Hello World.
Remember those first two words WordPress put on our About Page? When, all shiny and brand new we ventured nervously, hands shaking as we hit the publish button, into blogland for the very first time?
Clueless as to what to write about in my first post well over four years ago, I blogged about my garden, my Summerhouse and, of course, my Robin. Sweet Robin.
And so today since that very first post I say not, ‘Hello World’ but, ‘Hello Dear Friends’. But I am also saying goodbye. Not to you, but to the way things were.
In early June, I signed off here to prepare and pack madly for our upcoming house move. ‘See you on the other side of the packing boxes,’ I said, or something like that. Things were always going to be somewhat complicated with selling two houses (ours and Mum’s) and buying a place with an annex, but it seemed reasonable at that point to expect to be done and dusted and moved in by mid-July.
But…always that Big But…without going into all the logistics (okay…real reason: this is a public domain and I’d get carried away and end up with an expletive-ridden post essay book…), on the day of exchange of contracts, the entire chain of seven parties collapsed. Stress? What stress…
What followed over the next couple of months was a pretty nightmarish time. The good news is that I wrote like the wind on my memoir. The focus kept me grounded and sane.
Due to the utterly frustrating vagaries of our English conveyancing system, it is possible to go all the way to exchange of contracts (which usually happens two weeks or even less before completion (close of escrow)), without anything being legally binding. Meaning, anyone can drop out, for any reason or no good reason at all, right at the last moment. But the way it affects people’s lives is quite awful. Enough said.
But then…on the Friday of our last Bank Holiday weekend of the year at the end of August, a miracle! It was all back on and long story short, we moved out of our house last Friday. One week ago today. I still can’t believe it really happened.
Here’s where we are now, with the geese…
Oh I wish they were ours, but the truth is, we’re not out of the woods yet, not completely, with Mum’s sale and our purchase still working to completion to late October.
Meanwhile, we are living in our van not down by the river, but on a working goose farm. And we love it.
Of course, we have our own Animal Farm to house temporarilly. My beautiful black cat boy Eddie is at a cattery only minutes away so I can visit regularly. Oh I miss my boy…but he’s settling down well despite in all his eleven years never having been away from us or his home. Hopefully he and family life will soon be back to normal…
The Chinese Button Quails are down to one. Poor Mooncake has outlived all his wives, daughters and sons, his last wife (daughter?) having departed a couple of days before we moved. We have Moonie with us, happy in his cage and awaiting a new wife as soon as possible. Most people take their dogs camping. We take a Button Quail.
The farm cats have already made themselves known, fascinated both by Moonie and the inside of our van…
As for Grumpy Bunny, well, he’s at Aspie’s. And not very grateful for his new circumstances, I might add, but he’ll get over it.
One challenge has been the internet, but that’s solved because I now have a dongle. Yep. A handy-dandy dongle, ha! Now I can do stuff! A dongle is the cure on a farm with no wi-fi; hooray for mobile broadband!
My usage is limited, but I’m greatly relieved to get this post out. It also means I can announce Charli Mills’ hugely exciting Flash Fiction Rodeo launching at Carrot Ranch next Thursday, October 5th…
There’s no entry fee but plenty of cash prizes, and it runs through October every Tuesday and Thursday, open to all! I’m truly thrilled and honoured as one of eight leaders to run my competition – Murderous Musings: When Good Folk Turn Bad at the Rodeo – on 26th October both here at the Summerhouse and the Ranch:
All competition details will be announced in my next October 26th post. And huge thanks to my partners in crime co-judges Mike and Hugh Roberts who so kindly agreed to co-judge the entries! I’m getting pretty good at using that lasoo…
Check out the Event’s Page at Carrot Ranch for more details of all the competitions and the other wonderful leaders running them. And the Rodeo Fest Kick Off Party goes live on Facebook October 3rd announcing the cover reveal of our very first Flash Fiction Anthology!
I’ll try to visit as my internet allows before my next post on October 26th (miss you friends!). And then let’s get our Murderous Musings on and have some fun!
Meanwhile, I’ll settle into our new life in our van on the goose farm. My summerhouse has gone, but its essence remains; I hope you’ll still share the view with me wherever this blog goes. And always, in rain or shine.
Today, the view looks like this…
The garden I tended and nurtured for almost ten years now belongs to another, but it’s not the first time I’ve left one behind. And a new garden awaits.
We discovered a resident hedgehog living by the Summerhouse in the weeks before we moved. Made sense when I wondered why the lack of slugs and snails this year. I hope Mrs Tiggywinkle (or Mr…) will continue to enjoy life there…
And so it is…
Goodbye Sweet Robin in the Snow…
Goodbye pretty garden…
And, last but never least, goodbye Summerhouse…
But hello to new adventures. And perhaps it is time to once again say, Hello World.
Love Sherri x
A View From My Summerhouse 
Hello fellow buckarooster. Glad to hear you’re enjoying out class of its own legal system. And excited by your comp. Yee ha!
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Yee ha! Thanks Geoff, got my boots on and everything…and not just for kicking a few butts, lol 😉 Looking forward to galloping over to yours…great sharing Charli’s buckarooster round up with you and the gang!
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Well done for surviving the nightmare of selling your home – hope the rest of the journey works out well for you. In the meantime, enjoy the peaceful hiatus – it looks pretty idyllic!
