After not doing much for the last three weeks I finally felt up to a walk. We took the dogs down to the river nearby, it was so windy and chilly! In the small bay along the river front we saw many kite surfers flying high. There was one guy in particular who was very athletic and managing extraordinary feats. I managed to take a few shots and videos with my S24. Quite a task to get good shots while zooming in and holding steady in the wind.
What must it feel like to be able to fly in the air like this? Exhilarating, thrilling and invigorating are some words that spring to mind. It was a joy to watch but too cold to stand there for long.
We’re nearly at the end of a long process of putting a house on the market and buying a new one. Our house has been sold and we have also found a new one. It’s in the suburb where I’ve always wanted to live, so things are beginning to line up. After looking at so many houses it was getting difficult to remember which house was which. Mainly because nearly all the houses had been staged! Same furniture, same layout. Anyway we snapped up a beautiful house before anyone else had a chance. I was going to continue looking but as my dear hubby said, what is the point?
“Wherever you go, go with all your heart” – Confucius
So what’s next? Trying to simultaneously move out and in on the same day! Declutter more, pack up and organise movers. Saying this though our house is feeling empty after all the staged furniture has been removed and our own furniture is in storage.
Nothing has really sunk in yet though and we will all be very sad to leave our house after over 20 years. But new beginnings await and adventures are just around the corner. I’m looking forward to this next chapter and making our new house feel like a home.
“If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello” – Paulo Coehlo
I’ve been looking back at my photos over the years and have added a gallery of a few precious memories. My parents came every year for over 15 years, now sadly passed away and I miss them every day. As you can see they had to work for their board and lodging.
“If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet…” – Rachel Wolchin
It really has been a bit of this and that last week. We are now two home opens down and still no takers. The market has slowed down so we have been told. As the old saying goes “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink”. I am very much enjoying the less cluttered space we have now and am getting used to the routine every Saturday morning.
Having decided not to cook on a Friday we have been making the most of going out to eat. We had a lovely dinner at a beachside restaurant overlooking the sea and in time to watch the sunset. My daughter and the munchkins came too. My 8yr old grandson went into fits of laughter after he handed me the seniors menu!
Last week it was just us, a romantic dinner for two at the golf club.
The weather last weekend was atrocious, not a good day for our home open. I sat in the car for a while scrolling away and looked up and saw this.
I joined a few friends for a quiz night at a local pub, our group was the oldest by a few decades. Although I was able to answer quite a few questions. I also managed to go to two zumba classes now that I have spare time. I made a cake and slow cooked a pork shoulder for pulled pork tacos. Treated myself to a mani and pedi.
A friend mentioned to me that she had a fantastic photo scanner, which scanned 40 photos at a time. So I went a bit mad and ordered one online. What a gamechanger! I have managed to scan and organise so many photos that have been lying around for decades in boxes. Just the sort of project I enjoy.
As my two boys were very unhappy about not being able to sleep on the couches anymore I bought them two new cozy beds.
We are lucky to see different kinds of birds fly through the garden, sometimes staying for a visit. Unless I sit out there camouflaging myself it’s hard to snap them. I normally stand behind a curtain and peep out.
This week I spotted two wood ducks and several rainbow lorikeet, disguising themselves amongst the lilipili.
I hope you all had a fabulous week too and found something to feel blessed and happy about.
Since the last time I wrote about our lifestyle change things have moved on at a cracking pace. The renovations and cleaning have all been completed, with a few hic ups along the way. The more they did the more problems came to light. There goes the budget! Sometimes getting too friendly with your tradies is not a good thing, it then feels awkward bringing unfinished projects up.
We have made many trips to our local tip and charity shops. I have had sleepless nights thinking about what needs to be done the next day. Going from room to room and back again with half completed chores.
The last two weeks we have had movers in to take much of our furniture into storage and packed up all of our ornaments. I have successfully managed to sell many of our carpets and ornaments. A good lesson was learnt here, things are only worth what someone is willing to pay for them. I forgot to make notes of who was coming and when, which caused confusion. I persuaded one couple to take a different shelf unit instead of the one they came for! Resulting in them driving home with their boot open.
The staging company were next. They were here for two days bringing in many lorry loads of furniture, ornaments and bedding. I can’t say I liked some of the furniture but as I have paid now I had to let them do their thing. Say goodbye to control.
There are numerous plants, pots and cushions around the house. I have had to take photos of how the beds are made. Also must remember to chop the cushions!
A few photos below of the many cushions we have on the beds. I am tempted to open these bottles before we’ve finished.
Sadly my boys (Zac and Rufus) have had their noses put out of joint as they are no longer allowed on the sofas, which are a pristine white. These have been completely swathed in old sheets and blankets to keep them white.
Not speaking to me
Finally we are done and we’ve gone live. We will be waiting with baited breath to see the reactions of potential buyers, although we will not be allowed in the house while this takes place. The transformation has been remarkable, and we hope that our hard work will pay off. The next chapter will now find us looking for a home that we loved as much as this one.
