Age 36 to 45 ... Home
So, here was I, newly single and with nowhere to live. On our separation, Marian and I had agreed to equally divide the value of the Bracknell house we jointly owned, and had just sold, so I had a tidy sum to put in the bank, plus of course, I still had my job in Isleworth. So I was not short of cash. However, a move to a new part of the country was on the cards, so in January 1988, I took out a 6-month rental agreement on a flat in the town centre of Ashford and set about finding myself a new job. (See Work>)
I Rent A Flat
My flat was in a small 60's block named Crest House, in Church Road, Ashford (then in the county of Middlesex, but now Surrey). The flats were demolished in 2012, and the site redeveloped. I rented my flat through an agency, and never met the owner. The block had four storeys, and my flat was on the top floor. I also had a garage in a block at the back. The flat had a large living room with two windows which looked out over Church Road to St Matthew's Church. There was one large bedroom with windows to the back and side, plus bathroom and kitchen. The flat came sparsely furnished, but I added some of the furniture I had kept from my marital home, and I was comfortable enough.
My new partner, Becky never moved in to live with me at the flat, though she often stayed the night. At the time, she rented a bed-sit near where she was working - it may have been in Ealing, though I'm not sure. (See Becky>). I rather enjoyed living in the town centre. There was a greengrocers across the road, and a small supermarket almost next door, so I soon got into the habit of daily shopping, rather than keeping supplies of food in the flat. There was always plenty going on outside. The greengrocer spent ages every morning setting out a huge display of fruit and veg on the wide pavement outside his shop - then had to put it all away again every evening. On Saturdays, weddings often took place at the church, and they were always fun to watch...!
The Bells...!
St Matthew's Church has a peal of five bells, with an enthusiastic team of bell ringers who would practice on Thursday evenings. The bell tower was immediately across the road, and approximately level with my living room window, so I benefited from hearing the bells at maximum volume. When bell-ringing was in session, watching the TV or listening to music was not an option! It was very apparent, from the sounds produced, when a novice member was being introduced to the team - occasionally the tuneful ringing would slowly degenerate to a very confused clanging! The bells were often rung on Saturdays for the weddings, and every Sunday morning for services. I actually came to appreciate the skill involved in ringing the changes, and would sometimes lie in bed on Sunday mornings listening for each change.
A Move To Kent
By the time my six months let of the Crest House flat ended, I had secured a job for myself in a school in Gillingham, Kent. (See Work>). Of course, I then needed somewhere to live in Kent, and Becky was happy to move to Kent with me. I had sufficient cash in the bank for a deposit for a mid-range semi-detached house, and with a good income from my job, there was no problem funding a mortgage. So, the plan was to buy a home located within an easy commute of my new job. When house hunting now, I was of course accompanied by Becky, though as she had a very limited income at the time, it was never intended that she would have any part in the ownership of any house I bought.
Neither of us knew the area in which we were searching. We were intrigued by the hilly nature of the landscape, and the fact that so many houses had extensive views - so we didn't spend too much time looking at houses which simply looked across the road at the house opposite. We wanted a view! There were plenty of houses to look at, and my previous house-buying experience stood me in good stead. I had a fairly good idea of what was a good buy, and sure enough, after several trips to Kent with armfuls of estate agent flyers in the car, we settled on an interesting house in Walderslade, Chatham. We moved in, in July 1988, when I was age 37.
I Rent A Flat
My flat was in a small 60's block named Crest House, in Church Road, Ashford (then in the county of Middlesex, but now Surrey). The flats were demolished in 2012, and the site redeveloped. I rented my flat through an agency, and never met the owner. The block had four storeys, and my flat was on the top floor. I also had a garage in a block at the back. The flat had a large living room with two windows which looked out over Church Road to St Matthew's Church. There was one large bedroom with windows to the back and side, plus bathroom and kitchen. The flat came sparsely furnished, but I added some of the furniture I had kept from my marital home, and I was comfortable enough.
My new partner, Becky never moved in to live with me at the flat, though she often stayed the night. At the time, she rented a bed-sit near where she was working - it may have been in Ealing, though I'm not sure. (See Becky>). I rather enjoyed living in the town centre. There was a greengrocers across the road, and a small supermarket almost next door, so I soon got into the habit of daily shopping, rather than keeping supplies of food in the flat. There was always plenty going on outside. The greengrocer spent ages every morning setting out a huge display of fruit and veg on the wide pavement outside his shop - then had to put it all away again every evening. On Saturdays, weddings often took place at the church, and they were always fun to watch...!