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Thanks so much, you’re very kind. I don’t like to use the world nightmare too lightly, but they don’t say that buying/selling/moving house is right up there as one of the highest stress factors in life for nothing. But yes…I’m incredibly grateful for this peaceful interlude 🙂
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Hello dear Sherri. It sounded like a turbulent house move but hurray for all the sunshine coming your way. I’m guessing it will be a lovely time settling down over the next month or so, setting up home and calling a place home again. Sad to say goodbye to birdy and the garden you tended to but I am sure it will be in good hands, and you leave with good memories 🙂 So good to hear your memoir is coming along, and many more writing sessions like that 🙂 Hope that can is cozy for you in the meantime. It does look like it has a great view. I’m sure you’ll have a Summerhouse once again and you will build it up. After all, you need that corner for writing when inspiration strikes and when you want to sit in a place where you feel most whole and at home 🙂 Take care and hugs ❤
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Mabel! How lovely to see you again! I might not be writing from my real summerhouse, but its virtual counterpart remains here on this page and I’m sure I’ll have a new, actual one soon. But more importantly, you’re sharing the view with me with your beautiful smile…thank you! 🙂 I hope all is well with you, you’re moving into your late spring/early summer I think? Keep your sun shining through these autumn days, my favourite time of the year, and I will have inspiration a-plenty! I am so grateful for this reprieve. Take care too dear Mabel. Big hugs back to you and see you soon! 🙂 ❤
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Certainly heading into mid-spring here, and finally it’s about to warm up. I’m sending your some sunshine your way, and I am sure you will be settled in no time, and work more on that memoir you speak so proudly of. Take care ❤
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Brrrr…chilly today so your beautiful sunshine is just right! Yet more rain too…but then again, it wouldn’t be so green without it 😉 Oh thank you again so much dear Mabel…I won’t have any peace until it’s finished, but a way’s to go yet. I hope your writing is going well too! Looking forward to catching up with your over at your pad very soon! Have a great day with a big hug from me 🙂 ❤
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Hello stranger! 🙂 🙂 The last person I expected to find in my Inbox but a very welcome visitor on a soggy Friday. You’re a survivor and God is good? Warm hugs and here’s to a new start and a happy new home, Sherri.
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Haha! I’ve been a stranger around these parts…I felt like a new blogger all over again! Hi Jo, lovely to see you again! See…I surprised you on a soggy Friday, love it 😀 Phew…God is good for sure and I am so grateful. This year has kicked my proverbial…but here’s to new beginnings. Thanks so much Jo…see you soon! 🙂 xxx
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Hi Sherri! It’s great to see you! One of the good things about writing is you can do it anywhere, so get cracking! LOL! Talk to you soon. ❤
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Hi Jill! Oh it’s so great to see you too! I will email you this week for sure…so sorry for my too long delays…just so glad to have some internet now we’ve settled in the van, albeit it limited. But…I don’t need the internet to write so I will get cracking for sure…just need yo to crack that whip!!!! Talk soon! ❤
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How exciting to open WP today and find not one, but two of my old blogging buddies back – -you and Pommepal (Pauline) – I am so happy to see you both again. Don’t talk to me about the vagaries of our conveyancing system, it really does need to be changed. We have suffered twice from sellers who changed their minds at the last minute; one didn’t want to move after all until she’d bought somewhere (she was supposed to be going to stay with her daughter) the other parties gazumped us 2 weeks before exchange was to take place! At least we were in rental so not quite as bad as you. I hope everything progresses smoothly now [fingers tightly crossed]. Have fun in the van – looks like a delightful spot, and here’s looking forward to raising a glass or two of bubbly in the new summerhouse that I just know you will have one day.
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Hey Jude! Yay…oh I’m so glad you found me! I felt like that new blogger saying ‘hello world, anyone out there?’! Great to see you again. And I knew, when I mentioned our delightful conveyancing system, you would relate knowing how long you had to wait for your beautiful new home. Absolutely it needs to change, it shouldn’t be this way. So sorry you went through that, it’s really awful and the stress…arrrgh. I only just feel now some 9 days since we moved into the van that I can begin to relax a little. Not until the money went through and we handed over the keys did I actually believe it really happened. Of course, we still have yet to exchange on our purchase – next week hopefully – and we’re not out of the woods yet, but at least we haven’t got to worry about the sale. And you bet Jude, we have a date for that glass of bubbly in the summerhouse one day! See you soon! 🙂 xxx
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It’s definitely easier when you are in rental. Trying to sell and buy must be a double nightmare!
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Yes, it’s no surprise so many storage places are going up. Talking to the removal people, they’re saying too how difficult it is for them to run their business, becoming virtually impossible for people to buy and sell at the same time and tie in their completions. That’s why in the end, we broke the chain just to sell our place so we can ‘rent’ for a few weeks. At least with renting you’ve only got one end to worry about! I bet you still can’t believe you finally did it!!!
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It was such a treat to see a post from you when I woke up this morning Sherri! What a tremendous time of transition for you right now. I remember reading on Facebook about the difficulties with selling your house. I think the word you used—nightmarish—definitely describes what you’ve been through recently. I must say that the picture of the geese brought a smile to my face. If you have to live in a temporary place during your transition, at least you have lovely neighbors to keep you company 🙂 I too have stepped away from the blogging world this summer. Matthew and I are expecting a little one next month and it seems baby preparations have completely occupied my spare time these days. So as you said in your post, hello to new adventures indeed my friend! Sending you love across the distance!
