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It was about this time two years ago that we decided to leave our beloved home of Marshmead. We had a basic plan: Roland would get a job at a school, we would buy a little farm, and I would be the farmer. Simple enough. It looked like this simple dream would become a reality when a History/Geography job was advertised at my old school in Hamilton. We went house hunting and found a small property that fit just about every one of our criteria. The job interview when well, and in a few days they school would give a yes or no.

We were to spend most of Term Four in New Zealand that year. We were expecting a call from Hamilton before we left the country. But someone intercepted the pass. St Paul’s Warragul, Roland old school, had rediscovered the resume he had sent in a term before. He received a call to say that they didn’t really have a job to offer, but would be very interested in having him back at the school. They just needed the resignation letter from a current staff member, and then they could offer Roland a job at the Year Nine Centre.

This began a flourish of phone calls, with two schools vying for Roland’s letter of acceptance. But for us, it was more than choice between two schools; it was a choice between two home towns, two lifestyles. It became very clear very quickly that if we chose Warragul we would not be able to afford our dream of a little farm. Land prices were too high. It would mean moving into town for a number of years until we could upgrade to a home in the country. Warragul, however, did have one thing Hamilton could never offer; a short drive to the city, where both our families live. After living in far East Gippsland for a number of years, and with the health of Roland’s father becoming a greater concern, Roland decided that being in a position to be able to help his parents couldn’t wait, but our little farm could.

As it turned out, we would have to wait for our house in town anyway. The Simonds saga has dragged on for 18 months. It took six months for the company to start the build, then over a year to complete it. Sixteen weeks over contract, they finally finished. We signed off this afternoon, collected our keys, and for the first time walked into our very own home.

Roland entering our first home for the first time.

Our first meal - a carpet picnic of fish and chips.

The kitchen/dining area

Front sitting room

entrance

laundry

rumpus room, upstairs

spare room - the two of these look the same

bathroom

front of the house

A tall house means plenty of yard space

rear of the house. Alfresco area is on the left side.

We've had a wonderful fews day moving in and deciding how to use the rooms. It will be a long process - moving down the hill - but we're already feeling at home.