The new neighborhood

Here are some links to info about our new neighborhood, Hither Green.

Time Out article

Wikipedia entry

I think the Time Out article gives a good sense of what it's like. Quiet, good park, community library, lots of families with young children and a quick train ride into town.

We closed on the house yesterday and it's all happening now. The children and I picked up the keys at lunchtime and spent an hour or so just walking around the house, looking in cupboards and making plans. It's an Edwardian terraced house and we met our neighbor on the left, an elderly lady named Mrs Fitzgibon, and our neighbor on the right came out and gave us a card and a box of chocolates.

We met Jason at the house after work and Pete, Philippa and Joe came over to check it out. The children ran rampant through the empty rooms and terrorised the frogs in the frog pond while we talked about the renovations. Our builder, Mick, came round to pick up the keys and as we were leaving I saw my friend Sarah who lives three doors down the opposite side to Philippa. Sarah gave me a big hug and welcomed us to the neighborhood. It all feels really good and we can't wait to get there.

At midnight last night I suddenly changed my mind about bricking up one of the doorways in the house and we texted Mick to tell him. We met him there this morning and talked over the change and he agreed that it sounded like a better plan. Whew! I'm so glad we sorted that out before they started working! Now we're keeping the doorway to the kitchen and bricking up the door to the dining room instead. I'll post photos soon and it'll all make sense.

Anyway, all going well. Now I just need to sort out a decorator. Once the house was empty we realised it needs more painting to freshen it up than we thought. Anyone know a good decorator in London??