It seems the right time to write this, the end of 2024. But in fact it was on 25 October 2024, that I left the property I had been renting with my daughter for the past seven years.

We had discussed this for sometime, but I hadn’t intended to move from the area myself. But then I felt convicted that as she had a higher income than I, it made more sense for her to stay there and for me to move into something smaller.

Moving to rent another home is a daunting experience, due to there being so many rogue landlords and shysters around. We’ve experienced a few, but I knew the currently landlord had been very gracious to us and the property management company are dependable so I was leaving my daughter in safe hands.

We looked around for a while and the home I found, was quite unique in that even though I am in between two other flats, it is classed as “detached” in that on my floor it isn’t next to anyone. The landlord, I felt was reputable and the managing agents, manage the building quite well. They told me that there is a low turnover of people leaving, the residents here have been here for quite a few years.

I am blessed to have a separate kitchen, cloakroom and a walk in shower. Just all been refurbished, so new and clean. A bit of a novelty to have a back door too, leading out to my car. Be good in the summer months to be able to have the door open for fresh air.

I’m slowly adjusting to living by myself after living with family for over thirty years.

I’m living in an area that is fairly safe to walk in the evenings and it’s quiet. Have a space to park my car which is a real bonus.

Lightening Fibre was already installed, so just had to get it switched on. I need that for my day job, Software requires a fast connection and telephone line is on a network also.

If I had wanted Sky there is a dish, but these days I am just watching tv by streaming from my mobile phone. I don’t have the latest tv i.e a smart tv but thankfully I have one and it works well. Again the Lightening Fibre helps this to work well.

I went back to Utility Warehouse for my electricity. I’ve been a distributor for 14 years and and we did switch away from this service for a short time, but I could see this was a mistake as their prices are the cheapest and the method of paying and spreading the cost over the year is something that is going to benefit me to pay a lower payment. The house insurance, electricity and SIM card will give me a lower price on my electricity. There is no gas! I don’t mind, central heating produces a lot of condensation. I don’t want the rooms to get damp and mouldy. I do have the heating on to keep the rooms at a warm temperature and as the flat is small it heats up quickly with the fan heater.