ITS BEEN A WHILE - GREETINGS FROM DERBYSHIRE

Well after months of waiting to move and all the ups and downs we are finally here. We finally got into our house mid September after a week and a half at a little rental cottage in Mickleover. The move day was very distressing for all of us, friends turned up to wish us well and when they were leaving they and us broke down in tears...it was not easy but by far the hardest people to say bye to were my parents - we all stood their in a sort of disbelief wanting everything to go back to 'normal' cos thats what being around familiar things and people is 'normality'. Watching the kids cry when Nanny and Grandad were kissing us bye was heartwrenching...poor little Taylor I felt like we had stripped him of his life, his friends, his home, his world. I knew that being that much older it would be Taylor that would feel it the most - I wasn't wrong.

We locked the door of Cotswold Way for the last time in a bit of a blur. I have lived all my life in Reading and to say I wasn't frightened at that moment - well would be a lie. The journey up was one of laughter and tears but we were all feeling it we were driving away from our life and not even being able to get into our new home didn't help. The cottage was sweet and I remember unpacking thinking well this is it ' New beginnings'.

The Monday after we moved up the boys had to start school my little Jamie for the first time ever. Martin and I arrived at the school with the boys I guess feeling a little apprehensive, how would they be, would Taylor be ok without his mates, would Jamie be ok without me.....we need not have worried they did us proud.

Well all the above seems a long time ago now, can't believe we have been here 2 months already....we are all adjusting and I am totally suprised how we have all settled in so well. The boys are doing brilliantly at school had great feedback on both of them at parents evening and I am so proud of them as its been a big lifestyle change. Martin does not have that awful 2 hour plus each way commute and me I am enjoying my new house and have made a few friends. I do have moments when I miss my old life, my friends, my family but I guess I would not be human if I didn't. I hated the school run initially as it was a very lonely place the playground - full of all these people that knew one another, were friends and I didn't know a soul! I used to walk back to the cottage every day in tears feeling so so desperately lonely- but thats gone now faces are no longer strange they are familiar and a few of the Mums have been very kind to me which has helped.

I am not sure Derby will ever be HOME in the true sense of the word as Reading is and always will be but it is now where my home is where my life is. We have had lots of visitors and have spent more quality time with people than we would have done had we been in Reading, we have had visitors for the past 5 weeks...bed changing is now a constant in my life!!

I guess only time will tell how we all really feel about being here but for the most part we are happy in our new abode and surroundings.....