I’ve travelled to London pretty much every day since I started university. That’s 13 years. Before that I used to commute to school, so it’s fair to say that my life has been, for a large part, characterised by the trains.

So I don’t quite know how to feel about what I’ve just done.

Let’s rewind a bit; Gordon, after years of planning, finally moved to New Zealand with Nicky. They now have a lovely big house with picture windows overlooking a bay with a big mountain growing up out of the water. All very Lord of the Rings. That means his somewhat smaller flat, with lovely big picture windows looking out over Clapham, is currently sitting empty, and has been for the last couple of months.

I find myself in the situation of needing somewhere new to live: I’m going to sell my flat. So, what do I do? Move to London? Stay in Essex? Put all my money into something comfortable with too many bedrooms and a nice garden in the countryside, or buy something smaller and closer to work and nearer all my friends in London.

I don’t know. I really don’t.

I do know Essex, though, and I know that I like being able to throw open the front door and, four minutes later, be in the middle of a field or some woods and be able to walk for the next three hours through the countryside and not see anyone else.

But I don’t know whether I would ever like living in London. To me it’s work, city, dirty, noisy, all of which makes me reluctant to pack my bags and ship out wholesale after spending my money on a new house in the capital.

So, Gordon’s flat seems a good compromise. It’s a bit too small for me, but I reckon I could manage there for six months, so I’ve signed up with him, and will move in on 3rd July. Kathryn and Ems assured me it would be a ‘Good Thing’ and, as they’ve always given good, reliable and ultimately sensible advice in the past, I’ve decided to take them at their word.

Besides, it’s only half a year. Six months. 26 weeks. 180 days. If I don’t like it I can always come back. But if I don’t try it I’ll never know.

At the moment, I’m very apprehensive, and can only think of the things I’m going to miss. I hope that will change very soon indeed.

Edit: a phone call from Gordon this afternoon (5th June) to say he’s found someone else who wants to take it for a year rather than six months, which is better for him. I can see his point of view (after all, I’m a landlord myself). But hmmm…

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