Moving. . .( Hopefully) . . . At Last!

I have been hoping that I might get an email form the lady from Milton Keynes council who visited two Fridays ago about me moving to sheltered housing. I have already glanced at the list of places around Milton Keynes and two stood out; one called Everglades which is within Eaglestone and Alfie and I walk past it regularly when I take him out for his early-morning walks. It seemed perfect, with what appear to be bungalows within a 'unit' and each with it's own garden, so it would be more or less what I was hoping for, so we had our own independence, more or less, but the whole idea of sheltered housing is that there are staff, probably a warden, on site, as well as community facilities, such as a lounge and other rooms where you can get involved in community activities, something which would make life a little more comfortable, particularly as I'm a single person once again since Carols' passing. 

The other place is called Dexter House, and in Oldbrook, in a road off Strudwick Drive, and a short walk from M.K.C.C. I have looked for it on Google Maps and drove around there the other Sunday after church to have a look at, not just the building, but the area in general. I often drive past if I'm going to Lidl in Oldbrook Boulevard and I quite like the idea of some of the flats within the project have their own bit of garden and that there is quite a large garden which can be used by residents.

So, fairly late in the afternoon on Friday, I got the hoped-for email, as I had sent one asking that my choice of places would be more flexible, if I was to move quicker I was going to have to accept somewhere which probably didn't have a garden and might be on a first floor. So, I opened the email to discover that a flat was being offered in Dexter House, on the first floor. I have to telephone on Monday morning to arrange a visit and have a closer inspection of what is on offer. I am really pleased that something has come up a good deal quicker than expected, basically because I don't want to stay in this house any longer than necessary, basically because I am not being paid the full amount of the rent by Housing Benefit. The good news is that, once I move, all my rent will be covered by Housing Benefit. Well, to be honest, I don't need a 3-bedroom house any longer, which this current property is, and a landlord who doesn't really care whether the place is well maintained or not (as I think I've discussed on various posts on here.) The next thing will be moving out, loading up my possessions and taking it all to the new flat, but first of all, clearing the small bedroom and disposing of things that are no longer useful or can be taken to a charity shop, such as the two bicycles which has been living in the entrance hall for the past couple of years and would not be possible to take to the new flat, because of the lack of storage space.

Alfie, at once not in full barking mode

Alfie now expects to get more than one walk each day. My fault, I suppose, but seeing that it's been sunny and warm for the past few days (is this what's called an 'Indian Summer'?) I decided to take him out in the afternoon, and this morning, after I'd been to, first, the 'Men's Breakfast' at the Oaktree Centre (there wasn't one during August.) and then on to do some shopping in Aldi at Bradwell Common, I thought it only fair on him to take him out once I'd got home and unpacked the few bits I'd bought in Aldi. He soon twigs that I'm considering a walk. I don't know what it is, but he seems to sense that I'm about to find his lead and take him out. Then. later, at around 2.30, I took him out again for a third walk, this time walking towards Milton Keynes Academy and eventually through to Coffee Hall and back over he bridge that crosses Saxon Street and then into the estate and round towards Marlborough Street and back home along the Redway. In total, a little over 12,000 steps. I'm not sure what distance that converts too, but quite a long way I should imagine.