Yesterday we visited our old home town Twickenham in south-west London. We were collecting my daughter who’d been staying with an old schoolfriend, David had an appointment and the boys came along too. Now, I was brought-up to be punctual, plan a journey, leave with time to spare, but over the years, being married to my laid-back husband and with three children in the mix, this has gone totally out of the window. Why leave in plenty of time when you can leave late, have a stressful journey, have to phone ahead to apologise for being late, have back seat drivers telling you quite authoritatively (although they’ve never driven, are too young to drive) that changing lanes in slow-moving traffic on a motorway is pointless?
Well, we eventually arrived, dropped David off (he was the one who was late), then had a little drive round past the children’s old school, the park where they used to play, the streets where we lived. It’s a strange feeling being in a place that’s so familiar but is no longer home.
What keeps us connected to it are our friends – those lovely people we’ve known since the children were babies. We’ve seen our children grow up together, been through the trials and tribulations of life for many years. I do miss these friends and it is so good to see them, to slip into that familiar, easy conversation. And seeing the children – how they’ve all grown! There’s nothing quite like seeing kids you haven’t seen for a while to realise how time is rushing by.
We had a lovely day, chatting, laughing, catching up, making plans to see each other again soon, then it was time to return to our new home. It’s taken us all varying amounts of time to feel rooted here but we’ve made new friends, the children are thriving at their new schools, we have fabulous countryside and views around us, we’ve put our stamp on this house and have a garden to play and grow in. It’s good to be home.
acoastalplot 
I always find its kind of bittersweet to visit old haunts. But it sounds like you had a lovely time!
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At the weekend we went back to Weymouth where we lived for 29 years until last September, it was so strange that it just don’t feel the same anymore! Sarah x
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It is interesting the way life pulls us and changes our course and path. How outstanding that you have friends to visit when you head back that way. I can see why you love your new home so much….. It is nature all the way around in such a stunning way! And you had me chuckling about the traveling bit! Have a great weekend friend! Nicole xoxo
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My old stomping ground too! I It looks like you made the right decision in moving to coastal Kent. Our daughter is just finishing her first year at the university of Kent so I’m very familiar with the motorway route to Canterbury. We are trying to move from our increasingly busy Surrey village now we no longer need to be here for school but finding the perfect house in Sussex which is a sensible commute for work is easier said than done. I admire your courage in making the move.
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What a coincidence! Did you grow up there? I lived there for 19 years before we moved here – the longest I’ve lived anywhere – so it’ll always have a special place in my heart. The move was a massive upheaval but, thank goodness, it’s turned out well. Good luck with your search.
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It is hard going back – there is a sense of dislocation. It is the same when you leave a school or your university – the feeling of not belonging is very disconcerting and you have to create a new relationship with the place.
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Very well put. Yes, it takes a while before it’s not too disconcerting!
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It is odd to go back to places where you have lived isn’t it, everything seems so familiar and yet so different. A strange experience! xx
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It was very strange at first but it’s getting a little less strange as the years go by.
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I don’t think I’ve ever really enjoyed going back to a place where I used to live. It was nice to see old friends, but it always makes me sad too. I’m not even sure why. I’m glad you had a good time on your visit. I had to laugh about the backseat drivers; I’ve been starting to notice them in my car lately too. They seem to know all about driving on the freeway, in heavy traffic at 80 miles per hour, no less. It’s amazing. 🙂
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Hello! I’ve just blog hopped over here and I’m very pleased to meet you. I’ve been scrolling back through previous posts and admiring your garden. But I’m commenting here to say I feel your pain re. the laid back husband and arriving late, mine is just the same, he simply has no idea how long journeys, or much else for that matter, will take.
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Hello Annie. Pleased to meet you too. Ha ha, yes! I have to take deep breaths quite often – it’s lovely to hand over the cooking occasionally, for example, but we do then end up eating very late 🙂
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