Crietzman.Org Weblog

It took a lot of sorting, but now it’s done! As I write this we’ve moved everything out of our old flat at Scotfield Court, Luton, and most of our stuff is now up at my parent’s place in Bourne.

We’ve really enjoyed our time in Luton but we’ve always known it makes more sense to buy a place than to keep renting and essentially throwing that money down the drain. There was also no way in hell we could save the necessary money for a deposit, while paying the extortionate rates of rent, council tax and electricity that we were expected to pay for our small pad. There was, even wih us working full time, almost nothing left over to save £10,000 with. House prices are also on the verge of being permanently unaffordable to us, even with our combined full-time salaries. So the time had come to take action.

Therefore we took the decision that we need to give up the flat and all the bills, move in with my folks, and work flat out for several months in order to raise the necessary capital to pay for our deposit, valuation/legal fees and other ‘moving in’ costs.

It felt weird walking out of my job at NTL for the last time on 17th March. Everyone was wishing me well, bought me a few bits and bobs, and gave me a really thoughtful going-away card which I’ll most definately be keeping. Almost everyone I know from Luton works at NTL, so in some ways it was particularly difficult saying goodbye - but it is necessary, and the right step for us to take.

Louise will be completing her last day with Hart Hill Primary School this Friday, 24th March. She, like me, has been living at Scotfield Court and at her job for over three years, and has become very attached to the people and kids there - although the school is closing at the end of the year so it’s not as if continuing there was an option in any case. It is a strange feeling to be ‘letting go’ of our lives here in Luton but we know nothing in life is forever and this is a necessary step on our journey which we hope will bring us much happiness.

We want to thank everyone who has written or phoned us to wish us well lately, and also must say thanks to our parents and to Tom who have helped us get all our old stuff out of our Luton flat and into our temporary home in Bourne.

Next step, is for us to take a well-deserved rest-and-relaxation break in Bourne, and then to start looking for satisfying jobs which will earn us the salaries we need to get our new place. However, for now, that’s in the future. As buddhists we know it’s easy to forget the present by always being off in the future, or stuck in the past - but that’s no way to live and really enjoy life. Right now, we’re enjoying the excitement of the transition and focusing on relaxing and settling in at our new home. We’re determined not to let this opportunity to relax and enjoy ourselves for a bit pass us by. Life offers so few opportunities for ‘time out’ - they should be appreciated and enjoyed for what they are.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog entry. We’ll update it again once we’ve landed on ‘the other side!’