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Heather! Hi to you, so lovely to see you again! And oh I can barely contain myself…you’re expecting…and due next month…wow!!!! Oh I am so thrilled and happy for you and Matthew, what a beautiful blessing 🙂 ❤ My heart is filled with joy and the happiest of congratulations to you both! Your parents must be so excited! I need to get over to FB since I posted – I got so caught up with the house move. I've been missing your fantastic news! Yes, it's been turbulent that's for sure. One heck of a year one way or another…but so very grateful for this respite and time with the delightful geese 😀 Love them! I'll get some more pics to post on FB. I could seriously watch the geese all day and their antics 🙂 So it is my friend, hello indeed to new adventures for us both! Much love to you from me across the shining sea and we'll keep in touch! Huge hugs! ❤
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Congratulations on untangling the first knot of settling in to winter. Looks like you have a good place right now to flex your fingers for the next steps. Funny how writing seems to be the greatest help when times get especially challenging!
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Thanks so much Liz! Yes, writing has seriously saved me through some pretty dark and stressful times…and I love this: ‘…a good place right now to flex your fingers for the next steps.’ 🙂 x
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Oh Sherri what a whirlwind! So sad to leave the summerhouse and garden and hedgehog and robin…yet, yes, on to new adventures. What a wonderful way to begin, on a goose farm! And how lovely it will be to settle into a new home that can accommodate your changing needs. Hoping the rest of the move goes smoothly for you and that you are snugly settled in by the time it gets cold.
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Hi Jeanne! So lovely to hear from you, I’ve been far away from social media including FB but hope to get there shortly for a quick catch up, internet allowing. Phew…what a time of late. New adventures await though for sure…once we said how lovely to be in for the summer and sit in the new garden with a glass of Pimms. Now we’re saying how wonderful to be in for Christmas with a glass of winter cheer. But not taking anything for granted. Peace of mind goes a long way and that’s what I’ve got right now…looking at the geese and the green fields and catching up here thanks to my mobile dongle, ha. Look forward to catching up with you Jeanne and I’ll see you at the Ranch! Great to be back in the saddle 🙂 Hope life is treating you well ❤
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Dearest Sherri, of course I already knew most of your news, but am glad to hear that you’re doing okay on the goose farm, and that you’ve done plenty of work on your memoir. Just think how much fun it will be with a new house and garden to make your own, albeit exhausting fun at times! Thank goodness that Eddie is doing okay at the cattery. That must have been such a worry to you, being the age that he is. We’ll speak or text again, soon. Meanwhile, have a wonderful weekend with all of those green fields around you. Love and hugs, Sarah xxxxxxxx
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Dearest Sarah, how lovely to read your lovely message. Yes, you know the story…and here we are, on the goose farm at last! I seriously didn’t think it would really happen. I do miss Eddie so much and was quite worried about him. The first few days he was okay-ish, but obviously quite stressed with being away from his home and us. But now I’ve been to visit a few times he’s really settled and much more his old self. Thank goodness. He’s a pretty self-assured and confident cat, and I can see him returning to that. Poor boy though, so sad. But so far so good.. Will try to post some goose pics on FB when they first come out of the barn with the border collies rounding them up, it’s a sight to behold. Love the view of the green fields, rain or not – and a lot lately! – but so grateful to be here. Will definitely be in touch very soon. Hope you’re having a lovely weekend too and I’ll see you very soon my friend. Love and hugs back… 🙂 ❤
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Congrats on your 5 year blogiversary and your new place soon! So glad it is all working out. Looking forward to hearing about your new adventures. Love and miss you!
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Hi Genny and thanks so much! Phew…it’s been a long road. We put our house on the market in February!!! And still not out of the woods…but getting one step closer! I hope you had a wonderful and very Happy Birthday! Love and miss you much! ❤ xoxo
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Wonderful! You sound really happy Sherri, so pleased. xxx
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Aww…thanks so much Alison. I am a lot happier than I was there for a while. The geese help…a wonderful reprieve 🙂 I’ll text you very soon, promise! ❤ xxx
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Good to hear from you Sherri and learn that things are moving forward if not quite at the speed you’d wish. What a nightmare when the chain collapsed. And great news that you’ve been working on your memoir.
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Hi Mary! Thanks so much for your kind message. The memoir writing kept me focused away from the stress…it was pretty rough there for a while what with one thing and another. Feeling the weight ease at last…phew! See you soon and hope all is well with you 🙂
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All well with me, thanks. Struggling a bit with my memoir but have published a slim collection of short stories in the meantime. Link is here if you want to take a look: http://smarturl.it/dbaos
Looking forward to more tales from the ‘summerhouse’ and good luck with everything.
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That’s great Mary, congratulations! Thanks for the link, I’ve bookmarked it and will be over as soon as…and all the best with the ongoing memoir. Believe me, I understand exactly what you mean…I still have a long way to go despite my good progress over the summer *sigh*. Thanks so much for the good wishes…same to you. I look forward to reading! xxx
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Maybe we should to get our respective memoirs out at the same time! I was determined it would be this year but I know it isn’t. Now thinking of trying to Dad’s birthday which would be in May.
