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Wednesday 12 August 2015

A moving tale......

Well, here we are at last...........thank you all so much for your patience while we have gone through this moving process, and for all the emails and good wishes

Needless to say, it didn't all go to plan. The day before the move, the removal company that we had booked announced that they were double booked and couldn't move us after all. Panic stations - at one stage I had my mobile (cell) to one ear, and the house phone to another, yelling down both of them simultaneously. In the end, we found another company, and they were great.
I had spent three weeks prior to the move scrubbing and cleaning every last inch of our old house - paintwork, windows, tiles, they all gleamed. So it was disappointing to say the least to come into the new house and find it less than pristine - what am I saying? Let's be honest here, it was filthy....so a few exhausted tears were shed, before I pulled on my big girl panties and broke out the bleach - again!

Small disappointments also helped the general feeling of doom. We had bought the light fittings with the house. I didn't even like 90% of them, but there were two really super fittings that I loved, just what I would choose myself, and the others could be replaced over time. Trouble is, the people selling the house also loved them, as they took them down and replaced them with some rubbish fittings that I wouldn't choose in a million years - I would rather see bare light bulbs than these monstrosities. A quick word with the solicitor told us that even though it was written in the contract as a general 'light fittings included' we had no come back on this unless we sued them. Lesson learned - if you want a particular item badly, make sure there is a specific reference to it in the contract. 

Most of the boxes, apart from the great pile of craft stuff have been unpacked, including a couple of carefully tied black sacks, deposited by the removers in the utility room - they sat there for a week, until it got a bit pungent and when I investigated, they had carefully placed the sacks of rubbish from the old house that should have been put in the trash :)

Luckily the weather has been kind to us. Today the tree felling guys came and hacked and chainsawed their way around the garden which needed a good trim - this is the before photo.....  






 and looking back towards the house.....



and a little secret gem - at the bottom of the garden is a little gate, then some steps leading down to a little deck overlooking the Grand Union Canal


and the place is overrun with wild life. Mainly of the brightly coloured plastic variety, like this plastic heron perched on top of a tree - heaven knows how they got him up there, it's a big tree!



I have a friend in Oklahoma, who lots of you will remember from the old Cricut message board where everyone know her as Okieladybug. She has a passionate hatred of gnomes, so would have run screaming to the hills in this place as I have found about 20 - so far......I have a theory that they are getting up to no good in the shrubbery and reproducing overnight, as every time I go out, I find a few more!



Battered metal owl anyone?



or a plastic hedgehog?


You will notice that not a mention has been made in this post of 'En's Den', the long awaited and longed for craft room. That's because there have been huge problems with that plan. Huge, massive.....so more of that tomorrow! 

It's so good to be back. See you then x

27 comments:

  1. One of those blue chairs has my name on it xxx

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  2. Sorry to hear that things haven't gone to plan. However, the garden looks great (despite the 'wildlife') and I'm sure you will get things sorted. We had a similar problem over light fittings - the previous owners took everything and just left the wires connected to dirty, broken old bulb fittings but in the eyes of the law, there were light fittings.
    Wishing you well in your new home
    Toni xx

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  3. So sorry to hear all this Enfys but sadly I would this is very typical senario....we didn't even have light bulbs left. The garden looks very pretty, enjoy some time there and make some crafty plans, hugs xx

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  4. So sorry to hear all this Enfys but sadly I would this is very typical senario....we didn't even have light bulbs left. The garden looks very pretty, enjoy some time there and make some crafty plans, hugs xx

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  5. Good to have you back, you do make me laugh. Your garden is stunning and will look wonderful with some tlc and plastic animals and gnomes removed x

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  6. I really hate gnomes too. Tacky cheap plastic ornaments are not what's needed either. Shame you don't know where they've moved to so you can return them. I think the garden will be wonderful when it's finished and looks pretty good even in these photos.
    Some people have no thoughts for others. I've heard of people taking all the light bulbs before and leaving filth too, but think they should be charged for leaving dirty houses behind. I know someone who moved recently and they found that the previous owners had cut the television and Internet cables...mad.

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  7. Nice to have you back Enfys. Your new garden is lovely and will be fabulous after a bit of love has been lavished on it. The gnomes do have to go lol.
    Mags
    x

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  8. I have missed your posts. It's great to have you back.

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  9. Well you've sold the place to me just with the deck overlooking the canal - whenever we are narrowboating I am always envious of all the houses that have gardens backing onto the canal. Sorry about the state of the house - we had the same thing happen to us, I was crippled having had a fall the week before we moved and exacerbating an old back injury but I still managed to clean our flat before we left it - I sobbed when I saw the state of our new place - luckily I had a team of friends who all pitched in to clean before we could start unpacking. The previous owner popped back and proudly told me that his wife had scrubbed the oven clean - between sobs I managed to blurt out 'please show me which bit' Oh and they left the loft full of rubbish and the garage too!! And we also had a double booked furniture remover as well - no wonder 17 years later I am still saying that we will never move again LOL!!! Good luck in your new home, I am sure once you have it sorted you will be really happy there - but please don't get rid of all the gnomes - I am rather fond of them (I was in the Gnome team when I was a Brownie!!)

