Wednesday 18 July 2012

Butter on paws...


There is a belief that if one butters the paws of a cat when moving it to a new home, that it will not stray from it’s new abode as it is so busy licking the butter from it’s paws. Well, I managed to forget this little tip and it was some days after we were ensconced in our new home that Mr Pickles found himself daubed in best Anchor Butter.. much to his delight and bemusement as he had already tasted his new environs by escaping on day two of our move and legging it down the lane despite my calls and bribes with a box of cat munchies.

I am glad to say he returned and has not ventured further than the wall at the top of the garden to flirt outrageously with the pretty kitty next door.
So… we finally moved home.. despite the months of fearing it would never happen, we arrived at our new/old home on 22nd June. The day was predictably stressful and made more so by a timely phone call from our solicitor to say that the monies for transfer could not go ahead due to Nat West bank having a monumental cock up in their system. As the last item had just been loaded onto the delivery van we were pretty determined to go ahead with the move… come what may and were lucky enough to have had the luxury of an empty house to move into with the blessings of the vendors. So, it was that we arrived at our pretty house and set up home as squatters for the weekend until Nat West managed to rectify the problem on the Monday morning. 


Waking up to this on our first day in the cottage we pinched ourselves believing that we were on holiday and it was all a rather surreal dream....

Three weeks into our new home and we feel not a crumb of regret or backward glance to our time in Bath. We miss our old friends and neighbours though they are only 10 minutes down the road we have also gained some lovely new friends and neighbours here as was testament  by the mass of cards and bottles of welcome wine that were given to us on our arrival. 




We have swapped the nocturnal sounds of sirens and nighttime revellers for the din of a screeching owl and the morning racket of Sparrows and church bells. A good trade off I think!

The terrace which is a wonderful sun trap.. or would be if the sun shone!


The toy collection is feeling very much at home already..





So here is a glimpse of  some of our Hobbit house.. as we have named it. It was built in the early 1700's and we feel we are very fortunate indeed to be it’s custodians for the next chapter in it’s life!

31 comments:

Hesta Nesta said...

Congratulations Michele, I am so thrilled for you all after such a long and stressful wait! Your new home looks absolutely gorgeous and you must be so proud. I am looking forward to more pics of it please.
Love
Jo xx

Hen said...

Congratulations, Michele, so glad it all worked out in the end. What a lovely lovely home. I most like the photo of your toy collection.
Hen x

Maura said...

What a gorgeous home you have, I bet it could tell a few tales of the lives it has seen through the years.

So glad Mr. Pickles made it home safe and sound just like a cat, a little bit of attention seeking!
Love
Maureen
x

June said...

Love the photos of your wonderful home especially the toys!
June

thriftwood said...

Happy new home! It's absolutely beautiful and looks as though you've settled in perfectly . It was meant for you xxx

Frances said...

Oh lucky house to have you all living there and appreciating all its history and beauty!

Your photos really show how you've already eased your own sensitive taste into the inside and outside.

I am sure that you are enjoying the change in the sound effects, and that aspect is bound to subtly change as the seasons roll by.

Bravo! Best wishes. xo

Ali @ Betty and Violet said...

It looks lovely Michelle ~ very cosy and welcoming ~ I hope we get some sunshine so that you can enjoy that gorgeous garden!
Ali xx

Country Cottage Chic said...

It is such a lovely house and suits you perfectly! Looking forward to many more coffee and cake moments at the kitchen table!

Josie-Mary said...

Good luck in your new home Michele.... & what a beautiful home it is too!!! Glad Mr Pickles likes it :) x

fee @ chipper nelly said...

goodness its BEAUTIFUL Michele. Stunning. And it looks like you've always lived there.
We feel like that in our current home - which I think means it was meant for you!
Have fun creating lots of new happy memories...can't wait to see more of that little house at the bottom of the garden....what a treat!
love fee xx

lazyhill said...

Be still my beating heart - what a delicious house! Hope you are all very very happy there
Rachel xxx

Ragged Roses said...

