Christmas in Paignton

Today was the official lighting up of Paignton.  We had street performers, paper lantern procession and fireworks from the Apollo Cinema roof.  The shops stayed open late and will every Thursday until Christmas. I love it here but cannot believe it is nearly Christmas.  Tash feels it is because we are by the sea and sea always means holidays so it's hard to believe it is winter.  Also it has been so mild.  We sat on the sea front reading for a while before going to a coffee morning and craft fare in a local hotel.  We had the windows wide open listening to the sea and it was beautiful.  I am so blessed being here.

What do I love about my new home?

I LOVE:

• The different cloud formations above the sea.
• Watching the small boats sail across the bay.
• Seeing the different colours of the sea daily.
• Seeing the rainbow above the hills.
• Watching the birds hoover above the hills.
• Watching the trees changing daily.
• Hearing the owls at night.
• Being woken up by the sea gulls early in the morning.
• Seeing Torquay hillside in the distance.
• Watching the clouds moving across the valley on a rainy day.
• Being able to go down to the promenade and park up and read for an hour before I pick the kids up.
• Being able to drive along the sea front on the way to school and back.
• Having company.
• Going shopping and passing the countryside and hillside with cows on.
• Seeing the rough sea on a bad day.

The famous Dawlish black swan.

Highest tide of year, and this is one hour before high tide. Imagine what it will be like at high tide. All the beach huts have been put away, good job they were.

We got absolutely soaked but it was so worth it. The children are beginning to learn that the sea is beautiful all year around not just in the summer.

Mothers.

So much has happened recently in my life and I just long for a simple cuppa with my mum and chat about all that is happening. Nothing would please me more than to meet my mum along the sea front and treat her to a cream tea. I would have so much to share with her, not to mention my great grand-daughter and how much her great grandchildren have grown up. She would love the fact we were all living together. I think she would have secretly loved to have lived with us but our home was too small.

Emily was 8 months old when my mum passed away and Emily is convinced she can remember my mum and sitting on her lap. We often laugh at how like my mum she is, even down to loving cats, she will probably end up being one of these people that does cat rescue when she gets older.

October

October already and still not in coats. Today we have been to Brixham and it was sunny and warm.

I have started to take photos of the hillside that we overlook so that we can compare the view over all the seasons. Already some of the trees are bald and giving us a better view. We have been told there is a paddock behind the trees and we will see it and the horse once winter comes.

As we drove through Paignton home it was packed, you would think it was still August and it feels like it. Hope we are not going to have a bad winter this year.

Every day when I look out of the window the sea is different, so many colours. Today it has indigo in it. Some mornings it is difficult to see the sea as the sun shining on it blinds you.

I love the fact that when we go down to the sea front we get a 180 degs of sea views. The run into Brixham was so lovely passing through open country.

The beach huts on Preston have not been moved yet. One year they were moving them in early September because they were expecting high tides.

I cannot believe how different it is here compared to London. The whole pace of life is much slower, everyone seems to have more time and patience. The road we live in is so quiet, we never hear cars or traffic.  My daughter and I were saying today how quickly the week goes and also how quickly the day goes.  There has not been a day  when I have not been out since we arrived.

I love the view over the woods it is for ever changing, more and more trees are beginning to lose their leaves and some are already completely naked.  A few look like they might not lose their leaves at all.  I have even thought of getting a book out of the library to see what trees they are, there are so many different sorts.

Today the sea was choppy and it was very windy on the front. It's the first time I have seen the sea choppy ever. I love just driving down and spending some time sitting on the promenade in my car and looking at the sea and listening to it.  Every day is so different.

I know without a shadow of a doubt this is right for me, I just wish I had done it years ago. But no looking back, just looking forward to a new chapter and what it might hold for us all.

Dew on the webs, early morning.

October 2011 THE CHANGING SEASONS

How important family is. I could not have moved to Devon without them, there would not have been much point as I would have been continuely returning to London to see them.

Preston, our local beach. Our view across the road

This is the view from the hill we look out on. The view changes throughout the day. Today the mist has been hanging around and this hill, or mountain as Emily calls it has vanished. When autumn comes I can't wait to see how much the view will change.

This is my lovely home, don't know who those dodgy characters are looking out of the loft window.

I'm in Devon at last.