The Bells...!
St Matthew's Church has a peal of five bells, with an enthusiastic team of bell ringers who would practice on Thursday evenings. The bell tower was immediately across the road, and approximately level with my living room window, so I benefited from hearing the bells at maximum volume. When bell-ringing was in session, watching the TV or listening to music was not an option! It was very apparent, from the sounds produced, when a novice member was being introduced to the team - occasionally the tuneful ringing would slowly degenerate to a very confused clanging! The bells were often rung on Saturdays for the weddings, and every Sunday morning for services. I actually came to appreciate the skill involved in ringing the changes, and would sometimes lie in bed on Sunday mornings listening for each change.
A Move To Kent
By the time my six months let of the Crest House flat ended, I had secured a job for myself in a school in Gillingham, Kent. (See Work>). Of course, I then needed somewhere to live in Kent, and Becky was happy to move to Kent with me. I had sufficient cash in the bank for a deposit for a mid-range semi-detached house, and with a good income from my job, there was no problem funding a mortgage. So, the plan was to buy a home located within an easy commute of my new job. When house hunting now, I was of course accompanied by Becky, though as she had a very limited income at the time, it was never intended that she would have any part in the ownership of any house I bought.
Neither of us knew the area in which we were searching. We were intrigued by the hilly nature of the landscape, and the fact that so many houses had extensive views - so we didn't spend too much time looking at houses which simply looked across the road at the house opposite. We wanted a view! There were plenty of houses to look at, and my previous house-buying experience stood me in good stead. I had a fairly good idea of what was a good buy, and sure enough, after several trips to Kent with armfuls of estate agent flyers in the car, we settled on an interesting house in Walderslade, Chatham. We moved in, in July 1988, when I was age 37.
429 Walderslade Road, Chatham
This big semi-detached house was set on a very steep hillside a stone's throw from the centre of Walderslade village, which had several shops and a supermarket. The semi pair were unique, and probably built in the 1970s. I do not remember the purchase price, but I know we were pleased that houses in Chatham were significantly cheaper than equivalent properties in the West of London area, where we were moving from.
Our house had the view we wanted, even if it was a rather suburban one - the outlook was over the roofs of the village garage and Robin Hood pub, then right across the valley. We were a mile or so from the M2 motorway, and less than 5 miles by road from where I was going to be working.
The house itself had two long interconnecting garages underneath the first floor - which was accessed by a flight of steps at the side. On the first floor was a large, bright living/dining room with sliding patio doors at both ends. At the front, the sliding door opened onto a small balcony, and at the back, onto the back garden. (The sloping ground meant that the house was ground-floor at the back, and first floor at the front). Also on the ground/first floor was a good-size kitchen and a cloakroom with loo and wash basin. Up the internal stairs were three double bedrooms and a bathroom. The long back garden was terraced into the hillside, rising in three level-ish steps to a steep slope finally ending at a fence beyond which was the open hillside.
The house was fully double glazed and had gas central heating. The kitchen was tired, and I tested my DIY skills by installing a new fitted kitchen in a colour scheme of grey and pink with mahogany trim. We thought it looked great!
We didn't have a lot of furniture when we moved in, but soon acquired a lounge suite, dining table and so-on, and turned the house into a home. We enjoyed a couple of good years in Walderslade, but all manner of circumstances (See Work>) led us to put the house on the market early in 1991. I started a new job in Lincolnshire, and we soon had a house purchase underway in a village near Grantham. But further changes in circumstances meant that that purchase didn't happen, and neither did the move to Lincolnshire, so with the Walderslade house being virtually sold by this time, we had to find somewhere else to live!
Renting Again
The most sensible option seemed to let the Walderslade sale go through, and rent for a while, during which time we would sort out our lives and buy another house. We rented through an agency, and took on a cottage named Chestnut Cottage in the village of Chestnut Street near Sittingbourne. We never came to like this large, cold house, and we also had some difficulties with the owner, who needed to be told very firmly by the rental agency that he did not have the right to let himself into our home at any time he liked. We managed to negotiate a reduction in the rental due to the owner's behaviour, but that was small compensation for the stress and upset that he caused us at the time. In the event, we could hardly wait to get out of Chestnut Cottage, and put the whole experience behind us.
