You’re never too old for a new beginning…………..

Forty years ago today my Dad walked me up the aisle to my first husband.
We had purchased a modest but new two bedroom end of terrace property, and like all newlyweds were looking forward to making it into a home.
It was exciting and penny pinching, but things didn’t work out so we separated in 1980 and were divorced by 1981.
Then followed a relationship which folded after eight years, and in 1989 I met Hubby.

I did a series recently about our homes together, and the fun we had kitting them out from car boot sales and skips.
Now we are about to start all that again, and I am really looking forward to it.
Of course priority has to be given to finding a property and our first session of property viewing is happening on Wednesday.

Hubby and I reckon we can furnish and carpet a small house for under £5000, and once we have a set of shiny new keys, we will be doing the tours of charity shops and the like for furniture and necessities.
We are adamant about a new bed and mattress, and probably a new washing machine, but other than that, we would be happy with second hand goods as there is a lot to be had at realistic prices to our budget.

I made a starter list today, and had to laugh at just how much we’d need in the kitchen.
I have a set of cutlery, three knives, plus 4 plates and 4 pasta bowls in this design.
Sadly it appears to be discontinued, so the matching cereal bowls and mugs won’t happen.
Not to worry, I am sure I can get something suitable for a few pounds by shopping around.
We may be lucky in that the new kitchen has some fitted appliances. If I have a gas hob, a wok will be on the list for my stir fries. If not, I shall be on the lookout for a frying pan with a lid, as I only have two saucepans and the pressure cooker. I will also be buying a new microwave and bowls suitable for microwave cooking.
I have no containers whatsoever for storing cereal, rice, pasta, flour, sugar or tea bags!
Neither do I have utensils, mixing bowls, cooking dishes or cake tins anymore.

Elsewhere in the home I am looking forward to owning a laundry basket instead of thrusting everything into a stuff sack. All being well we will also be able to get Maggie her own bed again, not that she’d use it at night I suppose, but it would give her her own space like we’ve done here with her cushion by the wardrobe.
We also hope that rather than have free standing furniture, Hubby will be able to build in wardrobes and shelving which will not only save money, but also utilise valuable space.

We have a variety of stuff in storage that we never used on the boat which includes some towels, clothes and perhaps linens. We went through everything when we decided to sell, getting rid of anything old, tatty, or that didn’t fit.
The thing is, I don’t know exactly what we have for setting up home now, so until I have cupboards and can unpack our possessions into them, the place is likely to be pretty empty!
Note:
We often said that if anyone broke in, they’d feel sorry for us and bring stuff in as we had so little!

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