Wednesday, November 10, 2010

fare thee well

The moving truck being loaded at the cottage
I knew leaving Ythanbrae and the cottage was going to be hectic and a wee bit emotional, but all day packing and loading the truck I was fine. Then after the truck had slowly made it's way up our driveway and Mr M was loading the trailer with firewood and dog kennels I started to clean the cottage from front door to fireplace.

Our beloved cottage in all it's naked glory. Oh how I will miss you my lovely floorboards, mantle, open plan living and Antique White USA walls...

I filled my bucket with ash from the fireplace, made my way one last time down the rolling lawn to the edge of the bush, tipped out the ash, turned around and looked up at the cottage with all the lights on. Empty. I had a little cry, a hug from Mr M and kept mopping. 

One for the road, just before we locked the door and drove the two and half hours home at my mum's at 1am

Our home was so full of us. Then when all of our things were packed up into boxes, loaded on a truck and moved somewhere else it seemed like an empty shell, ready to become somebody else's home. Somebody else would have Christmas there, have barbeques on the deck, have a spa on a scorching summer's day, have heated discussions with the oven and laugh over the wonky angles the little house was put back together in after it moved to Ythanbrae in the 1960's. Somebody else will love this little house, just like we did.

My awesome best friend Elisha helping to assemble furniture at our new house - it was all hands on deck!
But then when we arrived at our new home, unpacked all our things, settled in, cooked our first meal (an oven that works!!), I realised that this new house which seems so foreign to me now will become part of us too. Eventually.

5 comments:

Ali said...

congrats on the big move! i know how emotional it is moving into a new place. my boyfriend and i moved into our first home back in april and i bet ill be sad when we move from here one day! xx

Michelle {Jarrah Jungle} said...

It must be bittersweet for you to say your goodbyes but as they say when one door closes another opens and I'm sure this new house is a new start for you and your soon to be husband.

Anonymous said...

Best of luck settling in, moving is such a big thing, but enjoy making your new house a home!
Flick

Amy said...

oh darlin - moving is BIG.

I'm still surprised that you didn't fall preggo's while living in the cottage. That cottage has seen some wonderful moments in a lot of lives. Glad that you had so many.

That magpie used to always get me at the washing line too! And that oven always gave me the shits. And I loved it when you dropped something on the floor and it rolled quickly to a corner.

Enjoy your new place. Love your new name.

cuppa soon?

xx Amy

Emma said...

Thanks Amy - a reminder that many people have and will come and go through the cottage and Ythanbrae, it's a magical place that we will cherish forever, so much so we're going back this weekend to stay at the main homestead to attend another gallery exhibition opening!
Yes the uneven floors proved hazardous for Matt's mum who is in a wheelchair lol
Definately cuppa soon, only just discovered that Henrietta's in Leongatha has burnt down since I last lived in this neck of the woods - devastated!
Em x

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