"I'm Never Moving Again"

I said those words the last time we moved.... and almost five years later, I had to pack up that entire house and put it all in storage. Five years to the date, I was unpacking and assembling new Ikea furniture at our new place in Cobham, Surrey, UK.

Yes, that's right... we are finally in our new place!! I can't believe it. We took possession on the 12th, and lived off a air mattress and two camp chairs for about three days until our Ikea shipment arrived on the 15th. My mother's flight arrived on the 14th, so if you do the math, you know that one of us slept on the floor for a night. And no, it wasn't me or my mother.

Seventeen Ikea furniture boxes plus the about fifteen we shipped from home, two rather larger orders from John Lewis, three trips to the local recycling center and a week later, I think we have EVERYTHING in its place. Yes, I still need a few things for the walls and maybe a few things on the mantels, but... that will come with a little time. I can't keep things sparse for long. No matter how long I try or want to keep it that way. It's in my blood.

And as much as I've said I'm not shipping anything home when we move back... well, I don't think that will happen. I'm already in love with a few things that I've purchased and I can completely envision them in our Dallas house.

We've found the local "Home Depot" which is a store called B&Q (What can you do? - their slogan). and purchased a grill, some plants and more rods for the closets and wardrobes. So, I would say that we are settling in quite nicely.

My only frustration is that my separate dryer (you know, one of the reasons I fell in love with this place) is not working. The landlord has already sent someone out to repair it, but the guy's fix only lasted a few days (which he warned me could happen - and if so, then he would come back and replace a part). So, I'm living the British life. Hanging laundry on a little rack. Of course the dryer decides to break on the day that I decide to start washing all the little man's duds.

Speaking of little man, he's not here yet. He did what he was told, stayed put until we got moved. I hope this is a sign of future years and that he always listens to mom and dad!

We met with a midwife yesterday and all is normal and we are getting close. We've also toured the hospital we will be giving birth at, Epsom Hospital. It's a smaller place with fewer births than some of the other hospitals in the area. I'm looking forward to all the attention from the midwives, I think. I wouldn't be surprised if I were the only one giving birth at the time. During our visit, there was only one room occupied. My mother said it sounded like Henderson Memorial... where I was born. I was the only baby in the nursery, so no mistaking me for someone else's child.

Well, time to get up from here and get more laundry out in the fresh open air. Hint of sarcasm on that one...

I think in my next blog I'm going to point out the things in our house that I like, and things that are completely ridiculous. Still trying to Americanize everything.