Moves Afoot! Part 5 - Moving Emotions

Throughout the whole of this little series of blog posts about our move, I haven't mentioned the relatives and friends that we would be leaving or the range of emotions felt about the move itself. In fact, this time last year as mentioned at the start of this series, a move couldn't have been further from my thoughts. As an acquaintance said to me, you get to a certain age and you're comfortable where you are, with friends and relatives around you and your social/spiritual activities sorted, a move doesn't figure very high in the scheme of things.

Path to Bishopstone 

But it was very much a 'why not?' moment when Alan and I first discussed it. We had spent our last holiday at different Camping and Caravan Club sites, getting into conversations with people who had, as far as I was concerned, done amazing things after retiring - moving from one end of the country to another; going off in their motor-homes for months at a time either around England or abroad; or who were just enjoying life doing their own thing.

Much as I love Sussex, it's people and countryside, my first love has always been the South West.When we started going down to Yealmpton over the past couple of years, that love rekindled to an extent that surprised me. Then to find that Alan was also harbouring similar feelings meant that serious conversations started to occur, remembering how we considered a move a decade before to Tavistock, which, for various reasons didn't happen. Knowing that the years can just pass so quickly made it all the more important to move sooner rather than later. I didn't really wanted to spend my later years thinking 'what if'.

St Andrew's Church

It was a move not taken lightly. We had a lovely bungalow. I was heavily involved in St Andrew's Church in Bishopstone and loved going to the services there and doing 'my bit'. I loved (and still
love!) the church members and all who visited the church. I was in a book club that was associated with the Mother's Union at St Peter's (part of our United Benefice) and enjoyed discussing the books we read, but more importantly, the fellowship with others (and the cups of tea/coffee and biscuits!). I was also in a writing club which was thoroughly enjoyable and increased my confidence in writing, with again some wonderful companions spending time together with something we all loved.

Church Choir Friends

I had friends in and around where I lived where I used to chat to or to pop in for a cup of tea/coffee or, in hot days like this a suitably cooling drink. We encouraged each other, and with some, who I got to know really well, helped each other out when problems struck. I valued their company and support.

I know it was a shock for many when I announced our decision to move. But there are times when a big step like this needs to be taken and you just hope that those friendships are rooted enough to stand the distance. And you realise that it's down to yourself to keep the contact going as much as you can.

An estate agent said to us when we had our house valued, "Enjoy the journey." And I have gained from this 'moving journey' we have been on and look forward to the future - in both the ups and the downs. But I will miss seeing the friends that I have made over the years in the South East. Most of all I will miss being near my step son and his wife, together with the grandchildren. But the world is a lot smaller than it used to be with trips to Sussex for camping a possibility for us together with trips by family and friends to Devon to see the beautiful area in which we now live.

Church Members Socialising

Moves Afoot! Part 4 - Countdown to Devon

Our Moving Van

Having now exchanged contracts and received a completion date, we started to sort all the things that need to happen before we moved - the people and organisations that needed to be informed of our leaving the property in Seaford , with other services needing to know our imminent arrival in Devon.

We had only one week. Time was of the essence. Things really did crank up a few creaky gears to make sure we were going to be with power, water and communication facilities. Only to my horror, we found that we were going to be without a phone line, broadband and satellite facilities for nearly two weeks as they needed more notice than we were able to give them. Alan was thrilled, needless to say.

Days were taken up with me packing the rest of my stuff; most of the household stuff having been packed by Alan very quickly when we had found out.

Letting our friends know was difficult as being so busy during the day I was unable to think straight at night. But we told as many as we could, with my emotions starting to build up in realisation as to what a big thing we were doing.

As it was going to be just after Easter, I also had the services to attend at my church St Andrew's in Bishopstone, which also took up some time. And I arranged a little leaving 'do' on the Sunday before so that I could say goodbye to as many as I could. Time just seemed to slip away with all these things (please excuse the repetitive 'thing' - couldn't think of another word) that needed to be done.

Then when it seemed it would never end, we were all packed and ready to go except those every day items we would need up to the time we moved.

The Garage Boxes

At last the day came. The removal firm arrived promptly and started putting our possessions onto the van. It felt quite odd, as on previous moves we had done it ourselves or had hired from someone we knew. This was unknown people handling our things but they were very good and efficient, making light work of some of our heavy objects. I kept out of the way and cleaned each room as they finished.

Then, with only the garage left to go, we left them to it as we knew we had at least five hours to travel to our new home and needed to get the keys before 5.00pm (which didn't quite happen the way it should have done - but that's another story).

Half an hour into our journey, I looked at the clock. It was midday. I thought to myself, "In the past, that was the usual time for completion."

Three minutes later, my mobile rang. It was the solicitor.

"Mrs Kinnersley?"

"Yes?"

"I'm ringing to say that we have just completed on your behalf. You now have your property in Devon. All the best for the future."

After thanking him for his call, I turned to Alan and told him the news. We smiled at each other. This was going to be the start of a big adventure.

Moves Afoot! - Part 3 - The Waiting Game

(I've taken the liberty of including within this post a few photos which show some of the good memories I have of our home in Seaford. Hope you like them).

Our trip to Devon had been successful, much to our surprise. Now came the legal process of buying the house; the searches and the questionnaires - what's staying and what's going. After a flurry of activity comes the wait.

Our Garden in Seaford

So we sort out stuff, the clothes and gadgets that have outgrown their usefulness. We continue to pack my books, half of which had already been packed to make the place look tidier. In fact my books seem to have become a huge bone of contention and I defended them as you would your 'babies'. I had to face the fact that I had far more possessions than Alan, when you looked at all my craft materials and calligraphy equipment and papers for all my different crafts - all of which needed to be packed. Packing everything wasn't really an option until we had some idea of a date, but we packed as much as we could.

Then came the news in February from the solicitor that exchange of contracts was imminent. We dared to hope that the move was going to be as smooth and stress free as our two previous moves. But that was not to be.

After three weeks, I timidly suggested that we might contact the solicitor to ask if there was any news and for the next few weeks we were treated to a round of delays, all of which were based at the bottom of the chain, with our 'buy to let' couple who were buying our buyers property. First they were looking into a right of way issue; then, apparently, they were sorting out a mortgage (which appeared a little late in being applied for). There were even times when these individuals were un-contactable, even by their own solicitors.

Beautiful 'Black Lace' Elder

Having already obtained quotes for removal firms, we thought to check out a few dates.Our first choice couldn't help us and he advised that all firms were being booked up by the 'buy to let' people for the 31st March. We were advised to book with the first firm that were able to do a 2 day move. This we did, more in faith than anything else as no news continued to be received.

This lack of information continued until 23rd March, with our conveyancer informing us that the buyer at the bottom of the chain was still not in a position to exchange and that from his point of view, the move wasn't going to happen.

Loved My Alliums!

In desperation more than anything else, we sent a letter to our conveyancer and estate agent telling them that if it didn't happen by 24th March, then we wouldn't be moving on 31st March and would then leave it until April. Alan duly delivered the missive to both at 9.00 am on the 24th. Within an hour, exchange of contracts had happened, with completion to occur by 31st.

And what had the delaying tactics of the 'buy to let' individual resulted in? For us it felt like a pressure cooker about to burst. We had got to the stage where there had been so many excuses and, in some cases outright lies, you believed no-one in the end. If exchange hadn't happened, we stood to lose our deposit and more with the removal firm (they wanted the full amount of money by 24th March - £2,000!). We see-sawed between relief that we were actually on the move to anger that you could be held hostage like this. And you were left with the question - why does moving have to be so stressful??

Our Seaford Home