepers cottage on the banks of a canal, unless of course it's positioned at a lock and then I bet they get asked for help all the time.
It looks a fabulous area and close to everything you need. We really miss having the canal to walk by, street walking is simply not the same.
ReplyDeleteBelated Happy St David's day!
Yes, I do love being near water. Street walking is not quite the same, but it's surprising how much more I bet we are all learning about our towns now that we go out at least once a day for long walks.
DeleteGreat news Sue. What a smashing spot and the tiny barge is gorgeous. You never know they might sell it.
ReplyDeleteJean
x
It's a good area to live in, and yes I would love the barge, although I would need to see just how tight it is inside before parting with any cash. I bet there's definintely not enough room to swing a Pug ;-)
DeleteVery exciting times ahead Sue:) What a beautiful spot, it's perfect with everything close by. Take good care xoxo
ReplyDeleteIt will be good to be close to things in my own place again. Although I have loved renting it's not quite the same in a flat, I need a little bit of garden space and so do the dogs.
DeleteNice to get an update from you. Your new home is in the perfect spot and I am looking forward to the before and after photo's.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It's in a good location yes, and there will be lots of before, during AND afters I'm guessing :-)
DeleteCongratulations and thanks for sharing this with us. I am so excited for you!
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you so much. I will be sharing lots in the coming weeks, stay tuned :-)
DeleteCan't wait! All those glorious walks near the water once the spring flowers start blooming. Again, congratulations!
DeleteNearly missed this post and lovely to hear from you and with pictures of where you are living. I love your area and Booths stores - we have been to quite a few as they are dotted around the north and we often make use of their cafes rather than stop on the motorway services. Sadly, I don't think the one near you has a cafe? I agree a tiny canal boat would be the cherry on the cake. Keep us updated now and again.
ReplyDeleteNice to see you back and posting too, I do live in a lovely area don't I, which I think is why I found moving away from Cumbria and my little shop so hard all those years ago. I used to be in tears passing Jct 36 on the M6 when we headed to Scotland.
DeleteYes our Booth's has a café, a huge one, the whole of the top floor in fact. And I was a regular for the years I lived in the Van, hopefully it will be able to re-open soon and my daily free coffee will be re-instated. If you need to use it instead of a motorway services just nip off the M6 and tootle down the road for ten minutes, it's well worth the detour for one of their meals ... although the jacket potatoes are usually a bit dire!! But if your heading further up North Tebay is not that far away and even better for food.
That is good to hear about the cafe - not sure why I thought they did not have one. We mostly visit the Kendal or Penrith branches depending on how hungry we are and how long we can wait for lunch. We do stop at Tebay too (going up and coming down) mainly to open our flasks and use the loos - but I do like a roam around their shop. I remember the old Tebay with the 'big top' look in the restaurant before the more recent refit. Often we would be the only ones sat in their restaurant late on Friday night as we headed for Scotland. The night chef would pop out of the kitchen to do you a lovely toasted currant tea-cake on request to go with the cup of tea. They don't do that now as they just open the take out section and close the restaurant. I will wave as we drive past your area when we next go to Scotland (when we are allowed a visit!)
DeleteLovely to hear from you. I'm so pleased everything is finally falling into place. I'm so looking forward to hearing and seeing about your new beginnings. Garstang really does look a beautiful place. Take care. X
ReplyDeleteThings really are falling into place in a weird way at the moment. I was back in Wales to pick up another car load of stuff and a set of documents to do with the house sale that needed my signature arrived just as I did. Signed and returned before I left. Alan's Covid vaccination appointment is half an hour before he's due to head here on Saturday. All the pieces seem to be falling into place.
DeleteYes, Spring is springing all over in Garstang and it's looking beautiful, I can't wait to have a garden again. 😃
I'm so glad to 'see' you again. It will be fun to see your new digs and the pups. Stay happy.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to be back after a shorter break than I intended but I am a Blogger through and through, you can't keep us down for long ;-)
DeleteBuying and selling property is always stressful but at least you’re in sight of the end. The new place looks small but perfectly formed and reminds me of your gorgeous Lavender shop from way back in the day. Good luck and enjoy the walks, the canal and the people. Oh, and Booths of course 😊
ReplyDeleteBuying and selling property is always stressful but at least the end is in sight. The new place looks small but perfectly formed and reminds me of your beautiful Lavender shop. Good luck and enjoy the canal walks, the people and...Booths!
ReplyDeleteSo lovely to hear from you Sue and I am really looking forward to seeing your new home and following you on your adventures at this exciting time. Good luck with the move.
ReplyDelete