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Arrrrgh…know the feeling so well Mary. I keep saying ‘this is the year’…and…well…it’s October…again!…and it won’t be this year either. I think next May sounds like a great plan! We can but keep writing and revising and pushing forward to that eventual finish line… xxx
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May 2018 it is!
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Fantastic!!!
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So happy to have some news of you Sherri – you are probably posting on facebook but I am there so rarely and never see things from friends when I am…… Any how – your conveyancing system is a nightmare isn’t it. I wonder that anyone dares to move house at all! A small, mobile home sounds like it might be fun for a while, as long as you aren’t trying to survive winter in a van …. you know you don’t want to end up like that character Dame Maggie played 🙂 Charli’s competition sounds like fun. And I am happy to hear the writing is proceeding apace. It’s amazing what you are able to keep doing amongst upheaval huh? Sending you much love and inner peace xoxo
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Hi Pauline, and so happy to hear from you! I’ve been absent from FB for a long time too, only posting for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I haven’t replied over there either, yikes! I kept off all social media all summer long with not only all the house ‘nightmare’ going on, but also to use the time focus 100% on my book as I can’t do it any other way. Plus, I was not in a great place, the stress really got to me… And yes, our conveyancing system needs to change, it’s horrendous the way it messes with people’s lives. I don’t understand why it has to be the way it is, it’s not like it in America, or France or Scotland. Or New Zealand I’m guessing? Ha…yes, mobile living has its good and bad. It’s rained a lot since we moved to our van, but we’re cosy, warm and dry. Living through the winter though would be a huge challenge, even with heating. I need to watch Lady in a Van…or maybe not! Hope all is well with you, Orlando and Siddy…coming into your summer months 🙂 See you soon my friend…much love and light to you 🙂 ❤
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Ah, Sherri, it’s been a wild ride and at last you have a green (goose) pasture to find some temporary peace. Ha! Camping with a Button Quail. He has his own plot line to write along side of you. Gorgeous ginger tabbies, making themselves right at home. I’m glad Eddie is doing well at the cattery. Enjoy your dongle! Don’t play with it too much. 😉 I’m looking forward to your contest!
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I think of my favourite ride at Disneyland: Mr Toad’s Wild Ride. Ha…perhaps I should have stuck with Peter Pan lol 😀 Haha…Camping with a Button Quail. I should start a side-blog! The cats are cheeky and seem to think we like them or something…! Saw Eddie today again. He meowed as soon as he saw me. Aww…he’s safe and comfortable…but miss him! Haha…every girl should have a dongle…I’ll be monitoring its use so I don’t use it all up at once lol 😉 Can’t wait to ride over to the Rodeo. Woo hoo! Bring on Rodeo Fest! Truly honoured Charli, thanks so much for roping me in 🙂 ❤
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I have dongle envy! 😂 Don’t overuse it at the Rodeo! 🤠
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LOLLLLLLLL 😀 😀 😀 I need to reserve it for the Rodeo…it would be a disaster if it ran out just when I needed it !!!!
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I think they make pills to keep dongles on the ready…! 😀
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LOLLLLLLLLLL 😀 😀 😀 Do you need a prescription or over the counter?????
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I’m not sure… Never had a dongle before…lol😂😂😂
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LOL!!!! Maybe it’s time…!!! 😀 😉 😀
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Any advice for selection? 😉
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Ha…not on a public domain lol 😉 😀
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Hi Sherri! What a turbulent summer you’ve had, my goodness! Wishing you well with your brave move, but for the time being, I’m quite envious of your lovely view! Must catch up properly sometime. Blogging has taken a backseat for me, too but I do try and read the posts that pop up in my reader.
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Jenny! Hi! Oh I’ve gone to email you so many times this past summer, and do you know everytime it seemed as if one darn thing after the other kept happening. I was not a happy bunny for a while there. Turbulent for sure. Just so glad to have the sale part over with. We got so cheesed off that we made the decision to break the chain and do this. Risky, but we don’t regret it one bit. I admit, I do love my new view 🙂 I missed your posts when I was blogging – but then again, this is only my 6th post of the entire year so I haven’t been exactly prolific. We really must catch up properly…and we will for sure 🙂 Hopefully after the move, when it finally happens, I can properly settle in again. Had a nightmare time (yes…another….) with BT. Will tell you about it sometime… Thanks so much for your lovely message. Hope all is well with you… xxx
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Lovely to see you back Sherri. The goose farms looks wonderful and those cats climbing the stairs to say hallo make it all the more special. You may not want to move by the time October comes although it will be getting fairly cold in a camper by then I imagine. Good to hear that you have made great strides forward on your memoir. That is the real plus to come out of all of this. Looking forward to the rodeo also. Should be lots of fun.
