Oh, how the weather gods teased. Well, they thought, why not bestow snow storms in March just when humankind are expecting spring and the Farrells in particular are booked (within a very narrow window of opportunity) to up sticks. We’ll show them, the deities said, taking us for granted, thinking they’ve got everything planned to the nth degree
And so it was that our first attempt to move house (two weeks today) failed, the main roads blocked with car accidents and jack-knifed artics, and the removal vans unable to reach us.
And then once the mover crew did manage to extract their vehicles from a two-hour jam, they decided to cut their losses and go and move someone whose house they could reach, meanwhile rescheduling us for the following Friday morning.
We felt stranded; misplaced; displaced. It was all very weird. We wandered round a cottage full of boxes, bereft of ‘home’, trying to locate the kettle and emergency tea-making kit. As the day wore on it began to rain, and spirits lifted; there were signs of a thaw. When we went into town later to find some supper, the roads were clear and the pavements slushy, we were sure that the snow would be gone by morning. We were still thinking this when we bunked down for the night on the mattress, the bed having been dismantled.
So it was a very bad moment when I opened the bedroom blinds at 7 a.m. on Friday to find the world white again and more snow falling. I had visions of our buyer trying to move in with us.
*
I needn’t have panicked. The movers were on the phone early, saying that although the main road was still closed, they would come the long way round and be with us at 9 am. And so they were. They had us away in 2 hours, the loading much helped, (surprise surprise) by the snow. The bad weather reports and the ongoing road blockage beyond Wenlock meant we missed out on the the usual morning traffic mayhem. There were no big container trucks squeezing by the house.
*
So: all there was left to do was to say goodbye to no. 31…
*
It’s a tad hard to process just yet – the moving on, but we seem (physically at least), to be settling into the rental house. And, besides, there’s so much to learn about our new home town of Broseley. Of which more anon, although I can report in advance that the locals are proving most welcoming. The snow is long gone too, although the weather gods are still teasing and giving us wintery gales instead of spring.
Tish Farrell 
So good to have an update, Tish. End of an era accomplished. Happy to know that you’ve had a warm welcome, and Spring is surely on your doorstep.
Hello, Jo. Yes, first stage of mission accomplished. I can see a fine line looming of how far one makes the rental ‘home’ before pondering on another move. Txx
I hope your new house is wonderful. Ours isn’t finished yet. Just been told that the tiles we chose for the bathroom are not produced any more…
Cheers, Ian. Bummer about the tiles. Always so many wrinkles and irritations with organising a new home. Our present one is only interim (or at least that’s the ‘plan’). Trying to find one to buy might not be a quick job; probably just long enough for me to forget how to navigate all officialdom’s convoluted avenues for changing contact details.
Flexibility…something we have to have at any age. It seems unbendable but usually works out with time. Hang in there.
Flexibility – you hit the nail on the head, Beverley. Not quite so easy the older one gets (understatement). So yes, we’re hanging in.
A tough ending, but a wonderful new beginning! Good luck Tish!
Such cheering words from you, Anne. Many thanks.
😍
been missing you. Thanks for the post
Thank you for that, lovely Thom.
It is quite a wet spring isn’t it? It’s been raining a lot in London too. I do hope you and your family will settle into your new community well!
Many thanks, Aggie. And yes, too much wetness all round.
Oh, Tish, so pleased to hear you heave got to the rental in Brosely now…looking forward to hearing of your new beginning, and sending you all the best
Many thanks, Sue. It’s lovely having your following thoughts and good wishes.
Pleasure, Tish
I am just catching up with you……How exciting and a little disorienting to leave one home for a new one. All of this will pass….and spring will come soon with all sorts of new adventures. Enjoy sleeping in your new home….Janet
Thanks for all those kind thoughts, Janet. The biggest challenge is moulding our habits to a different house, which we wouldn’t actually have chosen, i.e. if we weren’t having to find somewhere to rent in a rather a hurry. I’m sure it’s all good for the brain cells, (though not the bits that involve trying to inform multi-layered officialdom of contact changes on line!) and we’re finding many unexpected aspects of house and Broselely that we do like.
Well done!
Thank you, Sarah.
Phew! Glad to receive the update. I have been thinking about you and whether your move actually happened. Always sad to say goodbye, but nice to have new adventures. Hope it isn’t too long before you find your next home. Meanwhile I look forward to hearing more about Broseley and surroundings, though it isn’t too far from where you were. I do remember visiting Benthall with its pretty church. Nice with the daffodils.
https://traveltalk.me.uk/2015/03/19/benthall-hall/
Thanks, Jude. And also for the link to your excellent Benthall Hall post. Not quite in walking distance, but our nearest NT destination, and as you say, lovely in spring.
