20 Years

 Arfon stopped his van to chat. 
He’s done it now for twenty years
Always cheerful, in his sing song Welsh way.
His mother Gwyneth lived in the family farm across the shallow valley and was a firm favourite of mine
She too had a sing song voice, which she never raised beyond a whisper.
She and Olwenna Hughes were the First Ladies I met when I came to Trelawnyd
They were peeping in the lounge window, pretty sure that the cottage was empty. 
I caught them in the lane and introduced myself, Olwenna had fat ankles and couldn’t be hurried.
Arfon asked me how long I had lived in the village before we had discussed heat pumps and how he had used the wrong grout to point his farmhouse 
“ Twenty Years” I told him
It is twenty years this summer.


I’ve never lived in one place for twenty years
Sheffield, my spiritual home took 16 of my salad years, York before that only four or so
Arfon was surprised it was two decades at Bwthyn y Llan
I’m still collating my counselling portfolio today and will do so until 7 pm when I’m off to the cinema with my sister, some trashy thriller but it gets me out of the house
I will leave you with the latest offering from my lisping choir

Enjoy



53 comments:

  1. I have never lived in one place for twenty years, so this shows that you are indeed settled in this lovely place and happily a valued part of the community. I had two childhood homes, six with my first husband, two solo homes and then eight with Alan. We are now discussing what might be our final move. Just call me Wandering Sue. ;-)

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    Replies
    1. Your skill is to make your home look as though you’ve been there. For a lifetime

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  2. Time flies, doesn't it. I've also lived longer in my current home than anywhere else. 24 years. Most of my moves were between ages 5 and 23. I don't know whether or not I will move again

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  3. I have been in the condo 16 years, the longest I have lived anyplace continuously in my life. Maybe we get more stable as we get older.

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    Replies
    1. Bungalows are more attractive to me then older I get

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  4. I've lived in the same town since I was 5, so 65 years. 25 of those in this house. I'm a home bod, not one for straying far! I'm waiting for the day we can be tele-transported to places, so I can be back home to sleep in my own bed! 🤣 xx

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    Replies
    1. Barbara Anne4:14 pm

      Where are Scottie and the Star Trek Transporter when you need them?

      Hugs!

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    2. Oh, yes! I could travel the world and pop back home every night. Bliss! xx

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    3. I love a nice hotel room

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  5. We left Fuengirola after nearly 13 years. That’s the longest I’ve ever lived anywhere in my life. I doubt I’ll make it to 20 years here!

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  6. I love the energy of the conductor. I always enjoy watching conductors.

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  7. Jackie2:52 pm

    Wow - twenty years! I love hearing how long people have lived in their homes. I will come back to read the other comments later today. Have a great day John!

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  8. Where does the time go?
    Over 20 years you've made a great home in a lovely community.

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    Replies
    1. I do my my Sheffield home a big three story. Victorian house

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  9. We will have lived in Ireland 24 years this summer.

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  10. Time turtles on. You have grown well where you were planted.

    Will Jay

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    Replies
    1. I put down my roots , and did so quickly

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  11. Nice photo of your room. It's not very clear when trying to enlarge the picture on a smart phone, but I'm intrigued by the figure under your desk by the right leg, and also a figure on the round table. I have an idea but won't say what, so as not to appear silly.😃
    Love the dog, perhaps you could borrow the neckerchief for your next coffee. x 😄
    Jean.

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    Replies
    1. It’s a gargoyle, it once stood on the table end of an early Victorian house
      The pottery piece on the round table is a one off lizard dinosaur made by a local artist

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    2. I thought the one under the table was something like that. The one on the table looked like an animal, but I wasn't sure what. Thanks John.
      Jean.

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  12. Twenty years, a real milestone! And you're such an asset to Trelawnyd, active in so many important areas of community events and life.

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  13. Funny how time flies. I walked into this house so many years ago, w my boyfriend/now ex husband--we were twenty somethings, living in a posh area of Brooklyn, looking for a summer cottage. I saw the view and said Sold! Never imagined myself, now divorced, still here, weathering the seasons oceanfront. [or that the hurricane dunes would spoil the view, so sad...] We just don't see the future, do we.

    Would I like the choir more if they were not disparagingly called "Lisping Choir"? IDK, not musical.

    lizzy

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    Replies
    1. I forgot to say how lovely and cozy your cottage looks. The soft colors, muted rug, sweet doggy---perfect.

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    2. Disparagingly ? You are so wrong on that point

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  14. Barbara Anne4:18 pm

    We've been in our home for 23 years and love it but there is too much land for us to handle so will have to move all too soon. We won't go far, though.
    John, you've been so good for Trelawnyd and Trelawnyd has been good to you, yapping dogs aside.
    Love the choir!

    Hugs!

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    Replies
    1. Also, your sitting room is charming and welcoming and Mary (in her new coat?) or Roger adds to the charm.

      Hugs!

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    2. It’s Roger in his bandana

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  15. My husband and I find ourselves having lived in our house for 21 years and we are both shocked. It seems like yesterday we moved in. I swear it does. Funny how these things happen.

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    Replies
    1. Mary, I’ve always adored your southern home, it looks like a film set, a beautifully lived in film set

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  16. You obviously like living where you are. In fact, I think you love it.

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  17. It's interesting how time slips past. We've been in our current flat 11 years. I still can't believe it.

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    Replies
    1. The older I get the quicker the years fly by

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  18. You've found a good place.
    I've been here ten years next January...the longest I've been anywhere...and I've moved well over thirty times in my life....

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    Replies
    1. Gz 30 times I cannot comprehend your abilities to adapt I have moved home four times

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    2. It has its advantages..you get to know your way around quickly..and sometimes learn things that people who have never moved, miss. You gain a few friends in many places..but have to make the effort to keep in touch. You lose touch with most family even with trying not to.
      You never really learn your own dialect and accent...

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  19. I've lived in this home for 38 years but it was 1966 when my family moved to this city. Happy 20th year in your lovely home, John!
    I love that song by Coldplay!

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  20. 20 years is a long time. My people used to move house when the old one needed decorating. About every 5 years.

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  21. Twenty years! And you’ve done so much to that lovely old girl. Just the kitchen and bathroom upgrades must have made a huge difference, and once there’s a heatpump and the solar panels you will be in heaven. I asked friends over coffee how their solar panels had affected their power bills. One said they pay about $50 a month … we pay $300-350 in winter! And our house sizes are similar!

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  22. I had several moves as a child, three of them to different countries, because of my father's job, and was very glad to settle in the UK as found it hard to adapt each time. Am not looking forward to having to move now as am very happy.

    I did enjoy the choir. So uplifting!

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  23. I hope you get twenty more years to enjoy in your lovely cottage xxx

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  24. We have lived in this house for 46 years.( Do I win longest stay?) It was my 6th home after 2 childhood houses, a flat for 4 years, a rental in Northumberland after getting married, and then our first home in Morpeth.. Then this one where the boys were brought up.

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  25. We have been in this house for eighteen years which is the longest I have ever lived anywhere. I never want to leave this house.

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