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Lovely to see you too Irene! Yes, I could watch the geese all day, they fascinate me. I’ll get some pics up on FB soon. The cats are certainly very friendly. I wish Eddie was with us though. Visited him again at the cattery today. He’s settling in well…when he saw me he started meowing so loudly, bless! It certainly is a freeer way of life…but of course, it’s temporary, so that makes it so. The van keeps nice and cosy with hot air heating, plus a little electric heater – we’re hooked up to mains electricity and have water – so we really have all we need including a shower, loo and good sized fridge. Amazing what gets packed into these vans! The memoir writing went really well for a few weeks, but with the move suddenly back on it’s back on the burner, but hopefully now I can return to it. It’s surprising all the things that still need doing. Yesterday we did all our laundry at a laundrymatt. Haven’t used one of those for many years! Very grateful for this time with such a huge weight off our shoulders. Thrilled to share the Rodeo Fest with you my friend – can’t wait to read yours, it sounds intriguing! Great to be back in the saddle! See you soon! 🙂 ❤
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Yes the rodeo should be lots of fun. See you there all saddled up.
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Definitely! Now we need riding boots as well as walking ones…love that we get to do this together 🙂 ❤
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Great to hear from you after a long time, Sherri 🙂 It’s been a tough ride but – hey – look, your cheerfulness has and is effectively sidelining any shards of despondency. God bless. Where you are now looks beautiful and we know that you’ll soon settle down at your favorite place. Lovely to read this – “The good news is that I wrote like the wind on my memoir.” All the best! 🙂
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Hi Mahesh! Great to see you too! Oh so glad I sent those ‘shards of despondency’ packing…love it! I’m certainly in a better frame of mind, I think my post would have been a different kind a few weeks ago! Love your message…and your support…always. Take care my friend and God bless you too. Look forward to catching up very soon 🙂
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All the best on your new adventures, Sherri. I hope the rest of the transaction goes smoothly. 🙏🌸🎈
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Hi Imelda! So great to see you…thanks so much for all your support and always taking the time to leave messages at the Summerhouse, means a great deal to me. Hope all is well with you and your lovely family…see you soon! 🙂 xo
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Goodbye but, yes, hello to new adventures! ❤ Lovely photos here. Great memories of the summerhouse (and sweet robin). "its essence remains…" Yes! 🌼 🌻 🌸
Saw you were leading on of the challenges for October's flash rodeo. Look forward to that! (And fab news on getting more written on your memoir.)
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Hi Sarah, and thanks so much! Yes, looking forward very much to riding at the rodeo – just hope I can stay in the saddle, ha! Time for new adventures in every way it seems…and a new summerhouse awaits, even if virtual for the time being. The view isn’t going anywhere 🙂 ❤ Hope all is well with you…I feel like that new blogger saying 'hello world'…my blogging has not been exactly prolific this year! See you at the Ranch! 🙂
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Hi Sherri! It’s so great to see you and hear about your adventures. I know it must be hard to say good-bye to your beloved summerhouse, but you sure are in a beautiful place now! I hope all goes well with your continued writing and you guys get into a new home soon! Love you!! 🙂
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Hi Patsy! So great to see you…and I will email you in the week I promise! Trying to get settled in and get our internet sorted took some time, but hopefully I’ll be okay now, and can plan out my internet time! Phew! Looking forward to catching up and thanks so much for your lovely message here. Love you too! 🙂
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It’s okay, Sherri. Take your time. I understand “busy” these days! I am working on my first what would be a magazine article for my 4th assignment in my writing class. Of course I am thinking about writing about sea turtles! 😉
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Thanks so much Patsy, really appreciate your understanding. Wow…you’re doing great with your writing assignments…and writing about sea turtles sounds perfect! You’re doing great my friend, so proud of you! 🙂 ❤
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You’re welcome Sherri. This will be a fun thing to write once I gather enough recent facts. And thank you. 💜💛❤
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🙂 ❤ 🙂 You're very welcome Patsy! Will email very soon! xoxo
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Awesome. Looking forward to hearing from you. 😊
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I have to leave a short comment before retiring for the night after all you have been through. I do understand the nightmare. We had the moving truck loaded with everything we owned and knew the sale could fall apart even then. Until I knew their loan was funded, I almost couldn’t breathe. And so you will get the situation in hand soon and life will be filled with wonder as you adjust your sails to whichever way the breeze blows. I did not realize Aspie was living on her own. So delighted to see you here again and keeping good thoughts for all to go the best way possible. Giant hugs, my friend. Keep in touch. Loved the hedgehog and the geese. I love reading all of this.
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Hi Marlene! Thanks so much for your message, always lovely to hear from you. I know that not being able to breathe feeling. I felt like that too right up until the money came through the morning we moved out and we handed over the keys to the new owners. Even now, 9 days later, I still can’t quite believe it really happened. Nightmare is the right word isn’t it? I love your analogy of adjusting our sails to whichever way the breeze blows. It’s perfect for the situation. Now I can breathe again the squalls have quitened down into a calming, pleasant breeze. It’s pouring with rain outside but I’ve got my new view and the warmth and comfort of our van with everything we need, and I feel very blessed. Aspie moved out in April -another huge change for our family, a very brave move. Now just to move forward into our new home hopefully by late October…but enjoying this precious respite in the meanwhile. I will see you soon my friend, and hope all is well with you and yours. So glad you enjoyed the pics. Love and hugs to you and will definitely keep in touch… ❤
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Good luck and I hope it’s all completed soon!
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Thanks so much, lovely to see you again Lucid Gypsy! 🙂 x
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Beautiful!!
