One Year in Our Home

Exactly one year ago today David and I moved into our first home and it's crazy to think about how much has changed since then.

From fitting a new boiler in January, and subsequently replacing all the radiators (and then plastering the walls), to fitting a completely new ensuite, to fitting new flooring throughout the house, to then the tiny details like plug fittings, door handles and hinges, a lot of labour has already gone into making this home ours, and I can't thank my dad enough for all the hours he's spent helping us, though there is still a long way yet to go.

Then, there's the cute fluffball currently lying on my legs - one year ago today neither of us thought that we'd end up with our own dog. She brings so much life and energy into the home (that's most likely the cocker in her!) and again, Christmas Eve will mark the day we brought her home.

Next year, the focus will undoubtably be on the kitchen which is in dire need of a makeover, the main bathroom upstairs, and furnishing the rooms. As we've been knocking out walls, glossing doors, and digging up the garden, the more exciting aspect of owning a home (at least, for me), has taken a backseat. So next year, I will buy those dining chairs I've had my eye on for what seems like forever and I will invest in a new, huge kingsize* bed.

*at least!!

September Snapshot

Coats are getting thicker, the air is getting cooler, and daylight is getting shorter: it's October, and autumn is officially here.

On reflection, September was probably the most exciting and unplanned month of 2018. To begin with, the 1st was David’s 24th birthday. We’d booked tickets to see Kynren (a live outdoor show telling the story of England) for the 31st of August, the evening before David's birthday. Although Kynren wasn’t a birthday present in particular, we had it all set weeks in advance and of course, on the evening I end up too ill to attend. Luckily David still ended up going with a friend, but the illness continued for the rest of the weekend and into the next week meaning that I was mostly in bed for David’s birthday weekend. Though I don’t think he seemed to mind, it would’ve been nice to have a marked his birthday with a nice meal out, visiting the cinema or seeing Kynren together!

The 14th was my leaving drinks at work, the 20th was my last day, while the 24th was my first day at my new job (it's been a busy few weeks). Additionally,  the 4th was David's first day at his new job!

Also within September, we painted, glossed and prepared the upstairs of our house for the new carpets which were fitted on the 17th. The home feels a lot more like ours (and warmer!), and for some strange reason, I'm reminded of Christmas when I stand in what will be our main bedroom.

Finally, on the 19th, we picked up our new car! The purchase was completely impulsive: we went to visit the VW garage on the Saturday prior - the 15th - and by 5pm, we've signed the documents, paid our deposit, and confirmed our pick-up date for the 19th. We're now the proud owners of a VW Tiguan. It is an absolute dream to drive and is so spacious I can't wait to visit IKEA with it!

About August...

It's crazy to think that we're now in the ninth month of 2018. Where has this year gone?

August, much like most of 2018, flew by, though it was marked by an incredible holiday. At the beginning of the month, we (as in me and David), visited Rome for the first time. We spent a week in the eternal city except for one day we spent in Naples. We visited in peak tourist season and experienced 30+ degree heat every day while we were there (and yet I have no tan to show for it!). Needless to say, we drank a lot of water (Rome's free-to-access, safe-to-drink water fountains were amazing) and ate a lot of carbs. In Naples, we ate authentic Neapolitan pizza which was David's favourite, whereas my favourite food from the trip was a vegetarian lasagna from a tucked away pasta restaurant and takeaway near the Colosseum. We hit all the major landmarks while we were there, both of us amazed by the Trevi fountain and the Colosseum, but we also took a bus out of the city centre to visit the Catacombs of St Callixtus and what an experience that was.

I could go on about the beautiful paintings in the Sistine Chapel, or the impressive sprawl of ruins that is the Roman Forum, but to continue, August has been a unique month. Both David and I have had some great news come our way which I will share later in September. We're still working on the house, but in August we finally got around to buying and fitting the hallway lighting, ordering the carpets for upstairs, and progressing with the garden. We only moved in last December, and it'll take a while to get the house how we want it, but we're getting there slowly but surely.

In August, I also finished a book which I haven't been able to say in such a long time. I'd purchased Matt Haig's Notes on a Nervous Planet after spotting it in my local Sainsbury's. The concept instantly appealed to me, especially when I flipped through and saw Matt's reflection on his experience with panic attacks. Throughout the book, Matt reflects on the unhelpful habits we've all developed including our reliance on social media. In September, I hope to 'switch off' a little bit, to be more present, and to spend my time wisely rather than wasting it by spending hours scrolling through feeds and dashboards, looking for nothing in particular.