Published 21 October 2019
After years of turmoil and uncertainty, we are finally on the move.
When we first moved to Thanet in 2007, the area felt like an outpost to me.
It was far enough from my former life, both in distance and atmosphere, that it felt like another world. For a while, that was exactly what we needed.
Over time, though, things changed.
House prices rose sharply. Jobs remained scarce. London money arrived. The place began to feel different, and not in a way that suited us.
Just over three years ago, we were forced into a housing situation that was far from ideal. Even then, we knew we could not sit still for too long. If we did, we would become trapped.
We hoped to move closer to the kind of home we wanted fairly quickly, but circumstances kept that out of reach.
So we stayed where we were.
Treading water.
Then another change came along. I started working more often, and the side effect was simple enough: more money coming in. Not riches. Not even comfort, exactly. But enough to make movement possible.
The stars aligned.
We found ourselves in a position to start looking for a home again.
At the beginning of the search, I found a house in a village near Canterbury. I made enquiries and arranged a viewing. As soon as we saw it, we knew.
We had to live there.
So we contacted family and asked for help to make the move possible. They agreed, and the process began.
Things moved quickly.
Within days, we were told we could have the house. A week later, we had signed the contracts and received the keys.
And so begins the next chapter.
Finally leaving Thanet.
Finally moving deeper into the Kent countryside.
Once we are settled and unpacked, I will make more effort to write again. Here, and elsewhere.
For now, there are boxes to move.
Until then,
adieu.