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❤ ❤ ❤
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Sherri, what a nightmare of a time with moving…I’m glad you explained the madness of the UK system as others abroad have difficulty comprehending how crazy a process it is! Yeah to completing on yours and good luck with the final stages of the move…I’m so happy you’ve been able to work on your ms and perhaps that provided the stability and sanity in the midst of all this. Ahh…goodbye beautiful summerhouse and garden…time to start again but understand the mixed feelings. Take care, hugs xx😀 Ps. I’ve been swamped here but off to Sweden in a couple of weeks where I will write back to you. ❤️
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Hi Annika! So lovely to see you again, really kind of you with so much going on, sorry to hear you’re swamped. I know the feeling, ha! But at least I have the reprieve of the goose farm for now. How wonderful you’re off to Sweden again, have a wonderful time and I look forward very much to hearing from you when you can. Thanks so much for your good wishes, it’s been a pretty nightmarish time but at least I got some good writing in despite still a lot more to do! And yes, the UK conveyancing system is indeed utter madness. It needs to change big time. I’m actually thinking of starting a petition I’m that incensed about it. Once I’ve got proper broadband, I really think I’m going to do it. Watch this space, ha! Happy, safe travels my friend, if I don’t catch up with you before…and we’ll talk soon 🙂 ❤
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Hi Sherri! It i so lovely seeing you back on here. Your van looks bright and cheery and it looks like you have made new animal friends already! I look forward to hearing all about your new adventures xx
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Hi Judy! So lovely to see you again too, how are things going for you with your nursing? I am still so sorry I didn’t get to see you in June. Goodness, a lot’s happened since then, yikes! Ha, yes, always the animal friends, wherever we go it seems! I will be so glad to have my boy Eddie back home though…still a few more hurdles to cross but hopefully we’ll be in by the end of the month. I’m enjoying my respite at the goose farm very much though with my new view 🙂 Thanks so much Judy…see you very soon! xxx
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The nursing is going well so far but the next few months we have a lot of tests and assignments. I wish I could have made it to the Blogger’s Bash this year, but maybe next year I will. Itt would be so lovely to see everyone and hopefully get more time to chat with you! Fingers crossed that all goes well for your moving at the end of the month xxx
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Glad to hear the nursing’s going well Judy and I wish you the very best in the coming months with all your tests and assignments. Yes…there’s always next year, hopefully! Thanks again Judy…trying to keep calm once more! xxx
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Thanks so much, Sherri. Keeping calm is certainly easier said than done!! 🙂
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That’s for sure Judy! 😀 xxx
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Sher, thanks for taking us on your last farewell tour, but like you said, it’s Hello to new beginnings. So nice to see you visit blogland, if only briefly. And soon enough, I hope you’ll be in your new home my sweet friend. Big hugs for you! xoxoxoxoxoxo ❤ ❤
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Hi Deb! Oh and I thank you so much for your sweet lovely message! So great to see you again at the Summerhouse, albeit it virtual for now lol! So much looking forward to catching up with you properly. I’ll keep you posted as always! Huge hugs right back to you my friend ❤ 🙂 ❤ xoxoxo
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No worries my friend. Just glad to see you pop your head up. I know you’ve got much going on and limited internet. Hopefully in another month you’ll be nesting in your new home. Love and hugs! ❤ xoxo
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Aww thanks so much dear Deb. Lovely to see you too…it’s frustrating with the internet, I’ve got it…but not so much. But I’ll make it work, ha! So much hoping to settle into our new home soon…watch this space, and see you very soon my friend! Love & hugs to you! 🙂 ❤ 🙂 ❤ xoxo
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I’m watching! 🙂 xoxo
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Hi Sherri, so lovely to see you here again and hear your news. Though some of it is unsettling I admire your meliorist attitude. We’ve had a few of the gang living in vans now, haven’t we. The goose farm sounds pleasant enough, as long as you don’t be one yourself. 🙂 I’m sad to say goodbye to your Robin especially. I know the rest of the menagerie will join you eventually, those that remain. The hedgehog – how cute! I think he’s going to look after the place when you’re gone – arrived just in time. I think of all the laughs we’ve had in the Summerhouse. Now we’ll just have them somewhere else. I’m looking forward to the Carrot Ranch contests, and am so pleased that we both get to be judges. How difficult will that be though! Take care, my friend. I hope all goes well in the next chapters.
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Hi Norah! How lovely to see you again too, it’s been too long! See how your meliorist ways are rubbing off on me? 🙂 Ha…too true about the vans! I never expected that one day we would be living in ours, but so very grateful we have it and have this choice to do so. LOL….I’ll try hard not to become a goose! They fascinate me though and I love that they get to roam free on the field in the day. Proper free range 🙂 Yes, I hope my Sweet Robin follows once we’re moved in…and the hedgehog was an amazing surprise! I’m not sure he’ll waddle over but you never over. And yes, we’ve had so many laughs and good times but we’ll have plenty more in the new place, virtual or otherwise. And yikes for the Rodeo challenge…I’m flying by the seat of my pants here but I love how Charil’s made this happen. And you my friend, going first up! Wow…now that’s very brave! I will be there on Thursday, you can count on it. I might have a go at entering, but let’s see. I’ve been away from writing FF for too long. I love that we’re both judges too…what fun this will be and what a blast with Charli’s TUFF and of course the Best of Show. Woo hoo…bring it on! I hope things are well with you and your business is going well…looking forward very much to catching up very soon! Thank you so much for your lovely message… ❤
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Ah it’s good to hear from you Sherri, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw you appear in my inbox. I’m so sorry to hear about the nightmare of the move and that you still have a little way to go before you’re settled. But maybe the caravan is a temporary summer house preparing you for the one to come 🙂 And I’m glad to know that at least it has been good for your memoir – a silver lining that probably didn’t feel like one at the time! I hope things move smoothly from now on and look forward to seeing more of you soon.
