The new shelf

 Confession: I have no idea or talent when it comes to house interiors or decoration.  When we bought our house, I was pleased it was new- it meant we didn't have to do much.  

CBC, however, has a bit more of a vision than I do.

He declared and decided that we needed a shelf in the kitchen. Or a couple of shelves.

He ordered a couple of wooden shelves from Etsy and 2 weekends ago, when I made my Advent calendar, he got around to putting the first one up!

The evening he finished it, I made Vegan meatball spaghetti and decided to light a candle to serve dinner which is unusual as we very rarely eat dinner at the table.

My Father-in-Law's digital radio is finally up on the shelf rather than the worktop and a couple of my plants, plus a bottle and some dipping bowls CBC bought.

We're very pleased with it and look forward to putting the other shelf on the perpendicular wall.  We are planning to put our Vegetarian cookbooks up on there...when CBC puts it up!

xx

Positive News

Fil shared this great link to this magazine online:
https://www.positive.news/ 

It inspired me to share some positive news- I suppose this is a version of my 10 things to be thankful for but with a different title! Written on GOOD Friday.

1. Our heating is now fixed! Electrician came round and fixed new underfloor heating box.
2. Back in October, I lost my case which houses my school digital recording device, digital camera, portable hard-drive, spare batteries, memory cards and all electrically useful items.  I had no idea where it had gone but the last time I had seen it was in Northumberland- I just couldn't fathom where it had gone and thought that the people who cleaned the car (valeted it) had stolen it from under the seat as that's where it was the last time I'd seen it.  Weirdly, I opened my suitcase to go to Northumberland today and there it was in the suitcase.  I had checked said suitcase several times in the search for the case and have even used the case about 6 times since October so I have NO idea how it turned up in there! Whatever, I am so grateful!
3.  We made it up to Northumberland safely.  We are here for several days!
4. We have arranged to see my Dad the following week! So happy to see him!
5. I am meeting up with my lovely flute quartet next Tuesday for the first time in a year.  Annoyingly, I have been double-booked for a rehearsal for a Jazz gig we have at Pizza Express Jazz Cafe in Soho in 2 weeks so I can't stay as long as I would have liked but this is positive news!
6. My cold is almost gone, pretty much!
7.  Our new sofa arrived! After almost 4 months of sitting on a camp chair, I am very grateful! We took a risk on it as we hadn't tried it but it is perfect! You might even say my dream sofa!
8. Our dining table is arriving next week too!
9.  Going to the wedding of two music camp friends next Saturday who I am very excited about getting married!
10. The most positive news of all: Christ has died, but he will be risen soon!
In the words of Isaac Watts: "Love so amazing, so divine, demands my life, my soul, my all!"

Goodbye and thank you old house

Dear All,
Now we have finally completely moved, I thought it would be nice to reflect on the things I was grateful for in my old house, a sort of goodbye.  Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of things I won't miss such as it being freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezing in the bedroom, the carpet moths, the annoying cold tap that was incredibly dodgy and stiff, the hard-to-clean hob, the gate that was so stiff it wouldn't open, the door handle I always got caught on and I am very happy about my new house, but I thought I'd remember while I could.


1.  The beautiful garden- it was SUCH a treat to be able to look out onto such a long and well-planned garden and enjoy it in the sun. Such a variety of plants and flowers that taught me a lot! Plus, fruit trees.

2.  The ease of being able to roam from room to room on one floor- I didn't get my usual, "Can't remember what I went up the stairs for.."

3.  The quietness of it. So quiet. It was set back far from the road and because of the garden length.
4. The wildlife- foxes slinking past the patio doors as I did my work and playing in the garden; frolicking squirrels; goldfinches, Robins, Blackbirds; Sally the Slow-worm in my compost bin.


5.  The long living room- it was nice having a room that long!


6.  The friendliness and kindness of the neighbours.
7. The ease with which I could get to town in 7 minutes walk.
8.  How easy it was to get anywhere from there- straight onto a major A road. Quickness of train.
9.  The fact I could walk straight onto the train platform without climbing any bridges or going up or down stairs or slopes (alas not so at my new station).
10.  Overly friendly Florence, platform staff at the station who effused loudly over the loudspeaker as we got on the train each morning.
11.  How Aldi was on my way home- no having to make diversions to buy food.

12. The pleasant straight walk to the station.
13.  Great charity shops in town!
14.  How it enabled us to save for our house.
15. The sheer quantity of Roses that I enjoyed over the tenancy. Especially these Love and Peace Tea Roses.


I will always remember our 23 months at that house and I will always be grateful for it.
Thank you Bungalow! It was nice knowing you!
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