I haven't written a blog post for ages, the main reason being that we have just moved house. After we got back from honeymoon we moved into a large flat in the centre of town. Not being particularly urban people we chose to live there because of the empty property below that our church was hoping to purchase to open a cafe as part of a new town-wide ministry. Whilst this is still something the church is planning to do the property was not right - on our arrival at our new marital home after a blissful honeymoon in the West Country we discovered that a local charity was going to open a second-hand furniture shop there - they had pipped us to the post. In reality the cafe is all about God's timing, and things wouldn't have been right if we had gone for this property. It seems that our living arrangements are all about God's timing too, and things have now worked out for the best for us. The flat was fantastic and a nightmare simultaneously. Ultimately the stress became too much for us and when the opportunity to rent a small old mid-terrace house from a friend of ours came up then we jumped at the chance. It all happened quite quickly with the letting agency doing their best to find new tenants as we wanted to leave before the end of our contract but didn't really want to pay rent on two properties!
With the help of family and friends we packed on a Saturday and moved on a Sunday. It was manic but worth it. We cleaned the flat to perfection so that it looked better than when we had moved in. My last visit to the flat was to read the electricity meter and hand the keys back to the letting agent. While she went round doing the 'check' I had a chance to gaze at the empty rooms and mentally say goodbye to our first home together.
The conversation went something like this:
Me: "Goodbye flat. Thanks...sorry it didn't work out."
Flat: "That's ok. I understand. I need people who love being in the centre of everything to live here. People who will thrive next door to a lively pub."
Me: "Yeah, that was probably the toughest part. You know we wouldn't have lived here if it hadn't been for the possibility of the church getting the shop below?"
Flat: "Yeah. But you've got to admit. I do have some great perks. Massive rooms. Fantastic views out the back across to the brewery and the Downs..."
Me: "Those were a winner...sitting out on the roof terrace with a cup of tea looking at that was always special..."
Flat: "Yep, and what a great view you had of the Bonfire Night processions out the front! And the buses stopping right outside - great for your husband getting to work! And right next door to the supermarket, perfect for forgotten essentials!"
Me: "I know, I will miss that. It's not too far to walk from our new place, but it's not next door anymore either..."
Flat: "But it will be a lot quieter where you are now...and you'll have neighbours...and you'll enjoy the walk to work more now too, right?"
Me: "You bet! It will be quieter, without being isolated at night, and I don't have to walk up the loud, polluted High Street daily now. And, in winter, it will be warmer."
Flat: "Ah...central heating...sorry I couldn't offer that. But you know, no gas here, so Economy 7 storage heaters it had to be."
Me: "Well it was a good lesson in how to keep warm without relying on heating. We could use that in the future! But I won't miss sleeping in a room in temperatures less than 10 degrees."
Flat: "I understand. Well, I hope the new people are party animals. They will love this place so much more!"
Me: "Flat, it's not that I didn't love you. You were my first home with my husband. You will always be special for that. We learnt a lot about ourselves here. We overcame our problems with you together. You were a good place to start our married life. We will appreciate our new little house so much more. And I know you will be a good home to others, who will love and cherish you. I'm sorry I didn't love you more, but I never really felt myself here... You do understand don't you?"
Flat: "I do. Thank you for being good tenants and for cleaning me up so well. All the best!"
Me: "Goodbye! And all the best to you too. Keep those draughty sash windows shining!"
Do I miss it now? No. Do I regret living there? No. Am I glad we've moved? So much.
And, I will never take central heating for granted again!
Photos my own.
