17 months ago we said goodbye. To family and friends and all the familiar things that were part of our lives.
Saying those words became so hard that in the end I couldn’t bear to say them any more. I opted for a “see you later”, because the reality was that, yes, I would see them later, albeit via SKYPE.
Dismantling our life in the UK was signified by the emptying of the house, giving away unwanted items and packing the rest of our possessions onto the container to be shipped on to our new life in Melbourne.
With each piece of furniture loaded on to the lorry, the house became less our home and more a shell. It was a slow process over two days that enabled me to gradually detach myself after eight years of sleeping, eating, laughing and crying within those four walls.
Buying that house had almost crippled us financially. It was where my precious second born child entered this world, his brother sleeping upstairs, blissfully unaware until he heard his cries. The house that had almost tipped me over the edge when we made major renovations (knocking down walls and the like) when Cheeky Monkey was 15 weeks old.
My eldest had his picture taken in the garden the morning he started school. The kitchen was where we received some of the best news and were rocked by some of the worst.
This home of ours, where TS collapsed one night and I thought I’d lost him forever, and where my mind had unravelled to such an extent that he thought he’d lost me.
In between the container leaving and us boarding the plane, I walked from room to room, revisiting the memories of each one.
Without the familiar items though, the house was no longer our home.
My family is where my heart lies, not within a building. So as we closed the door behind us, I smiled knowing that this was the right move for us.
And this week, without so much as a pang, I signed the papers to sell the house.
No longer our home, it is now one more link to our old life that has to be broken as we embed ourselves here.
I have memories and I have photographs.
That is enough.
It must have been hard to leave such a gorgeous house. I am one person who is very happy you are embedding here. xx
Thanks Suz xx I’m glad too x
Beautiful post honey. Eight years of memories is a lot but I too am glad you made the move to Oz. our country is richer having you in it
What a lovely thing to say Kel, thank you xx
Tis cloudy there anyway.
xx
I know! Look at that hideous sky behind the house
Home is definitely not a building. And I think Oz suits you x
Thanks, Carli. I think it does too!
I know that feeling well, I just stopped saying goodbye to people and switched to avoidance mode.
Australia really suits you, and it seems like you have made yourself a very comfortable new ‘home’.
Knew you would understand Carly x I definitely think of Australia as home already x
Often think of you when applying your varnishes !!
So glad you’re happy in your new home. Love you xx
Ah, love you too x Hope it won’t be too long before we tempt you out for a holiday xxx
I like that you have chosen Melbourne as your new home and that we have become friends. What a beautiful house you had, it must be hard to say goodbye. But what a beautiful life you have ahead of you.
You write so wonderfully. Thank you.
That is such a beautiful thing to say Carly. I’m really glad to have met you too x
I love this piece, Caroline. We’ve made ‘the move’ many times too but you’re right, it’s not the house, it’s the family unit that counts. We’re selling again but moved on already and I already feel very little for that old house. We have the photos, the memories but the unit of four has moved together.
Thanks Louisa. Making the move made me put more value on memories than possessions x
Wow. So much in that one post. Admire you hugely for the transition you have made. So interesting to read your experience and compare with my own (not in the comparisons are odious way you know…. just reflecting on difference and what makes it different). Having been back in Brighton at Christmas I am pretty sure we will go back. All strength to you – it’s a pleasure to read : )
Thanks Victoria. Interesting that you want to go back. Hope it works out for you.
It’s hard to say goodbye to places like that when they’ve provided the setting for so many memories. But as I’ve recently had to learn the hard way, home is where the people we love are. It isn’t about the building.
I’m really glad you picked Melbourne! xo
so true Kate and yes, I’m glad I picked Melbourne too!
that is beautiful. i am glad you are in peace with letting go of this house of the past that saw you, as I understand, go through many important (good and bad) events in your life..
i left my house in Europe behind as well, including many MANY things that I could not take.
But leaving it behind (and so far) also allowed me to make a new fresh start in life, and truly rid myself from the burden of some memories I did not want to carry with me..
when you bought this (amazing) house you certainly didn’t know either that you were going to leave it behind and sell it, but I think when we do things like that we know that by letting go of something, we open up space for great new things, experiences and memories.. +)
So true Nikki, there were lots of bad memories I was happy to leave behind and we are all better off with a fresh start
Beautiful.
Thanks Michaela.
Bitter sweet memories. That is what life is made of. Beautiful post. x
Thanks Jodi