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Oh Andrea…so lovely to see you again! And I love your idea of our van being a temporary summerhouse! Although it’s done a lot of raining since we moved here, but we’re warm and cosy and actually I love the sound of rain on the roof 🙂 Ha…you’re right about the silver lining. I was so stressed and felt pretty awful for a while, so I made the decision I could either sink with it or be useful and get writing even though at first, I didn’t feel like it one bit. I was completely overwhelmed with it all. But once I got back in the flow, I felt so much better. It took my mind off the stress of it all and I felt like I was being productive again, making headway on my memoir. Although still a lot of work to do. I hope you had a good summer my friend and your writing is going well. I am very much looking forward to catching up with you very soon. I remember well how we both love this time of year…but can hardly believe it’s October already… !
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Thought you’d been quiet, Sherri, but good to know you’ve made progress on the memoir. All things considered, you sound very upbeat about everything that’s going on. Hope it all goes well.
As you have been offline a lot, you may have missed that I’ve organised a small gathering of bloggers in Birmingham on 4th November (http://www.graemecumming.co.uk/anyone-fancy-drink/). With your current upheaval, it probably won’t be practical, but you’ll be very welcome if you can make it.
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Hi Graeme, great to hear from you. I feel a lot a better than I did, that’s for sure 🙂 Thanks for your good wishes. And for your invite! I did miss it, so really appreciate the heads-up. I would love to make it, can I get back to you nearer the time depending on what happens in this neck of the woods over the next few days? Sounds like a great idea… 🙂
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Of course you can get in touch later. I’d rather leave the door open for you to say “Yes” at the last minute than miss the opportunity for you to join us. If you can make it, you’ll be more than welcome – but we’ll understand if you can’t.
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Thanks so much Graeme…very kind of you 🙂
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Not at all. It’ll be great to see you if you can make it.
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Likewise Graeme 🙂
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Whew! Ok, glad to be reassured that by van, you mean camper, or RV!! So, you do have a bed. Relief!!
Glad to know things are going well. Can’t wait to see all the new!!
Love, Melinda
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Haha…thanks Melinda! Great to hear from you! Yes, I should have clarified it’s an RV or sorts, albeit much smaller than the lovely American ones, but yes, it has a bed (and very comfortable too, believe it or not!), a little living area, a kitchen of sorts with a good fridge and a shower and loo. So what more could we ask for? Just waiting now to tie things up the other end and will for sure keep you posted. I thought of so many times during my mammout clear out with the move. Oh it felt so good! I hope things are going well with you my friend and you’re settling into your new life. See you very soon! Much love and big hugs (purple ones, of course lol 😉 ) ❤ xoxo
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Once I saw the pix, my fear that you were sleeping in the car abated! lol
That’s all ya need!! Plus a good blog or two! 😉
I can imagine it did feel good to clear out stuff!!
Love!!
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LOL! Not forgetting the blogs 😀 See you soon my friend and love as always… 🙂 ❤
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😀 Soon, Sherri!! ❤
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🙂 Melinda 🙂 ❤
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Sherri, so good to see your blog again! I moved on Sept. 28th to a new state to be with my daughter and NEW grandbaby! Exciting times. I took my two furbabies with me, cat Sophie and dog Ollie. I wish you the best in your new home when you can get into it. You’ve written a beautiful post to close the last chapter of your life and open the next one. 🙂
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Hi Bev! So good to see you too and yes, very excxiting times, how wonderful to be with your daughter and new grandbaby and furbabies!! Thanks so much…it will be amazing when we are finally in, after all the trials, ha! I wish you the very best in your new life in a new state too! Here’s to a beautiful new chapter for us both! Big hugs my friend 🙂 xo
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“As one door closes, another opens….” that’s how I would look at what’s been happening, Sherri. I seem to think that I’ve moved house more times than The Queen has sat on her throne, and I’ve been where you have been in our very silly legal system where anyone can drop out before the exchanging of contracts. So sorry it happened to you, but I hope everything is still in place for that final move towards the end of the month. New adventures await. In fact, they look to have already started for you. Fingers crossed that the dongle behaves itself. 😀
Thank you so much for asking me to be a judge in your part of Charli’s Carrot Ranch flash fiction competition. I eagerly await to sit on my judge’s chair and hold up numbers. Or am I thinking of another contest involving celebs dancing? 🤔 😃 Whatever, I’m looking forward to it very much.