Well, I finally made it to Devon on the 7th September. The move went smoother than I thought possible. The van left London at 11 a.m. and arrived in Devon at 5 p.m. and we were waving it off at 7 p.m. and then Peter arrived by car at 8 p.m.

Here we all are in Devon, that is Peter, Natasha, Perry, Connor, Emily and myself. We all feel so settled and love the house and area. The kids love their new school and have settled really well. I keep asking them if they want to go back to London and they shout 'NO'.

The children have been on the beach most evenings after school and for the first week went swimming in the sea after school every evening.

It is wonderful to wake up and look out of the window at the sea. But as if that was not enough we also look out over woods. We are set back from the road up high from the opposite side of the road so no one overlooks us. The road is a cul-de-sac with a turning point so not a busy road at all. Sometimes we can't park in the road but that does not bother us and we mostly get into the road.

I do not miss London at all and I love the slower pace of life here in Devon. I love driving along the esplanade every morning to take the children to school. I love seeing the sea as I go shopping. I love seeing the sea as I go to church. This is the life and I am so thankful to the Lord for all His blessings.

In the May half term Tash, the kids and myself went off to Paignton to view houses. It was such a great week we got five whole days on the beach. The kids got to see Paignton and were loved it and are happy we are going to settle there.

Had to say goodbye to this precious little one today. Going to miss her so much.

When I look at little Lily and then Emily I think of how my mum would have loved them both.

I may be nearly sixty, but never a day goes by when I don't miss my mum and long for a cuppa with her. Long to relay all the little stories about Lily, Emily and Connor. Not to mention telling her about Perrys exam results. She would have been glad we were going to Devon altogether.

How blessed I am, such beautiful grandchildren and great granddaughter.

Emily Aged 6.1/2 Connor 9.3/4. Perry 16. Lily Rose 10 months.

My grandsons who I have not seen for a few years. So looking forward to seeing them. It will not be 230 miles that keep us apart soon just 40.

What a little sweety. She is so endearing. Also such a happy little one, I am going to miss her loads but thanks to Face Book and email we will keep in touch daily and they can have great holidays.

Lily Rose you are such an adorable great grand-daughter. xxx

DEVON

I cannot wait to walk along the beach and hear the sea.

I cannot wait to be woken up by the sea gulls.

I cannot wait to test out cream teas in different tea rooms (LOL)

I cannot wait to explore ALL of Devon.

I cannot wait to have my grandsons round for a B-B-Q.

I cannot wait to have company every day and hear the sound of childrens laughter.

I am not stupid, I know there will also be sounds of conflict but children keep us young.

I cannot wait to see Peter enjoying his bowls by the sea.

I cannot wait to find a fellowship.

I cannot wait to MOVE.

Lord, I am patient but it has been a long time, please bring it on soon.

It seems like no one can get a mortgage now days. Had two buyers fall through because they could not get a mortgage. I suppose with house prices dropping all the time if mortgages are not paid the lender will not get the full price of the house as the value will have dropped.

Since looking at houses at the beginning of March, many of the properties are still on the sites. Some have brought their prices down but still not sold.

I had a lovely week in the half term with my daughter and two grandchildren looking at houses. We spent five full days on the beach it was beautiful. Made us all realise Paignton is where we want to be. We all loved it.

So we may not be there right now but we are going to get there no matter how long it takes.

'DID GOD REALLY SAY'

From the beginning of time the enemy has used the same tactic. He causes us to doubt God. I am sure we are all the same, the Lord says something to us and we immediately start thinking, 'Did God really say that?' We think we may be making it up because it is something we want to hear. Well take heed, from the Garden of Eden the enemy has had us questioning what God has said. Look at Genesis 3:1 where the serpent says, 'Did God really say......' He wants us to doubt the Lord, doubt ourselves.

You can bet that if you hear from the Lord and immediately begin to think 'Was that the Lord?' It surely was and the enemy who is crafty is causing you to doubt.

SEVEN FOLD BLESSING

From the beginning of time the Lord has been blessing us as He did Adam. All that he did for Adam He is still doing for us today.

(Genesis 2: 7-25) God made Adam and then immediately made a garden and put Adam in it. He gave Adam a place to live a place to dwell.

