Can I live in a house?
For the last 12 years or so I have lived in a caravan and by and large I love it. The caravan is on its last legs and beyond repair but it will do until we build something else but then an unexpected opportunity came round. I was asked by a friend if I would look after her children while she went on a trip of a lifetime and of course, I said yes. As my partner and I are Godparents to the youngest we jumped at the chance as all 3 children are great fun we looked forward to our week with them. Then we realised it meant I was going to live in a house….
We thought at the time that the children would be the biggest issue but for me it was the house thing. When washing up it was no longer necessary to boil a kettle for hot water and I didn’t have to worry about the water running out. Then there is the cooker….Electric! I have only ever cooked on gas and had no idea (and still don’t) what all the little signs mean on the oven knobs and then there was other knobs which apparently make the oven heat up…..It took some working out and to be honest I did wonder why it was taking so long to heat up until the eldest pointed out that if I wanted heat I had to use the temperature knob. Not often I get to say this but overall there are far too many knobs!
The house is rather large and I am not used to running a marathon up and down stairs but I am sure my legs will thank her for it in the long run albeit not right now as they are still aching. I asked the children “Can someone please explain to me what on earth all the remote controls are for?” to which the 4 year old looked at me with complete disgust (it’s a look that only a child can give you) and left me feeling way out of touch with modern technology even though I thought I was a bit of a computer whizz, the look said it all. Apparently you have different controls for the TV, Sky, DVD and some kind of games thingy… And on the subject of TV, having got rid of mine some time ago, the house TV was quite a novelty however having 120 channels plus, cannot be good for you surely? I finally managed to get to grips with the Sky TV and DVD but the rest went out of the window (not literally I hasten to add, although tempting). After feeling rather smug at mastering remote control technology I realised I really don’t miss the TV and spent my time reading instead.
As I hate washing up and I mean really HATE, I was delighted to discover the house had a dishwasher, I was so happy until I had to use it… I buggered it all up and ended up taking everything out and washing by hand. I now realise that perhaps I am not the best at all these new gadgets. I won’t go into the grill thingy that plugs in the wall (I always thought they were above the hob) perhaps I am getting old or should I say older…
Suffice to say I had a wonderful week with the girls and would look after them again but would I live in a house again….Probably not!
Take Care
About Sarah ArrowSarah Arrow is the managing editor of Birds on the Blog, in real life she is the communications director of a same day courier service. She is an enthusiastic UK based pro-blogger and co- author of the soon to be published Zero to Blogger
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I have a friend who has always lived in a house, but she and her family will be living for the next year in a caravan while they completely renovate a thatched cottage. So far they have been there since mid October and survived the worst weather possible.
Although they have always been very gungo ho campers in the holidays, it will be interesting to see how their/her attitudes to must-haves will change over this year. I know she’s already modelling her new kitchen around the galley kitchen in the 10ft wide caravan!
I have a friend who has always lived in a house, but she and her family will be living for the next year in a caravan while they completely renovate a thatched cottage. So far they have been there since mid October and survived the worst weather possible.
Although they have always been very gungo ho campers in the holidays, it will be interesting to see how their/her attitudes to must-haves will change over this year. I know she’s already modelling her new kitchen around the galley kitchen in the 10ft wide caravan!