I’m as surprised to be writing this post as im sure youre go to be to read it. I truly thought I would leave Rose Cottage in a box, but no, it’s our belongings in boxes – eleven years worth of them – and we’re leaving her.
The light could lift your spirits, even on a grey day
When we first moved here, we rented the house for a couple of years. We’d never lived in this town and wanted to test the waters before committing to a purchase.
We called it the ugly house. Completely out of place on s street of neat semis, it had brown pebble dashing, a 1970s front door and most of the rooms were painted that shade of yellow that all NHS waiting rooms had in the 90s. A tired kitchen and shocking but semi-functional bathroom, completed the offering. But the light. The light could lift your spirits even on a grey day and I just knew that underneath the 1960s paneling on the doors and stairs, this house hid some beautiful 1920s features.
We called it the ugly house
Then there was the garden. Three levels of outside space, all for us.
My first house had a tiny yard. I painted the walls white and filled it with pots. I never dreamt that I’d ever have this much land to call my own. It was a dream come true.
After we bought Rose cottage we made quick work of removing the door panels, which did indeed hide original features.
We replaced the bathroom, painted the kitchen and planted an orchard, two dosen old roses and a wild flower garden.
The tired front door was replaced with a pretty pink one to match the roses that we grew over it and inside, our family grew too. Three, became four and now five.
Rose cottage is not finished. There are 39262836 jobs to do and even then it wouldn’t be exactly what we want…. anymore.
We want a home with enough rooms that all three of our children can stay with us for as long as they need to. We would like a more open living space and ideally, while our youngest two are still so young, we could do with a garden that needs a little less tending.
So last Autumn, we did what would have been unthinkable to me just 18 months ago – we put Rose Cottage up for sale, and the loveliest couple have bought it.
This house and this lovely street, has been the most beautiful home. I’ll always be thankful that we found it when we did and that we’ve spent some of our best and worst days embraced by it. But now it’s time for someone else to live in the house with the pink door and for the Palmers to go on their next adventure. We hope you’ll come with us.
Love Rachel, Phill, Beth, Dorothy and Thomas ❤️