Absolutely perfick! The house was meant to be your home. Wishing you all many many happy times filled with laughter.
xxx

Ragged Roses said...

Absolutely perfick! The house was meant to be your home. Wishing you all many many happy times filled with laughter.
xxx

KC'sCourt! said...

Oh Wow! the house looks gorgeous. Are you still in the South West? Glad Mr Pickles didn't venture far.
Julie xxxxxxxxxx

LinenandRoses said...

Congratulations on your new home Michele. It looks absolutely stunning. I hope you are very happy there. We had a stressful couple of hours when we moved last year waiting up the road from our new home having already left the old, waiting for money to transfer which was hanging someone in the ether between branches. Banks eh! Really look forward to seeing more pics of your lovely new home and garden. Glad Mr Pickles has settled. Fiona x

mycuriousteaparty said...

Custodians you are.. the house must be letting out a huge sigh in relief. It had been waiting for perfect family to love and cherish it and now it has finally found you..

Wishing you every happiness from this virtual part of Essex.. Julie.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on moving into your wonderful cottage..hope Mr Pickles is aware he could have been daubed in margarine so lucky him!
Thea x

LeeAnn at Mrs Black's said...

Many congratulations on the new home, it looks very cosy! Know how stressful moving can be and you can now relax and enjoy. x

Karen said...

What a gorgeous house well worth the waiting and hassle etc. I am sure you are breathing a huge sigh of relief at the peace and quiet too. Bath is lovely but as you say its only down the road when you need it. That darling cat had to go and look around his new home to make sure he approved too. Hope you will all be very happy there. Karen Xx

jane and the happy crow said...

Oh my, oh my how did you manage that......your furniture has gone from looking contemporary and stylish in your previous house to looking old and quaint in this one, or did you buy a lot of new stuff!! Love that doll house. My Grandma used to butter our cat when it stayed with her when we went on holiday and she never lost one and Im sure Mr Pickles knows which side his bread is buttered anyway! Looking forward to seeing you soon. xxxxx

Jelly Jam said...

That looks like a house seriously worth waiting for!
Enjoy.
Ellie
x

Kitsch and Curious said...

Hooray! It looks great! It also looks like you've been there much longer - you must have worked hard unpacking everything. Wishing you many happy years ahead in your new home! xx

Niki Fretwell said...

Wow Michele...All is looking wonderful in your new beautiful (old) home...Your furniture looks like it was made for it...and I think you have found the home made for YOU! I am so happy for you...may you have a long and settled life there.
Niki x

OhSoVintage said...

Wow, your new home looks amazing. I'm so pleased it all worked out for you in the end; it seemed an interminably long time that you were waiting for it all to happen. I'm looking forward to seeing more photos too.
Ruth x

Julie Whitmore Pottery said...

I think you all are marvels, to make your new place look as if its been home for ages; its warm and lovely;
I am so inspired!
xx
julie

Garden Girl said...

oh well thank goodness for that! The Custardo's have landed. Have been keeping everything crossed (ouch) that it would all work out for the best. And what a beauty! the cottage is Fabulous Dahling..new address please!x

sarah-jane down the lane said...

Hip hip hooray! Oh my giddy Aunt it's divine divine divine! Woohoo...loving the Hobbity Custard house...Happy days to you Michele...so happy for you,

Lots of love Sarah -x-

Riddlers cottage flowers said...

Lucky, lucky you! what a beautiful home.x

DeniseinVA said...

Hello, I am new here and have had a wonderful time visiting. Congratulations on moving into your new home. It looks absolutely gorgeous! All the best, Denise

Country Rabbit said...

i really enjoyed your post and your tour of your new home- your toy collection looks right at home your right! ;0)...the garden and cottage charm is really beautiful- love it all- happy new home to you and your family xx

Louise said...

Wishing you all every happiness in your new home Michele. I'm sorry I wasn't with you in June to wish you good luck. x