Buying again
Pretty much as soon as we started renting Chestnut Cottage, we also started looking for a new house to buy. We knew the area better now, and so knew there were many attractive places within sensible commuter range of Gillingham, but outside of the rather less desirable Medway Towns. Sittingbourne became the primary target. By now, I was earning a bit more than before, and Becky was contributing towards our living costs too, so I could afford an increase in my mortgage. Before our six-month rental period was expired, we had found and bought a very attractive modern house in Church Milton, Sittingbourne. The asking price was £89,995. I don't recall the actual price I paid. We moved in about September 1991, I was then age 40.
This big semi-detached house was set on a very steep hillside a stone's throw from the centre of Walderslade village, which had several shops and a supermarket. The semi pair were unique, and probably built in the 1970s. I do not remember the purchase price, but I know we were pleased that houses in Chatham were significantly cheaper than equivalent properties in the West of London area, where we were moving from.
Our house had the view we wanted, even if it was a rather suburban one - the outlook was over the roofs of the village garage and Robin Hood pub, then right across the valley. We were a mile or so from the M2 motorway, and less than 5 miles by road from where I was going to be working.
The house itself had two long interconnecting garages underneath the first floor - which was accessed by a flight of steps at the side. On the first floor was a large, bright living/dining room with sliding patio doors at both ends. At the front, the sliding door opened onto a small balcony, and at the back, onto the back garden. (The sloping ground meant that the house was ground-floor at the back, and first floor at the front). Also on the ground/first floor was a good-size kitchen and a cloakroom with loo and wash basin. Up the internal stairs were three double bedrooms and a bathroom. The long back garden was terraced into the hillside, rising in three level-ish steps to a steep slope finally ending at a fence beyond which was the open hillside.
The house was fully double glazed and had gas central heating. The kitchen was tired, and I tested my DIY skills by installing a new fitted kitchen in a colour scheme of grey and pink with mahogany trim. We thought it looked great!
We didn't have a lot of furniture when we moved in, but soon acquired a lounge suite, dining table and so-on, and turned the house into a home. We enjoyed a couple of good years in Walderslade, but all manner of circumstances (See Work>) led us to put the house on the market early in 1991. I started a new job in Lincolnshire, and we soon had a house purchase underway in a village near Grantham. But further changes in circumstances meant that that purchase didn't happen, and neither did the move to Lincolnshire, so with the Walderslade house being virtually sold by this time, we had to find somewhere else to live!
Renting Again
The most sensible option seemed to let the Walderslade sale go through, and rent for a while, during which time we would sort out our lives and buy another house. We rented through an agency, and took on a cottage named Chestnut Cottage in the village of Chestnut Street near Sittingbourne. We never came to like this large, cold house, and we also had some difficulties with the owner, who needed to be told very firmly by the rental agency that he did not have the right to let himself into our home at any time he liked. We managed to negotiate a reduction in the rental due to the owner's behaviour, but that was small compensation for the stress and upset that he caused us at the time. In the event, we could hardly wait to get out of Chestnut Cottage, and put the whole experience behind us.
Buying again
Pretty much as soon as we started renting Chestnut Cottage, we also started looking for a new house to buy. We knew the area better now, and so knew there were many attractive places within sensible commuter range of Gillingham, but outside of the rather less desirable Medway Towns. Sittingbourne became the primary target. By now, I was earning a bit more than before, and Becky was contributing towards our living costs too, so I could afford an increase in my mortgage. Before our six-month rental period was expired, we had found and bought a very attractive modern house in Church Milton, Sittingbourne. The asking price was £89,995. I don't recall the actual price I paid. We moved in about September 1991, I was then age 40.
82 Adisham Green, Church Milton, Sittingbourne
Church Milton was an estate of mixed-size housing built in an unconventional style, with many of the houses having rendered walls and wooden cladding to the upper stories. These houses were painted in pastel blues, greens, yellows and pinks, and gained a local nickname for the estate of 'toytown'. I'm not sure I would have bought a pink house, but 82 happened to be one of the few all-brick houses on the estate. Our house was on a corner, facing a grass area and road, with the churchyard wall of Holy Trinity Church being one of our boundaries. In the churchyard were many mature trees, and the trees, plus the proximity of the fine old church, gave our little corner quite a rural feel. However, being one of the largest houses on the estate, and being in a corner possibly didn't do us any favours... We were burgled twice, the first time the thief making off with all my camera gear, about which I was greatly upset. The second time, the burglary resulted only in a broken window and damaged garage door frame - I had fitted some pretty robust window and door locks by this time, and the burglar failed to gain entry.