During March we made the difficult decision that it was time to downsize. Although we have No. 1 Daughter and the two munchkins living with us now we all needed to have our own space.
First up was engaging estate agents, which No. 1 son did for us. Working in property gives him the edge and able to convey succinctly what we wanted. Two agents quickly came and went. Before they had even given proposals I knew I was more comfortable around the first one, Susan. From here on was where I became overwhelmed and began having restless nights.
It was the decluttering that was beginning to take over my thoughts. We had a go at the dreaded “tool cupboard” in the garage that has long been the bane of my existence. We being my dear hubby and me. We managed one shelf in two hours and I gave up when he lovingly held a decade old ball of string and said “this is good is twine, we might need it”. Most just got moved onto another shelf.
I asked him also to remove a can of paint that had become stuck. Disaster struck as he pierced the bottom and paint quickly started spreading. He came to me and said “I’ve just made an unholy mess”. At this moment Susan’s assistant rang to say she had arranged 6 tradesman to come around the following week for quotes. I said we need the painter now to help us with this mess. She came to my rescue and sent around a handyman, who cleared up within minutes.
During March No. 1 daughter backed her car into the moving electric gate and knocked it off its tracks. Fortunately we have a wonderful neighbour who came around and fixed the problem. The next day after coming out of an appointment she saw her car being towed away! Not having read the parking sign properly. The car was returned but not without a fine.
We were told that to obtain the best price it was better to engage a stylist to showcase the house to look its best. This lady turned up along with six tradesman. I didn’t know if I was Arthur or Martha at that point, it was bedlam. We then found out there was a serious leak in one of the bathrooms so this is first on the list to be taken care off.
Believe it or not I did have some lovely moments in March. Laurence and Maddy came for a weekend and we had such a great time. We spent a morning at the beach and the water was perfect.
I also went to see two films. The much hyped up and talked about “Wuthering Heights”. Quite an eye opener but on the whole I enjoyed this version. The second was a Matthew McConaughey film called The Rivals of Amziah King. This was such a good film which we all loved.
I had a night out at an outdoor venue, called The Quarry. It is situated in an old quarry and the seating is in tiers. We took a picnic and watched three tribute bands, Santana, Little River Band and Fleetwood Mac. Beautiful balmy evening underneath the stars.
Having a much needed break at our local Indian. The table behind had 22 guests so was a tad noisy!
If you managed to read to the end of all my rants, thank you indeed. Some of you will have been through similar in your lifetime and know the stresses and strains of decluttering and moving. I have read so many articles on the different ways to declutter and I’m still none the wiser. On that note I wish you a happy Easter.
He came to join me this morning while I was having my morning coffee. How cute is he?
Joining Natalie for Weekend Coffee Share and Brian/Ju-Lyn @ The Changing Season (a tad early).
Sculptures by the sea is back for another year with more weird and wonderful sculptures. We went last week for a walk along the sand to see what was on offer. It also happened to be the windiest day and we were whipped and scoured by the sand. The sea was churning and the waves were slapping against the Groyne, soaking us when they came over the top. Anyway we managed a good 45 minutes walking in the softest sand. All of our eyes were watering and sore, I’m not sure how I managed to take any photos.
This is an annual event at Cottesloe Beach, Western Australia and is also held at Bondi Beach, NSW. It is a sponsored event and free to the public. The artists get a chance to exhibit their latest creations and prizes are awarded. Cottesloe Council often purchases one of the sculptures and these can be seen on the seafront.
Daring the waves to splash them
SOMA – Drew McDonald
Taking a rest
Love U – Jason Hirst
Homage to the Cube – Andrew Farmer
I like the way the above photos turned out with the iconic “Indiana Tearooms” reflected in the mirrored cube.
Ode to the Ancestors – Dr Jason Christopher
Artificial Real Time – Erica Zaino
Click on the photo to read the caption
Sun Dial – Tanya & Evi Ferrier
Time to go yet? It wasn’t quite accurate but close enough.
Emperor of the Abrolhos Tim Storrier Love Jimmy Rix Reef Reverie – Jonathon RockefellerSway – April PineSwan Theory – Fiona Gavino
Heaven – Vaughn Bisschops
My favourite sculpture this year is the silver pelican sitting on a shiny suitcase. It looks like postcards have been attached to the suitcase.
Squares is back for November! This challenge is hosted by Becky from The Life of B and should be tagged NovemberSquares. Read the link to find out more.
For the first day I’ve gone with shadows. Photos I took when I took my grandchildren to the park a few weeks ago. For a better effect I changed the filter to black and white.
A photo of 7 year old Lachie on a net swing
5 year old Rosie on a swing
Rosie waiting to “bat”
I also took this the same day at a mini golf course. The dappled shadows of the trees caught my eye. Look closely at the bottom left and you can see me as well!
“That girl whom I never saw save dappled with the shadows of their leaves, was to me herself a plant of local growth, only taller than the rest, and one whose structure would enable me to approach more closely than in them to the intimate savour of the land from which she had sprung.”
