Matthew moved into his flat the day after the baptism in Leeds. I travelled down to Bedford to help Matthew and two of his friends to load up a van, and my car, with his goods and chattels from his bedroom in his Aunt’s house, where he has been staying, before following the van to Matthews new flat at Rushden, Northamptonshire.
Matthew has bought a second floor flat, which meant lugging various items of furniture (he has accumulated quite a few items considering that this is the first place that he has owned) up four flights of stairs, including half-landings. Matt found the whole thing a bit stressful, and I did get told off for dropping a drawer – thank goodness it wasn’t damaged.
Matt’s friends are very practical, one an electrician, and the other installing broadband, and so they were very useful putting flat-pack furniture back together, as well as dealing with electrical and communication issues. They were very enthusiastic, and at one stage Matthew kept them out of mischief by instructing them to put up and decorate his Christmas tree.
Matthew’s flat has two bedrooms, one with en-suite, and a sitting room with kitchen area off. Being second floor, with an outlook down a road, rather than overlooking flats, it is a lovely bright flat.
Shortly after Christmas, once Matthew had settled in, Chantal, my Dad and I went to visit the new flat, which was already very homely. We had a very nice pub lunch in Higham Ferrers, a rather upmarket village next to Rushden, and went for a walk around nearby Swanick lakes, Dad managing quite well, despite a stiff knee, walking with the aid of a stick. Mathew and I were so busy chatting that we left Chantal and Dad behind. I received a phone from Chantal during which she made an enquiry with respect to my location, queried why I had continued walking when she had stopped for photographic purposes, and gently suggested that maybe I should return and join her, since we were supposed to be enjoying the day together. I did as commanded, and since light was fading, we headed back to Matthews flat for a cup of tea, but not until I once again toiled up the stairs at the end of an item of furniture. Matthew had purchased a large wooden chest on e-bay for use a coffee table, and it was still in his car. I’m getting too old for this removals business.
Technically we live in Oaktree House, but sadly the tree had to go.
We now have a thriving Oakstump at the front of the house.