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  10. Glad you got moved despite the hiccups. The light fixture story is a very common one unfortunately as is the dirty house but I feel for you. My niece moved into a very, very expensive house a few years ago only to discover that the lovely hardwood floor with the lovely area rug in the living room (lounge) on top of it only ran around that rug and there was a huge hole in the centre of the room when the previous owners moved out with their area rug. They had to get their solicitors on the job for that one because it had not been disclosed and then find someone to match the hardwood, which was fun because it extended into the hall. Oh well, once you have settled in and made this new house your home, you can sit with your feet up on that little deck with an adult beverage, watch the canal boats and let all the stress of the move float away.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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  11. So glad you're finally in the new home. The garden is beautiful! All the "set backs" can be so disheartening, but once everything is worked out I'm sure you will love it. Sorry you had to scrub and clean twice. I would have sobbed like a baby! I remember all the posts on the old Cricut Message board about the Gnomes. You should pack some up and send them to Okie before they totally take over your garden! Congrats on your new home!

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  12. your home looks awesome and sitting by the river with a glass of wine would be a wonderful way to unwind from your hectic few months. Glad to have you back on track (lol).I don't write you often but do read your blogs everyday. Enjoy your new home and keep up the good work.
    Bev V from USA

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  13. Sorry your move wasn't a happy one. Your garden is beautiful,just box those gnomes up!
    Enjoy getting to know your new house.

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  14. Hope you will post the end results on the garden after you do your magic on it. I know it'll be gorgeous. Love the chairs overlooking the canal. What a lovely spot.

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  15. Glad to see you back Enfys . . . sad that house move didn't go to plan, but the photos of your garden are stunning and with some tidying will be glorious. I know its sad when you've cleaned every inch of the house you leave only to find that the same hasn't been done in the new home, but these things happen sadly. Take time to sort things how you want them and then sit back and relax, imagine your new garden bathed in late summer sunshine, glass of wine in hand................. perfect. Sue x

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  16. Hello Enfys. Glad to have you back among us again. It sounds as if you've had a horrific experience with the house, but once you have put your own mark on it it will settle down and you will enjoy it. I do love your garden. Take Care. Hugs Rita xx

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  17. Luv Luv your garden!!! but I don't know about your gnomes problem though...there might be a take over of your backyard.....lol as far as your craft room..take your time..and lil bee suggestion is perfect advice! and I agree...

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  18. Lovely to have you back with us again Enfys. Now how did I know that your move wouldn't be straightforward?? What a beautiful garden you have - you can always upcycle the gnomes, hedgehog and owl. I'm sure they would look fabulous given the Enfys touch. Pat

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  19. What a great garden! For next year's vacation can I come pitch a tent at the.bottom? Lol.
    I hope there aren't insurmountable problems for Ens Den? Be well, not too much raking and chasing gnomes. Big hugs, Jess

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  20. So sorry your move had some bad hiccups, but you certainly have a lovely garden! Perhaps there is a rescue shelter for unloved Gnomes? I don't care fore artificial garden decor, either, but it will be lovely when you have finished, I am sure! I am sure we all can't wait to hear about the En's Den, and hopefully, it will all be fixed soon. You must have a gnome-free crafty space!

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  21. So sorry that you had so much trouble with the move. I really like your garden! Hope everything works out for En's Den!!!

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  22. Sounds eventful. Great garden. Hugz

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  23. Moving is always a hassle. At least the worst is behind you. The garden is beautiful.

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  24. I am so glad that you are finally moved into your new home, but I'm so sorry the sellers left the house in such a shameful state that it caused you stress. Removing the light fixtures was a retched thing to do. I don't care if your contract stated fixtures in a general term or no, the sellers knew full well what they were doing and were being deliberately deceitful ... which is totally inexcusable!.

    I'm so sorry that "En's Den" won't be the cozy little cottage you envisioned. Perhaps someday you'll decide to re-vamp that old shed and reclaim it as your work space ... till then, how wonderful that you will have a nice warm setting indoors to claim as your own. I have no doubt that you will soon have FB and Pinterest and blogs, and other crafting circles, buzzing with excitement and inspiration from all the amazing creativity that will be coming from your new craft room. No matter where the space is, it will still be YOU doing the creating ... so I know it will be brilliant.

    Oh Enfys ... what a gorgeous garden you have, there are so many layers to it. I see lots of area for the grandchildren to run and play ... room to have lovely outdoor meals with family and friends ... and such charming places to just sit and relax and enjoy a beautiful day. And after this move, you certainly deserve it!

    (Hugz)

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  25. So glad that after a few set backs you are now in your new place safe and sound and with a sense of humor. Can't wait to hear and see more.

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  26. So sorry to hear of your mis-adventures, but your garden looks wonderful! I'm sure you feel better now that it is trimmed back, and that deck over the canal is just wonderful. Hope things turn your way soon and "En's Den" is back on track!

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I love reading your comments, thank you for taking the time
Enfys x