Friday 24 January 2020

JusJoJan - 24/1/20 - Change


Woo hoo, I managed to get a prompt suggestion submitted in time!  Thanks Linda.


This challenge is hosted by Linda G Hill.

Go here for the rules of the Just Jot it January challenge.

Go here  to see who else is taking part today using my prompt of "Change"

This word seemed very apt when I noticed Linda was after prompts for this week and I sneaked in my the skin of my teeth just in time.  Why apt?  Because Hubby and I had spent a lot of time last Sunday debating the pros and cons of staying put in our house or moving.

Well we've decided to move.  Which of course will be a big change!

Of course you're probably all mouthing why? at this point so here goes:

We love our house but it is quite unusual (why we fell for it in the first instance).  Essentially it is a 3 storey house.  At the front there is a cellar, a living room, and then a bedroom and an office on the 3 levels.  At the back there is the kitchen/diner, then the bathroom plus a room that has served as a playroom, a bedroom and is currently what we refer to as Hubby's den - he has his desk in there plus his various guitars!  On the top floor at the back there are 2 further bedrooms.  Except that, the back and front do not line up so we actually have 6 floor levels AND a lot of stairs!

Yes I know you're probably confused.  So was I when my friend, the former owner was trying to describe it to me.  I came to look and I was sold!  That was nearly 27 years ago.

We have been here a long time and have done various works.  The kitchen was replaced, we added on a small extension which gave us a downstairs shower room and utility area.  We decorated throughout.  We've moved the kids around from room to room.  We've provided a home again for the kids when we thought they'd flown the nest.

I think it's safe to say that the kids will not be coming back again now, except of course to visit and now that means Grandchildren too.  When they're all here it's a bit crowded.  Not too much but of course we're often spread over 2 levels - some of us down in the kitchen, some of us upstairs.  I'd like somewhere now that has a more conventional layout.

We're also beginning to think about future proofing with a home that would work if either of us became less mobile.

Lots of things to consider, and lots of things to sort out here.  At the moment we're going to get our house valued to see what our financial situation will be and then we need to decide where we would like to go.  I'd like to be able to wave a magic wand and make our house change into what we want in a house in exactly the same spot as we are now but of course I can't.  However it may prove hard to find what we want in a house with all the amenities/transport links etc that we enjoy now.  There may have to be compromises.

There are also things we need to do here before we could invite prospective buyers in.  But we've done a walk through of the house and made a list and thus a plan.

It's exciting but daunting.  It's a big step and we want to get it right.  For someone who's only ever lived in 3 houses, all within 2 miles of each other, this could be huge!


22 comments:

  1. That's really strange ! We have the same idea ! Our house would be perfect becausze it is at 3 Bedroom bungalow, but it sits on a garage, a guestroom with shower and a basement and the food is stocked in the basement, the deepfreeze and the dryer ! So I have steps ! So far they didn't disturb us too much but since Ric has broken his hip he struggles a bit with the equilibration and I with a full basket of laundry am not at ease either. Then there is the garden ! We can't do anything anymore so you have to hire a gardener to cut the shrubs and hedge and that costs a lot, twice a year. Our Windows in the living are so huge that they replace a wall so you need a window cleaner. The laws to buy a house in Belgium are completely different that's why people mostly rent and if you buy it's to be for the whole life. I think you have to pay 30 % to the notary when you buy a house. It's really expensive. We are only two and the house becomes to big. Dario sleeps now always at his friend's house because Toby wants to be with his little friend. I had an agency coming to give me an idea of the selling price and then I will ask this friend of Dario who owns a Real Estate Agency to sell our house and find a nice appartment with 2 or 3 rooms to rent ! I don't want to buy anymore too much troubles too much taxes and too many extra expenses. I saw already very nice and modern once here in Waterloo, in the center, that would be nice they are usually surrounded by a park. A nightmare is to get rid of all the stuff which is somewhere in the house in which we live now for since 1975 ! Time for a change ! Really. Your house really sounds complicated, lol !

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    1. It's hard to find bungalows in London. Not sure we want to rent. It can be a bit unpredictable. Our house is certainly unusual.

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  2. Lovely photos Wendy. Thanks for today's prompt.

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  3. Thanks for today's prompt, Wendy. Moving after 27 years would seem daunting to me. We've done our best to future proof this place, although stairs will always be involved in some way.

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    1. Yes stairs are an issue but in this house they could prove impossible to overcome and the layout doesn't allow for us to avoid them completely. Thanks for stopping by.

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  4. Just yesterday I visited my aunt and uncle in their new house. They left the home they raised their children in, a place once out of town, but now has had houses built all round it. They hope this will be better, still in town, but a location of their choosing. It was strange to see them there and to think of such changes, necessary but odd/sad. Thanks for this prompt.

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    1. I think it's hard to stay in a home forever, especially as we get older and better to move when it's not to difficult or daunting. Thanks for visiting.

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  5. I used to live in London, not too many bungalows. I wish you all the best with the move, hope you a place you both love. Thank you for a great prompt ������

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  6. We id that three years ago, Wendy, and couldn't be happier with the change we made, after 28 years in our other house. Good for you, and please keep us posted!!

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  7. That's a big change you are thinking about. It is also good to start thinking about the space you would need when you are not that mobile anymore. Your word for JusJoJan was a good word thanks al lot.

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  8. I hear you about not moving much. Your house sounds very interesting. It is something to think about as you get older, the mobility issues in a house with lots of stairs. Thanks for a great prompt today!

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    1. Thanks Janet. Yes sometimes my knees protest at all the stairs lol

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  9. Wow! Congratulations on the big changes. From someone who prefers to live like a gypsy moving so many times I can't count how many homes I've enjoyed. But now, at this age (70) moving again is so much harder. And I'd give anything to have that home for the kids to come home to. You house sounds amazing. The history has got to be hard to leave. Good luck with the move. I hope you find the perfect home. Oh, and thanks for the prompt!

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  10. You're smart to be thinking about all these things now when you're in relatively good health. With all my physical infirmities now, I wish we had bought a ranch-style house with everything on one floor...

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  11. That is a big change! Our former house was a split-level, several small compartments, which made it hard to have people over. When me moved here 10 years ago, I wanted more open space plus no stairs, and we were able to find it. I wish you well on your search and all the changes, too. It was fun to look at new houses and dream, but I was glad when the process was all over. I'm hoping we can stay here for the rest of our lives. We may need to downsize when my husband retires--we'll have to evaluate that in a few years.

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  12. I think you know that we are moving too! But we are planning to relocate 2,400 miles away so we can be near two of our children. And yes, as we search for a new place, it will have to be ONE level--as we age, we must consider these things.
    Congrats and I'm looking forward to hearing how this all goes forward!

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  13. You are wise Wendy.. all good ideas. Yet, I do understand the amount of work it will take to get ready and do. Wishing you the best.

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