The shock of a house

We've spent a little more time at the house, and I want to remember the novelty before it wears off!

We've been there in the evening, and WOW its bright with electric lights on after dark. In the caravan we go dim as the girls go to bed, and do quiet things before going to sleep- at quite an early time compared to folk with  more conventional lives. Our tenants have spent the last year with the curtains shut apparently, so I've no idea what they've done for light unless all the 20+  light bulbs died the day before they moved out- no light in the bathroom, upstairs hallway, most of the lights in  the kitchen, dining room and living room also dead. It makes it a bit dark for doing 'work' by, but its very bright compared to being in the caravan.

The othe big thing is we are slowly getting back on 'the grid'. We now have telephone and internet at the house. Another big WOW. The girls had their long- promised time on the cbeebies website as soon as it was connected today- with the accompanying grumps and fallings out when it had been on too long (ahh, yes, why we don't have TV hits me over the head again), and I finally don't have to be aware of which websites I'm looking at for the sneaky video that might use up the data allowance on the dongle for a month without me noticing.

Next will be water rates and council tax, we just need to decide when we're officially moved in. Yorkshire Water counts it from when there are beds set up. Ummm, beds sound a little conventional to us...but with me unable to get enough of having a bath AND a shower to use without sharing with others/carefully heating the water first, that'll be sooner rather than later.

We're working steadily through 4 transit vans (that's the long wheel based version) of stuff- despite months of decluttering, charity shopping, ebaying and carboot sale-ing before we set off last year. We packed up not knowing where we'd be living when we came back,and equally I never planned on living in the house again (severe morning sickness has a lot to answer for, making this an acceptable home again!). However, finding random bags of nappies, small baby equipment (and I have a friend who apparently has an attic full of stuff I loaned her!)  I am glad I wasn't more ruthless. Its also been lovely this afternoon to sit (on OUR own comfy sofa) and look at two bookcases full of treasured books. I just don't have the Kindle love, despite the space saving abilities of it, so being reunited with my books is very special.

What is quite horrific is the large quantities of boxes of  'treasures' for the girls. Random bits of paper, tin foil, pebbles that I strongly suspect will all be 'my favourite' when the girls see them, with no associated memory of where its from or why its precious, but we'll have to find somewhere for it. One mountain of boxes has ( hopefully temporarily) disappeared  into the cellar. There is already a stack in their bedroom....Sigh, deep breath. We will sort through it all eventually.

We have already paid for one more week on our pitch, so tomorrow the final task of emptying the awning and caravan of all  'living' essentials, and swapping the 'holiday' kit from the house (things like camping cutlery, bowls and cooking utensils come to mind) to the  everyday 'living' kitchen stuff.
The field next door has one early lamb, and we are going to be sad to miss lambing and the whole 'living in a field' even if the field wasn't our own, and had a drain, tap, electric and a toilet/shower block (if I wasn't still a bit phobic from the hyperemesis to use it).

Living in a house has waaaay more drawbacks, especially now the weather is warming up, but planning a home birth makes different things an immediate priority, and as such I do have a definite feeling of being settled, even if we still have a lot to sort out. Along with a definite dread of the next move, whenever and wherever that'll be.