Tales from Titchmarsh

Moving house and garden after almost a quarter of a century brings mixed emotions, yet exciting new challenges

- says Alan

"Breaking up is never easy, I know..." Good old Abba - always ready with an apposite lyric, though in this case I suppose it should be "Letting go is never easy" as I say farewell to the garden I have made over the last 23 years. So why go? Well... it's time. Time for a new challenge. Time to downsize - a little - as those of us of relatively senior years are regularly told we would be wise to do.

To be honest, we had no plans to move. When you restore an old house and make a garden around it, you pour so much of your heart and soul into it that moving on is bound to be a wrench. But when you are knocking on a bit (which I refuse to believe, despite what the numbers tell me) you do muse on the future - a future which I hope will be long and fulfilling.

“Are you retiring?” I am asked. “Er, no!” Consolidating more like. Looking after four acres and a Grade II-listed house has been - and still is - a treat beyond measure, but the day will come when it starts to be overwhelming and I'd rather move on to fresh pastures before that becomes the case.