Countdown to Witney.....

Days to go: 17.....

Last saturday Nick put down the deposit on our new home in Madley Park, Witney - HOOORRRAAAYYY! As of 1st of August we will once again have our own home and be a proper family again, I can't wait! We have also secured a place at a small school in the nearby village of North Leigh for Ben and Jasmine will attend their pre-school 3 mornings a week. What I didn't realise when we were visiting the schools is that in Oxfordshire children are first offered a part-time place the term after they turn 4, not 3 like in Leicestershire. This means that Ben will have to do another year part-time. I was a little disappointed at first, but have now come around to thinking that it is actually a good thing. There is so much more I wanted to do with the children when I left work to stay at home that I didn't get to because I still don't drive, so I feel I have been given a second chance to do more with them before they start on the treadmill that is full time education. It also means that both Ben and Jas have time to settle in to a completely new way of life. Downside for Jasmine is that she won't get a place until January 2009 and if the school doesn't do mid-year intakes, then September 2009!

Anyway, more about the new house.....It is a newbuild so a blank canvas, has a separate dining room, a downstairs wc, an en-suite (which means the kids have the family bathroom to themselves!) and the cherry on the top? A DISHWASHER yay!!! I'm so excited...

The kids are already picking things that they want in their new bedroom, and with Ben's birthday just a week away, I'm sure we'll have more than enough things to fill all this new space.
He spent his last day at school friday just gone and when I explained that he probably wouldn't see his friends again (even his best friend Kieron) he said 'well I'm going to get some new ones', and didn't seem fazed at all.

Now I just have to find a dentist, a doctor and a part-time job for when both kids are at school (I figure it's the best way to meet new people and get to know the area). My first priority personally is to finally take my driving test so I am free to take the kids around the countryside that is all around us - I just found out that witney is in the Cotswolds, how quaint :-) Me in the Cotswolds! I think I'm going to have to take up the art of Jam making and cake baking!

watch this space for pics of the new house...