Yes, it really is 3 years since Colin went into hospital and unlike all the times in the 5 years before,
he didn't come home again. Sometimes it seems like just a month ago and other times it feels like forever. I've got through the 3 years on my own because that's what you have to do, but I still miss him every day.
I hope he would have approved of my move to the bungalow and it dawned on me that the day I got the keys for here - May 5th - was exactly the same date as we moved to the smallholding in 1992, I remembered the date as it would have been Col's Dad's birthday, so maybe all that waiting was some sort of "sign"! as we had 23 happy years there.
Back to the reality of now and I'm still unpacking boxes interspersed with trying to change umpteen addresses for officialdom and hoping to find someone to quickly lay a concrete slab for the greenhouse as the children were absolutely horrified that I was planning to put the greenhouse on the patio which they reckon, and I agree really, that it would ruin the lovely patio area.
There are also several things here that I didn't know about and have to work out and get my head round - like the induction hob - which I find I only have a couple of saucepans I can use on it and the fact that the en-suite loo is a Saniflo macerating thing - not a problem - but it would have been good to know! The pull out washing line is a puzzle as I can't find anything to hook it onto without it sagging to the ground and I still have to read and understand the instructions for the remote wireless thermostat for the oil boiler which two people have tried to explain! 😕
No worries.........I'll get there eventually......no rush.
Apologies if I don't answer comments or leave many anywhere for a while - just a tad busy and I will get back to normal in a week or two...........or more.
We moved two weeks ago and yesterday I had a frustrating time trying to change addresses.The number of times I heard “Due to COVID.......... and then played me music.
ReplyDeleteMy late husband has never lived in my house but I find that I can't 'start again' and am still keeping the general colours and decorations as he would have known. I've had a winter and a half here and I still have to do the gas C/H on/off as I cant understand how to program it!
ReplyDeleteThe photos are lovely and there will be sad and laughter has you think about the days you shared with Colin.
ReplyDeleteLike me I found several things that did not work in a new house but we gradually get them fixed.
I was having a down day yesterday and the weather was not good. But late afternoon I had a phone call my GS was in the area and was calling in he brought in two lovely chocolate cakes which we enjoyed with a cuppa and talked. So everyday has a silver lining.
Hazel c uk 🌈🌈🌻🌻
We hope you learn to love your induction hob (yes pots can be a problem to start with but you can get metal plates that go on the 'elements' and heat up like a normal 'hot top' stove so that you can use the non-induction pots on it. They are as fast as gas, as controllable as gas (when you turn them down the input drops immediately), cleaner than gas, safer than gas (you can't set fire to anything spilled or left on the hob), and easy to clean. Some brands are better than others, but we love the principle to bits.
ReplyDeletehot plates are like this: https://www.banggood.com/Stainless-Steel-Induction-Cooker-Exchanger
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ReplyDeleteThree years seem to have gone by very fast - sending you hugz and much happiness in your new home, Mxx
ReplyDeleteUnderneath the reel there is a cleet type thing to wrap the line around. This stops more line coming out. Extend line to post, then return to real and wrap line on cleet. Job done hopefully. 3 years! Doesnt seem possible. I often think about people who passed or covid. I would love to hear their reaction to these times! So pleased you're in now....enjoy your new home.
ReplyDeleteIf only there was a post to extend the line to!
DeleteThey havent put a hook on a fence post. That's what my neighbour does
DeleteI was going to explain the cleet thing, ours was a ring on the side of the reel casing. Get your next visitors out in the garden for a 'hunt the hook' session. In one garden I had two hooks, one on the fence for small loads and one down the garden on a tree for drying sheets. In another garden which only had a small open space I put one hook on the fence and another hook on the gate post on the other side of the garden to create a V shape to get more drying space. I love these reels and even brought one to France when we moved here.
DeleteLoved seeing the photos.
