On the move...

Wedding plans have taken a back seat over the last month as I've been sorting out moving in with my fiance. As someone who has moved nearly 20 times since I left home to go to university - it is something I loathe doing. I have a deep-seated hatred of trying to cram my belongings into boxes and bubble-wrap, and then having to unpack it all at the other end. I end up hating myself for having any stuff at all, but it does concentrate the mind on what's important. Someone once told me that you should only keep things that are either beautiful or useful which is all very well in theory, but I'm really sentimental and keep things because of the memories attached to them.

Moving in with Damian has brought home to me how much my life has changed. When I moved into my last place I was single and really unhappy. I had come to the realisation that I was lying to other people and myself when I said I didn't want to get married. While I could cope with single life, and I genuinely would rather be alone than with the wrong person, deep down I wanted to be in a stable relationship, so I could at least mull over the option of having children. Maybe that's terribly old-fashioned, but I just didn't feel I could even consider it until someone had made a commitment to me - I'd be too scared to do it alone!

Living with my housemate Simon really cheered me up after years of solo living and made me realise I could live in the same space as someone else. I quickly felt more confident about myself and plunged myself into internet dating. Damian was the first person I went on a date with, and the rest as they say is history...

So it was with a tear in the eye that I handed the keys back to my old place this week - that house saw me change from sad singleton to a happy engaged girl. The red sofa there was where we ended up on our first date (watching the final of the X Factor), and on our second date I opened the door to find Damian there with a gorgeous orchid in his arms. So many memories...

I'm typing this blog sat on the sofa in my new home - downstairs Damian is cooking up a steak stir fry (yes, the man can cook, lucky me!) and I'm skilfully avoiding unpacking the boxes that remain in the spare room. Ah domestic bliss...