P is for Proximity (A-Z Challenge 2020)

In January of this year my hubby and I decided that it was time to move on to the next stage of our lives and move house.  I deliberated long and hard about whether it was a good move to take part in the A-Z Challenge this year (pun intended) given that we could be very busy, but decided on balance that having something to focus on might not be a bad idea.  Of course the decision on a theme was much easier to make – Moving House!  

Then Covid-19 put a stop to any ideas of moving so I’ve had to regroup and rethink my posts.  Which means I’m not as prepared as I’d liked to have been but here goes:

P is for Proximity

One of the advantages of our current house is its proximity to lots of things.  Yesterday I showed the view from the front of our house which gives the impression that we live in the country.

That couldn't be further from the truth.  We are in the East End of London.  We are about 2 miles from where the 2012 Olympics were held.  A taxi ride to London City Airport.  Walking distance to 2 stations and quite a few buses to get around.  The M11 is a 10 minute drive away which gives access to the M25 and numerous options for getting out of London and of course on our way to our eldest son & family in Nottingham.

We also have shops, a library, doctors and dentists all within walking distance.

Hubby can get to work easily and once the Crossrail works are completed we will be able to get into central London in a very short space of time.  We're a bus ride away from a theatre, cinemas and restaurants.

We're a short drive to or youngest son (or a bit longer by public transport) and if our daughter manages to move to this side of London we'll be close to her and the family too.

(You might well ask why are we moving?  The rationale behind it can be found here but essentially we want a better layout for when the family visit and a house that we can cope with as we get older.)

Hopefully the areas we are looking at will have the same, or similar advantages.  It's certainly amongst our considerations when deciding if a house is worth viewing or not.  It would be daft to look at a house that might be lovely but isolated.   Being isolated in London would be difficult but if the things we need are not easily reached by walking or bus then that could prove problematic as we get older.

For now the search is on hold as we cope with lockdown.

What would be your "must haves" in close proximity to your home?