I was just going to say what F in E has said. check this out!https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+tighten+oullout+washing+line&rlz=1C1CHBF_enGB890GB890&oq=how+to+tighten+oullout+washing+line&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i13j0i390l2.8070j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=_2V6aYInNM6OP1fAP_aOK2Ac33
ReplyDeleteOops, that link was longer than I expected! Thinking of you with much love, each time I unpack another box
ReplyDeleteMy husband will have been gone 3 years on the 16th and as you say some days it seems like forever and some days seems only yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your husband would say, "Yes, you did the right thing." Your old home no longer suited you, times change and so do our needs/priorities. Can't help you with the induction hob, but I had a pull out washing line. I just cut it to length as I knew where it would need to reach. When that eventually broke, I just cut a washing line to length and have hooks on both ends so I can fold it up to live in my peg bag. I don't like to see washing lines in gardens unless they have washing on them! xx
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely sure Col would say you are doing exactly the right thing for you and for now. I'm afraid I can't help with the washing line as I have a rotary one, but it looks as if there's plenty of great advice above.
ReplyDeleteHave fun buying new pots and pans - that's exciting.
One bite at a time, yes? it will all get done sooner or later.
xx
xx
You sound determined to make it all work and I am sure you will! You have time to make it your own and I hope you enjoy it very much!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like living in someone else's home at the moment but it will gradually become your own.
ReplyDeleteAn induction hob is a wonderful thing. Moved over to it a couple of years ago after cooking on gas for decades. Find it faster than gas and no need for an electric kettle.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what a saniflo mascerating thing is but it sounds scary! But so glad you are settling. Days like this of remembrance can sometimes hit with a punch. It's good to have diversions, sometimes.
ReplyDeleteWell, that date was certainly a special one first time round, with the smallholding, so I hope it is for your new home too. Those three years seem to have gone quickly, and I am sure at times you are just completely lost without Col, but thank heavens you are close to family who make life a little easier for you now you're on your own.
ReplyDeleteNot heard of a macerating loo but as long as it stays working you're ok!
I loved all those photos of happy times when Col was still with you.
Thinking of you Sue. I'm sure Colin would be happy with wherever you lived as long as you were happy. We have an induction hob. When we go shopping for pans we take a magnet. Some cheaper pans don't say suitable for induction but as long as the magenet sticks to the bottom of them, which it sometimes does, they're fine. xx
ReplyDeleteThinking of you.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Colin would be happy for you because you know he would want you to be happy and be able to live in a home that was easier for you to maintain. It is amazing that you received the keys on the same date as when you moved to the smallholding! Some things happen for a reason that we don't necessarily see at the time.
ReplyDeleteI think it is nice that you will be able to keep the patio as a patio so you and visiting family can enjoy it. Hopefully you can get someone out to lay the concrete soon. I know you have a lot to do now but don't push yourself too much and enjoy settling in your new home!
I can't believe it is three years and I am sure he would approve of your new home. Everytime you show his photo when he was younger I just love that mop of curly hair.
ReplyDeleteFate is such a funny thing. I often find I am drawn to dates and so many events happen on one. Thinking of you Sue, I know it must be a sad time but I think the coincidence is a good omen. xx
ReplyDeleteGoodness - it seems like much less than 3 years ago. You will be raw at the moment, with memories crowding your thoughts. Hugs. We have one of those lines, and somewhere, perhaps covered in new growth, there ought to be some kind of a hook, or thing that looks a bit like a bent shelf... As for Induction, it is wonderful, instantly controllable, but you do need to collect pots and pans that work. Using an intermediary will dissipate the heat, and that WILL get hot. As another commenter says, put a magnet in your bag, and only buy pots that the magnet makes a really strong connection to. I've two pots of the same (expensive) brand; the first is fabulous, but when I went to purchase a second, smaller one, the saleswoman warned me that the induction wasn't as strong, and it's not. It works, but not as well as others I have.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you today.
May 5th must be a good day...it was my Father's birthday too. x
ReplyDeleteMacerating loos are fine if they work properly, although sometimes a little bit noisy for an ensuite ... I'm sure you've found out by now ;-)
ReplyDeleteWe had a retractable clothesline in the garden at the new place, it took me an age to find the hook that the line went to, it turned out it was hidden by some trellis on the wall.
I can't make up my mind whether to get a new one for us as the old one is quite brittle or to just put up hooks and use a normal clothes line.
Three years. Sigh. I'm sure he would be very proud of you. He always seemed like such a nice, supportive man. x
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