So, we not too long ago moved from Higher London to semi-rural Kent in southeastern England and that call has formed our lives in additional methods than we are able to rely!
However that isn’t the only real motivation for this private life replace. Returning to the simplicity of conventional running a blog is one thing we’ve been craving to do. We have been storytellers first earlier than we have been journey and meals content material creators and a few of our most impactful tales got here from our private lives and challenges. Of us who comply with us on Instagram usually get a behind-the-scenes view of our lived experiences in close to real-time. That relateability and creativity is one thing we really feel has been lacking from this weblog these days.
To reclaim our company from algorithms, and to protect the enjoyment we derive from storytelling, going ahead, we’ll share extra snippets from our private household journey as we navigate totally different seasons of life. Since we began this weblog again in 2015, we’ve had many modifications and life occasions. The previous three years have been a number of the most vital.
There’s loads to put in writing about however the abstract for now’s that whereas we’ll maintain sharing our journey and life-style content material, we will probably be bringing extra of our persona again into the tales we inform right here.
So strap in and let’s go!
We moved to Kent, ‘The Backyard of England’!
This specific life replace is lengthy overdue! Like many individuals, the pandemic and the enforced lockdowns (we shudder simply remembering these darkish occasions) profoundly modified the WAY we work and WHERE we work.
Rising from that interval, we noticed a discount within the frequency of our London commute as lots of our purchasers switched to hybrid work fashions. This meant that we have been spending extra time working from residence. These elements mixed with a normal need for extra bodily house (not away from one another!) made us really feel overdue to discover a place that might higher swimsuit our future household and work wants.
We at all times had a need to buy a property sooner or later nevertheless it by no means felt prefer it was the ‘proper time’. Nonetheless, the proverbial ‘writing on the wall’ grew to become clearer because the property market emerged from pandemic-induced financial shocks, home costs bordered on the low, and the UK authorities launched schemes to attempt to inject tempo again into the trade. If there was ever a proper time to make that call, it was then.
So we discovered a property (lengthy story brief) and moved to Kent, the Backyard of England (extra on that under)!
The highs and lows of buying a house
We beloved residing in Beckenham close to Bromley in Higher London. The city is a simple ‘hop, skip and bounce’ by prepare into Central London. In 13 years, we watched Beckenham evolve from a sleepy city recognized for its retirement houses and excessive avenue charity outlets to what’s now a thriving hub of unbiased eating places and retailers, magnificence salons, and occasional outlets. Even the outdated golf course has been reworked right into a hub for native cultural occasions.
Nonetheless, we discovered that our efforts to buy a house in Beckenham have been continually being thwarted by skyrocketing property costs. Builders and property brokers had lengthy since realised its potential as a commuter city. Every part we noticed appeared both out of attain or incompatible with our imaginative and prescient.
Dwelling shopping for could be an emotional rollercoaster and is commonly a stability between wants and preferences. Due to this fact, we discovered ourselves continually discussing tradeoffs and agonising over compromises. We saved rising our search radius till we finally discovered one thing we preferred. Fortuitously, our provide was accepted after a short negotiation. Even higher, we didn’t need to handle the intricacies of being in a sequence. These have been thrilling occasions!
Sadly, we had a fairly adverse expertise with our solicitor (extra on that later) that just about brought about the acquisition to be aborted. After a number of angst, we lastly closed on our desired property in the summertime of 2021 and moved in just a few weeks later.
Our new residence in Kent is our first correct residence collectively as a pair and we now have grand plans for the house. We’ve accomplished a few of these plans. Different we’ve needed to cut back as a result of, you recognize, cash is an actual factor. Regardless, to this point, the outcomes of our indoor and out of doors residence enchancment tasks have stuffed us with pleasure. We plan to share just a few of these on the weblog.
On the draw back (a type of tradeoffs), our commute to/from London is now longer and has taken some getting used to. Though Gatwick airport is a brief drive away, Heathrow is sadly now a ache to get to, no due to the unpredictability of visitors on the M25. Nonetheless, since our transfer, we’ve settled right into a London work commuting routine that appears to make sense with out being too costly.
Being near the M25 has its advantages although. Street journeys are simpler due to the connection to a significant highway community!
What we’re having fun with essentially the most about Kent residing
Simpler entry to the outside and contemporary produce are prime of the record on our Kent highlights.
We’re having fun with residing in an space that we’ve christened the ‘Kent Lake District’ because of the sheer variety of surrounding lakes branching off the River Medway.
A part of Kent has its detractors. Nonetheless, our little city is positioned between the north Kent Downs and the River Medway and is designated as an Space of Excellent Pure Magnificence (AONB). This creates a number of alternatives for out of doors actions – together with walks and hopefully some biking after we get round to it. Close by Chatham Dockyard and St. Mary’s Island are favourites for informal days out that don’t require an excessive amount of driving.
We’re comparatively nearer to the shoreline of Southeast England and have loved forays to coastal cities like Margate, Whitstable, and Broadstairs. We’re additionally having fun with weekend excursions to the cathedral cities of Rochester (of Charles Dickens fame) and Canterbury (residence to the oldest cathedral in England).
Kent wears the title of ‘The Backyard of England’ and we two foodies are happy to name this England county residence.
We predict we might have found our favorite seafood restaurant in one of many coastal cities – we’ve been again thrice since! This family-run institution deserves a separate weblog submit, so watch this house.
On a lazy day, our style buds are well-fed by native farm outlets from Sevenoaks to Folkestone promoting contemporary produce. Driving alongside countryside roads, we take pleasure in recognizing handmade indicators promoting contemporary eggs, strawberries, cherries, and greens. It’s loads simpler to eat natural greens whenever you’re nearer to their supply. ‘Produced in Kent’ is a label native producers put on with satisfaction.
A number of Kent-based wineries and vineyards producing respectable English Glowing Wine provide a variety of foods and drinks experiences. We now have been to some (shout out to the Wine Cellar Door app for being a trusted supply of information) and look ahead to sharing our experiences on the weblog.
Oh…and there’s a sheep farm in Romney Marsh the place we as soon as spent an evening in a fairly cosy however memorable shepherd’s hut. That’s a narrative for an additional submit!
Life is about making changes
Fact be instructed, exchanging the bustling London scene for the comparatively unhurried tempo of the countryside has been an adjustment since we moved to Kent.
Pals have requested us if that is our ‘without end residence’. We don’t know the reply to that at this level however for now, Kent is residence.
We can not predict the longer term however, every time spring comes, and we glance out the window at our cherry blossom tree, it’s not exhausting to really feel a way of gratitude for the right here and now.
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