The House
82 was a substantial 4-bedroom detached house with a wide two-door double garage alongside. The front door of the house opened into a small hallway with cloakroom to the side. This hallway then opened into a very large dining room out of which a half-landing staircase climbed to the first floor. Fully glazed double doors opened to a separate lounge, and a further door from the dining room gave access to a good-size kitchen. Upstairs, a square central landing had doors to three double bedrooms, a single bedroom and bathroom. The largest front bedroom also had an en-suite shower room. I never felt that this house was inappropriate or too big, though I have to admit that we almost never made use of at least one of the bedrooms.
Church Milton was an estate of mixed-size housing built in an unconventional style, with many of the houses having rendered walls and wooden cladding to the upper stories. These houses were painted in pastel blues, greens, yellows and pinks, and gained a local nickname for the estate of 'toytown'. I'm not sure I would have bought a pink house, but 82 happened to be one of the few all-brick houses on the estate. Our house was on a corner, facing a grass area and road, with the churchyard wall of Holy Trinity Church being one of our boundaries. In the churchyard were many mature trees, and the trees, plus the proximity of the fine old church, gave our little corner quite a rural feel. However, being one of the largest houses on the estate, and being in a corner possibly didn't do us any favours... We were burgled twice, the first time the thief making off with all my camera gear, about which I was greatly upset. The second time, the burglary resulted only in a broken window and damaged garage door frame - I had fitted some pretty robust window and door locks by this time, and the burglar failed to gain entry.
The House
82 was a substantial 4-bedroom detached house with a wide two-door double garage alongside. The front door of the house opened into a small hallway with cloakroom to the side. This hallway then opened into a very large dining room out of which a half-landing staircase climbed to the first floor. Fully glazed double doors opened to a separate lounge, and a further door from the dining room gave access to a good-size kitchen. Upstairs, a square central landing had doors to three double bedrooms, a single bedroom and bathroom. The largest front bedroom also had an en-suite shower room. I never felt that this house was inappropriate or too big, though I have to admit that we almost never made use of at least one of the bedrooms.
We undertook some extensive decorating here - Becky had some grand ideas... In the lounge, we used a rich red wallpaper, and had brass wall lights and a marble fireplace installed. A living flame gas fire with brass fender went into the fireplace, and floor-length dark red velvet curtains hung at the windows each end of the room, successfully giving the room a really soft and luxurious feel. The big dining room we decorated in a rich green version of the same wallpaper as the lounge. Here we had dark green velvet curtains, and we bought a big period-style mahogany dining suite with mirror-backed display cabinet to complete the ground floor furnishing.
The back garden was wide but quite shallow. Nevertheless, under Becky's guidance, I dug out a hole for a pond, and created a rockery and patio in one corner of the garden. In summer, in the front, we had hanging baskets, planters, and a fine display of geraniums.
It was while we lived at Adisham Green that the relationship I was in with Becky began to break down. (See Becky>). She eventually bought a house of her own, also in Sittingbourne, and moved out of my house. I continued to live alone here for well over a year, but by this time, I was unhappy in my job, and also realised that I was spending a lot of money to live in a very large house that I certainly wasn't making the most of, so I made some new life-changing decisions (See Work>) and put 82 Adisham Green on the market. The house was sold on 12th July 1996. I was then age 45.
Age 45 - 57 years; Home>
The back garden was wide but quite shallow. Nevertheless, under Becky's guidance, I dug out a hole for a pond, and created a rockery and patio in one corner of the garden. In summer, in the front, we had hanging baskets, planters, and a fine display of geraniums.
It was while we lived at Adisham Green that the relationship I was in with Becky began to break down. (See Becky>). She eventually bought a house of her own, also in Sittingbourne, and moved out of my house. I continued to live alone here for well over a year, but by this time, I was unhappy in my job, and also realised that I was spending a lot of money to live in a very large house that I certainly wasn't making the most of, so I made some new life-changing decisions (See Work>) and put 82 Adisham Green on the market. The house was sold on 12th July 1996. I was then age 45.
Age 45 - 57 years; Home>