God made all sorts of plants and trees in the garden, it was probably very beautiful, you can imagine God wanting to give Adam the best, to show him how wonderful His creation could be.

Genesis 2: 15.. God Took Adam and put him in the garden TO WORK it.

Then God said .. 'You are free...'

Genesis 2: 18-24 God wanted Adam to have a HELPER, note that He wanted Adam to have a helper, someone to work along side him and support him. Not to be above him or below him but at his side, an equal. God made woman from Adams side as a symbol that she was to be at his side, an equal.

Genesis 2: 25 God also wanted Adam and Eve to be open with each other, keeping nothing hidden, open to each other.

Genesis 3:8-9 We also see that it was Gods plan that he had a walk with Adam and Eve. He walked in the garden looking for them, He obviously met with them and talked with them in the cool of the day.

This is Gods plan for us:

* The Lord gives us a place to live

* The Lord gives us a work to do

* The Lord gives freedom, free will.

* The Lord gives a companion, an equal.

* The Lord gives openness, a confidant.

* The Lord gives a walk with Him.

* The Lord wants to walk and talk with us.

He is still doing this for each one of us today. A SEVEN FOLD BLESSING

Moving

I cannot believe that in under six weeks we will be living in Devon. We went to Devon for a week in March with about 12 viewings but then cut them down to just about six. I knew in my heart that the Lord had just the right home for us. We viewed two and they just did not seem right and then the 3rd viewing and as we pulled up in the road we both knew this was the one. When we looked round we knew that this was our home, the one the Lord had prepared for us. It had been on the market over a year and had started at £80,000 more than we purchased it for. Then weeks before we viewed it came down another £10,000 bringing it into our price range.

I never in my wildest dreams believed that we would have a sea view let alone four double bedrooms. We had looked at renting four bedroom homes but to actually be able to afford to purchase a four bed was unbelievable.

The Lord gave us an amazing price for our home £235,000 and to think we paid £72,000 19 years ago.

I am ready to move, ready for a quieter life, well if living with two little ones and a teenager can be quiet. But having said that I am so looking forward to our home ringing with the laughter and fun of children.Not to mention walking along the beach and spending time on the beach. So many different beaches to choose from, Torquay, Babbacombe, Paignton, Preston, Goodrington, St Mary, Brixham etc etc.

Peter has signed up for indoor and outdoor bowls clubs and has googled all the local fishing lakes.

Family

Yesterday I was involved again in a family situation where mother and daughter do not get on. It saddens me so much that this happens. Why can't we grow up and realise that time is short. We are only on this earth once and we need to use the time we have together.

I believe hard times are ahead of us all with the recession, people will lose jobs and homes and at times like that we need each other. You may argue we have friends but these are not for ever and blood is supposed to be thicker than water. I believe we need to step back in time when family was important, when nanny was the child care. We need to pool our resources and help each other. We are moving to Devon and taking our daughter and children with us. We are going to live together and help with child care issues so my daughter can get back to work. We will pay one council tax, one heating bill, and even though there will be more of us to feed it is not always expensive.

Having the children whilst my daughter was in hospital made me realise how important we all are to each other. Who better than grandparents to have the children, they felt secure and loved they knew even though mummy was not there they were safe and secure with us.

We need to think about relationships and where possible mend them. Put petty squabbles behind us and move on while we have the time left.

Peter and I go down to Devon in March when we hope to look for a property and move a.s.a.p. We need to get our house on the market and then it will be all systems go. We will be moving with our daughter and 3 grandchildren. It will be sad to leave one grandson and his girlfriend behind with our precious great granddaughter. We hope that one day they will join us.

Today Peter and I celebrate our Ruby Wedding Anniversary. I am quite proud of this, not many people make it now days so this is quite an achievement.

Can't believe what a rotten Christmas we had. Peter and I had Connor and Emily our grandchildren because Natasha was in hospital. Four times in two months. Was in for the whole of Christmas and just made it out for the new year, but alas went back in again and missed Connor's birthday.

Peter has been ill for weeks with a cold and cough that will not clear up and is making him feel under par all the time. He gave it to me and I am just finishing my antibiotics and feeling better.

I was off work for about 9 weeks in all, they were really good about it.

Now I am putting this all behind us and moving on and looking forward to a new chapter in Devon.