Saturday 23 July 2023

“Well I never!”, as my dear Nana would often exclaim. It would appear that miracles do indeed happen.  Heir Number One was very pleased to show me photographic proof that he can sort out his things after all.  By the end of his moving-in day, the Upper Room looked like this…

I was most impressed.  It’s certainly a very good start.

He also reports that it is a really comfortable and quiet space.  The shower is good and everything appears to be working. He’s very happy up there.  Yay!

In my last post I had been sick with the flu for almost a week.  It is now another two weeks since then and I am finally almost better.  It was one nasty virus, that’s for sure.

Clive, who thankfully managed to avoid my bugs, has been spending his evenings and weekends still working hard on the last bits of the Upper Room project – sorting out finishing timbers, painting, installing hooks and towel rails etc. Ideally, he would have been able to have all these things finished before the Upper Room was occupied, but as we all know, real life is seldom ideal.  Someone from the Council is coming tomorrow to carry out a final inspection, so hopefully we will be given the thumbs up.   It will certainly be nice to have that ticked off.

It’s interesting how quickly things can change.  This time last year, the mezzanine area above our garage was jammed-packed full of “stuff” – our things, our sons’ things, exercise gear, camping gear, hubby’s desk and computer.  There was a lot!  It was pretty hideous to be honest.  And now, it is an almost-completed lovely wee studio unit.  Well done my hubby.  I am so super-proud of you!

Furthermore, less than 3 months ago, we had not yet visited France.  I was looking forward to the trip, but had absolutely no idea what effect it would have on me.  I envisioned our lives would  just carry on much the same when we returned. In the past, Clive had mentioned the idea of possibly renting out our house and using the money to travel.  I was absolutely opposed.  The Upper Room yes, I could happily rent that out.  But there was no way I would be comfortable with other people living in our precious house.  We, and no-one else, would be living here, and that was that.

And then France happened. And all of a sudden the solid attachment I had to our house seemed to dissipate.  It is just a house.  Yes, we have put our heart and soul into renovating it (ok particularly Clive, but hey I kept him fed!) and we have brought up our two wonderful sons here.  This house is filled with so many memories.  But the memories will always be with us.  And maybe renting this house out could also be part of a new adventurous stage for us. Could we rent out the house and live (eventually) in the Upper Room ourselves? Could we rent both our house AND the Upper Room out and spend a longer time overseas?  Three months maybe?  Six?

Well, it’s all a while off yet anyway. There is still that pesky thing called The Mortgage to finish paying off and the whole needing to have a job annoyance. Still, it’s awfully nice to dream.