All’s well that ends well, but that first night must not have been much fun. I’m glad it worked out so quickly and I’m looking forward to reading and seeing more about your new place.
Many thanks, Janet. There were a few hair-raising moments, wondering if we’d get moved out before the new owners wanted to move in.
Glad to see it all ended well, Tish, even if the road there was a tad slippery, literally and figuratively. We wish you well in your new abode!
Many thanks, Dries. Slippery indeed! 🙂
Oh, moving out is so hard. Luckily, new adventures await, and you sound pretty positive about all that. Good luck.
Your good luck wishes are much appreciated, Margaret.
Happy moving, Tish.
And to a welcoming neighbourhood.
Asante sana, Mak. All good wishes much appreciated.
Phew, I’m so glad you were able to go ahead with the move albeit a day late. It must be a wrench saying goodbye to a home that you’ve been happy in, but there are new adventures over the horizon and I look forward to hearing all about them!
Many thanks, Sarah, for those kind words. Adventures indeed. I’m trying to keep focused on the possibilities.
Well done. 😀 … may you find your next ‘forever home’ soon and with a minimum of fuss and bother. 🙂
Well, I don’t need to tell you about packing up home, Widders. I have to say your momentous upping of sticks, made me feel less anxious about our effort which was altogether much simpler. So all best wishes back. There are times when one has to hold one’s nerve!
Oh. You have moved… Karibu in your new home. I only hope it is a decision for the better. And not imposed by circumstances… I understand you had spent quite some time in that old, charming house…
You also liked the land… I don’t know how far away you have moved…
My very best wishes to you Memsahib, and your husband. I hope you are in good health, and will adjust soon.
Matakwa ya kheri. (Hopefully it means warm wishes… my swahili is a bit rusty…)
Kwaheri sassa
Hello, Brian. Asante sana for all those kind thoughts and good wishes. We’ve moved a few miles up the road from Wenlock, to slightly larger old town, renting a house while we find one to buy in a quieter location than our previous cottage occupied. We loved the old home, but it did front on to a busy road, with car parking on the other side of it. But will miss the rear view big sky vistas over Wenlock Edge.
I see. A busy road, and parking can be a nuisance. Since you “always” posted photographs of the “good side” I had no idea.
You made a wise decision. Now take your time. I’m sure you’ll find the perfect place…
You’re right. I did have my gaze mostly Edge-wards.
I hope you settle in well to your new home. I’ve also moved recently which is why I have been awol on my blog! So much to do!
All best wishes to you too. So much to do indeed.
Glad it all ended well! Now I hope there will be time to enjoy your temporary place, and time to find a new home to settle in! Best wishes!
Very many thanks, A-C, for those kind thoughts. We seem to be quite well settled in a surprisingly short space of time.
Good!
Crickey Tish! I didn’t realise you have been in the midst of such upheavals. I’ve really not been keeping up, so apologies for the lateness of my best wishes. In my mind you’ll always be synonymous with Wenlock – a place in Shropshire I’ve still never visited. And now you are putting Broseley on the map. I confess that until I just looked it up I’d not known the whereabouts of Broseley at all. But the Wikipedia entry has a long and intriguing list of notable people including – amongst the industrialists and ironmasters like Abraham Darby – Hermione Baddeley who appeared in Passport to Pimlico and Mary Poppins and Shane Embury, a member of the grindcore and death metal band Napalm Death. It takes all sorts, I suppose! Hope the move goes well for you and I’ll keep an eye on Wikipedia to see if they add a new star to their list…
Hello, James. Thank you for the good wishes, and thoughts of stardom (Ha!) I did keep the move under my hat until the last minute. Mainly because it it took ages to get the sale settled. But yes, Broseley looks to have all sorts of interesting aspects, and a very active local history society delving into many of them. Also discovered we’re at the top of the world here. If you walk to the end of our road to the maypole, a panoramic vista across the top of the Severn Gorge spans out west and east. It’s quite extraordinary. I’m itching to get back there with my camera when there’s some good light.
Apart from the industrial history, Wenlock and Broseley have a shared monastic history; the Wenlock Priory domain extended over here, the monks being keen huntin’ types. The Deer Leap is a local ancient landmark in consequence. Also I think they went in for some early coal mining in the vicinity, as in employed the locals to do the digging. All sorts to discover and rediscover (I used to live near Broselely in another life).