I am moving!

I am moving house!!!

This was entirely un-looked for as I have been almost completely in love with the 100 year old cottage I have been living in for the past 6 years. It has some pretty horrible parts, like the most migraine-inducing linoleum in the bathroom that I have ever seen.

Didn't believe me, did you?

The carpet is a heavily pattered Axminster from the  70's, though fortunately in the colour tones that I prefer. But the pattern makes choosing furnishings somewhat challenging!

And if I tried to swing a cat (figuratively speaking) in my kitchen it would hit it's head on each of the four walls because the kitchen is so small.

I have an absentee landlord, living in Australia, who doesn't spend a cent on maintenance. He has authorised the property manager to fix broken things only. Subsequently, the red paint is badly peeled from the iron roof and the exterior stucco is sadly in need of a paint job and some superficial cracks filled. The wiring is so ancient that the electrician who came to do a repair job simply stood there laughing for 5 minutes and shaking his head.

But the cottage is located on a quiet rear section in one of the most desirable residential streets, has great flow between the rooms, two double and one single bedroom (which takes a double bed easily too), 12' studs which makes for a cool, airy and spacious house in the summer heat, and - perhaps most importantly to me - a large back garden for my dog and two cats and a landlord who allowed me to have them here. It is hard to find decent rentals in New Zealand that allow dogs in particular.

I love the way Otter likes to just sit in the sun and doze off.

You can see the side wall (with the power box) of my new home over the fence. There is more space between the fence and the house than it appears in this photo

This has been my home, rather than just a house, and I have loved living here. I wasn't looking to move, but on Saturday afternoon my neighbour knocked on my door and asked me to please rent her 3-year old townhouse which is NEXT DOOR. It is on the rear section next to mine, she is happy for me to take the animals, and SHE is going to get the lawns mowed and said she is happy to help with the garden!!! What's not to like about this deal?

So, it will be with a tinge of sadness that I say goodbye to the house that has some great memories of parties and gatherings and dinners. My daughter celebrated her 16th and 18th birthdays here with all her friends.

The second bedroom as a spare bedroom, it has since become my daughter's bedroom and has all her furniture in it

I have always loved this wide hallway and the front doors. They open out to a deep, shady porch where I have an abundance of potted plants

The sitting room gets morning sun, firstly through the windows behind the sofa, and then it swings around and comes through another window

My daughter's 21st birthday, in just 3 weeks' time, will be celebrated in our new home, probably amidst chaos since we will have only just moved it.

With luck, rather than good management, I hope to have the new house straight by Christmas.