Where we are now

So I said lots of stuff had happened since the end of the last session of Blogging and the start of this one, and I also said that I would fill in some of the history. Well as they say at the start of most American series:


"Previously on planet Lambo"

HOME
We left Carrrick Know Loan about 15 months ago now for sunnier shores, to be geographically informative we now live in Leith. It is true the Sunshine's on Leith each and every day just as the song says http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NzPmtQTuVI but perhaps it is more to do with feeling like I have come home.
My Dad and his large family, and extended family all come from Leith so it's like a back to the roots thing. It's odd but being in Leith is definitely a change from anywhere else. The feeling that this is a distinct community, with a strong sense of it's identity, history, and purpose has lent a personal feeling of belonging to the move. Goes with out saying that these strong shared comunity perceptions are under constant attack from the passing of those individuals who are steeped in the lore and the history of Leith, as well as redevelopment bringing people from all over the world in to the area. However as long as the history of Leith is available for people to investigate for themselves I think people will always "feel" like Leithers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leith

The house we moved to is 98% perfect, the other 2% is just proof that perfection is a concept that is useful to aspire too and damn difficult to achieve. It is fully wheelchair accessible, large wet room, huge hall, front and back doors (2 back doors actually) as level as thy can be, given that we still live in Scotland and we need a little lip to keep the rain out. Kitchen that has enough space for a full size table AND room to circulate in a chair. The one thing that could have been included is toilet just off the bedroom, this would have made things easier on days when not just lower limbs are talking back to me, but elbows and shoulders as well.

The last comment about limbs and shoulders and stuff, becomes less important when you look at it as something other than a place to eat sleep and watch daytime television. The house, it's location just yards away from shops, pubs, bus stops, huge public park, neighbours that I interact with all improve the quality of my life.

Don't get me wrong I am as buggered as I always was, physically nothing will change that. But the days of being in enough pain to justify taking the more extreme levels of pain killers, and having to just stay absolutely still have definitely decreased. I am also more mobile even going to the local shop on foot which is a change for the better. Doing more housework, keeping the place tidy, doing the laundry etc, Claire thinks that is change for the better. :) Seeing more of my friends so being less isolated. However I look at it the move, and this house have been as good as a new lease of life.

All this and we also by the skin of our teeth sold the house in Carrick Knowe Loan weeks before the housing bubble burst making a,profit so we have no money problems long term. We also know that as this is a housing association place we will never have to worry about the repairs or any other housing costs for the rest of our lives. If things go badly we can claim housing benefit, if things go well we can use surplus money to help others as we have already.

We know how lucky we have been, we also know that some people thought we were mad to give up the whole rat run that home ownership has become. We had people praying that we would find a way to make our debt larger in terms of getting another loan, or that we could find a way to magically find another £300 pounds income each month.
My politics meant that I drove us foreword to this change, I wanted us to get away from the huge debt of a mortgage. I believe in affordable rented housing as the first option not as a second best or "poor" persons option. I also know though that these days millions of people especially disabled people who need the type of house and the change in life opportunities that I have had will be forced to live a life in poverty and probably have an earlier death than necessary.

So for me the "Sunshine" is indeed on Leith.