Hugs from me, and speak soon.
xx
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Absolutely Hugh…and you know, it’s a little spooky you wrote that about a closing and opening door, as I had a photo I just realised I forgot to add at the end of this post. I grabbed a quick few moments to walk around the house once it was finally completely emptied out. The new owners had already started moving in, but were outside in the garage and Mike and I were just wrapping up. As I stood on the landing, I had to stop to marvel at the way the sun shone through the half- open front door and I took a photo of it. It was as if the light at the bottom of the stairs, streaming into our tiny hallway, was saying just that. New adventures await! I’ll have to try to put the photo here in the comments…let’s see if my dongle lets me do that lol 😉 Oh Hugh, thanks so much for your kind wishes and thoughts. I did laugh at your comment about more moves than the queen on her throne and so sorry you’ve had similar conveyancing hassles. It seems as if everyone we speak to has the same. Something’s gotta give! But we are indeed looking to move at the end of the month, just one more hurdle with getting the final things signed and hopefully we will be exchanging very soon. then we can really relax! And it’s my honour to ask you, I thank you so much for agreeing to judge. Will reply to your email next… Haha…I can just see you up there with your numbered cards. You did say it was the perfect excuse to get a new outfit…topped off with a nice sparkly bow tie I’m thinking? I’ve already got my shimmering long dress and purple shoes lol 😀 Have a great weekend Hugh…hugs back 🙂 xxx
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Sounds like a brilliant photo, Sherri. Can’t see it in the comments, but maybe it’s one for another new post? Keep it safe. It does sound as if somebody was telling you that new adventures await.
I’ve always gone around our homes when we’re about to leave them for the last time. Each room brings back a memory (some I can’t mention 😮), but I can often hear the faint sounds of those moments and memories. And, as I close the front door for the last time, I always thank the house/flat for keeping us safe. Maybe sounds a little daft, but it’s like leaving something behind, but then I look forward to what awaits on the new adventure front.
I got your email and will be in touch.
Have a lovely weekend.
xx
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Hi again Hugh! You know, I meant to post the photo and then had to turn off my dongle lol, and then thought, maybe I should save it for another post – and now, after reading your comment, I believe I will 🙂 It’s a strange and poignant moment isn’t it, pausing to reflect as you go from room to room one last time. As you say, not all good memories, yikes!!! There’s something very special about thanking the house, not daft at all. I do the same…I think it’s very important 🙂 Thanks so much Hugh! Emailing you next! xxx
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Yay Sher!! So good to hear things are moving in the right direction for you. Looking at the photo of those geese reminded me of the movie, Fly Away Home. Loved it and have seen it several times. The geese returned home, and so will you. You’ll return home within your heart, create a lovely new lodge, and once again dwell within comfort and beauty. Hugs to you, dear friend ♥♥♥
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Hi Tina! So lovely to see you again! It’s been too long on my part… I’m grateful for my mobile internet, but I do have to watch it! I don’t think I’ve ever seen that movie, it sounds perfect timing! Oh the idea of creating a lovely new lodge does sound wonderful. Still one big hurdle to clear but still aiming for end of October. At one time, we were saying hope we’ll be in by the summer, now we’re saying hope we’re in by Christmas lol! But seriously, thank you so much for your kind, sweet wishes and thoughts. I hope all is well with you my friend. Love & hugs to you 🙂 ❤ xoxo
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Lovely to see you in bloggyland Sherri. Nothing is quite as stressful as selling your home. Well done for getting over that major hurdle. Nice to see the post about Carrot Ranch competitions this October. All the best for a Happy, stress free autumn. Hugs. Marje. Xxx
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Hi Marje, so lovely to see you again too! Thanks so much, yes hoping to get all this wrapped up by the end of the month. What a relief that will be! Meanwhile, I’ll enjoy the geese 🙂 Yes, exciting times for Carrot Ranch! Are you entering the contests with a few FF’s? Hope so! It looks to be a lot of fun. I’m taking part in the challenges only but this will be the first time I’ve ever judged a writing competition. Nervous, but looking forward to it! Hugs to you my friend, see you soon! 🙂 ❤ xxx
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Not sure whether I will or not Sherri. It depends on how much time I have. Just started a full time job and feeling tired already! Would love to join in but I’d better not make any promises! Good luck with the judging. 🙂
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Arrgh…so sorry to miss your reply here Marje, don’t know what happened, but I only just saw it for some strange reason 😦 Wow, you’re a busy lady, I take my hat off to you for managing to write anything working full time. Hope you’re new job is going well and you’re enjoying it and I do hope you do get the chance to enter. Thanks so much, I’ll need it! My contest post goes live next Thursday but wouldn’t you know it, after all this time, we are actually moving next week! It’ll be okay, I’ll put a note up as I won’t be able to comment right away, but I’ll be able to before the deadline. Can’t believe it’s really happening after all this time – we exchanged late yesterday! Hope all is well with you my friend and you have a lovely weekend. Will be in touch 🙂 xxx
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Although it is not your first move, you must experience all kind of feelings since you left your home for ten years. This is always exciting and daunting, right? But congrats on your new place, Sherri. Someone must be so happy to have your garden to cherish! Hope to read you soon. Happy to read you now.
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Always such a pleasure to read you Evelyne! It’s been a tumultous time for sure and certainly a poignant one. But we are moving forward to that new chapter and just one more hurdle to clear and hopefully we’ll be in our new home very soon. I miss my garden, so grateful I had the opportunity to grow and tend it all those years, when before I had to leave it after only a couple of years or so. But as you say, now someone else gets to cherish it, and that makes me happy. Time to grow a new one! Thank you so much for your lovely message and I look forward to catching up with you very soon my friend 🙂 ❤
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