A very different year

I thought it was about time I shared some more of my ponderings with you, and this week, for reasons that will become obvious, has been something of a milestone. It's exactly one year since I took the plunge...and made a very difficult decision; to leave the marital home. Now rather than dwell on the emotional upheaval that it has been, I thought it would be fun to reflect on the changes that have been either inflicted on or relished by me.

For my new home, I chose a bungalow not far from my old house, so that the kids didn't have far to go in order to see both of us. Detached, spacious, with 3 bedrooms and a lovely garden, my sunny new home was soon filled with clothes, make-up and a few knick-knacks of sentimental value. Yes, I'd left home with only my personal possessions, thinking it kinder and less upsetting for the kids than taking half of the lovely furniture from their home. Instead, I had to settle for donated, mismatched sofas and second hand kitchen white goods. My dining room table, although not to my taste, has a lovely story however. When we went, on moving day, to collect it, we discovered the lady knew my Grandma, spoke fondly of her, and instantly the table became something I loved. I'd gone from living in a beautifully co-ordinated, modern home to a cared for, but very dated home in Nanaville. My neighbours have an average age of 84, and the carpet can only have been chosen by an old dear waiting for a cataract operation; green and brown swirls which I swear have images of Yoda in the hideous pattern.

As for my car, I've swapped a brand-new Nissan for an L-reg Golf, my first diesel,named Roxy on account of her feisty nature, husky growl and shiny red coat. This has probably been one of my greatest challenges; the uncertainty each morning when I turn the key in the ignition, praying I don't have to call out the AA, and of course the complaints from my image conscious daughters about riding in my 'trampy' car. She's recently undergone a makeover and Stevie has worked wonders; repainting,remodelling and taking out many many dents. I've always loved driving, but there is something about driving a car with character that adds to the experience. I've learned how to 'prime' the engine when she runs out of diesel and yesterday, for the first time in 23 years of driving, I topped up the water and checked the oil...all by myself!

Financially, the change has been costly, and forced me to cut down on my spending dramatically. It's not that I was a shopaholic or an E-bay addict, but budgeting on one salary after paying extortionate rent is pretty tricky. Having said that, I've discovered so many ways of saving money, and thinking twice about spending what I do have, it hasn't been too much of an ordeal. My latest discovery is Sainsbury's Basics Rosé,less than three quid a bottle and it's not bad at all! Home Bargains and B&M are my favourite stores, they're even cheaper than Ikea! Getting a Debenhams voucher for my birthday off friends meant I could go buy three pairs of shoes at once, it might as well have been 30 pairs, I was in heaven!

I could go on about cutbacks and sacrifices but it would sound more like a sob story, and not,as I think, the story of someone who is now standing, proudly, on her own two feet (the broken one is now recovered),and emerging from a tough year with a great big smile on her face! I've have many new friends, not least my aged neighbours,(remind me to tell you what it's REALLY like, living next door to Alice) who are a delight, and ones I am sure to stay in touch with when I move house later this month. I'm only going around the corner, to a bigger place, with a downstairs loo, utility room and room for a pony. My family has grown, with the addition of two adorable kittens, Bobby and Juno, and the kids are settled with the new arrangements, though they now have two bedrooms in which to create total chaos! They have been amazing, and are probably the reason I still have my sanity! I now spend oodles of time with them, instead of retreating to the gym or friends' houses for coffee, and I LOVE IT!!!

Time for my nightcap, I've resisted the temptation to turn to Horlicks like the old folk of my street (although I suspect the man next door is over-fond of his Guinness). Instead, I'm having a glass of Asda's own dry cider,and a cuddle on the sofa, with a duvet round my feet. Stevie raises an eyebrow when I reach for the heating controls without thinking, and for that I thank him. Living on a shoestring has a lot to answer for, and I, for one, couldn't be happier!