0: Cosy Grove

Arrival

Dave and I discovered Cosy Grove way back in 1986. We'd been living in a granny flat underneath a big house in Melba, and though we were very fond of the Indian family who owned the house, after we married we felt we needed to find a place to call our own.

First Impressions

	Both of us loved the place straight away. Probably what impressed us most was the outlook. It's a battleaxe block; there's a long pair of driveways leading from the street to our home and the neighbours', and instead of looking onto the street the house faces onto a reserve with a creek flowing through it. We can sit on our front verandah and look out towards the Brindabella mountains, with a scattering of snow on them in winter.
	The colours were brighter than is fashionable; the bathrooms a vivid blue, terracotta tones in the lounge and dining, and the kitchen a sunny yellow. But I felt they suited my personality.
	In those days the garden was in pretty good condition, though the lawn was suffering due to lack of water. But Dave and I are not keen gardeners and don't have time to look after it properly. Although we get someone in to mow the lawns and trim the trees, gradually it has deteriorated to become a showcase for all varieties of local weeds.

The Neighbourhood

It wasn't until the kids started going to school that we realised there actually is a community here. Our neighbours kept to themselves and we didn't really meet anyone until we started chatting with other parents and participating in school activities. Once the kids started High School we lost touch with most of the older generation. Sometimes I smile and wave at a neighbour but we rarely talk. Once we organised a street party. It was a resounding success and everyone said what a great idea it was and how we must do it regularly. That was twenty years ago, and no-one ever organised another.

The nearest shops are a twenty minute walk away, so we usually drive.

The best thing about the area is the reserve around the creek, where we can walk the dog off the lead and know she's safe.

What will I miss?

Obviously what I'll miss the most is the family and friends I'll be leaving behind. But what about Cosy Grove itself?

Around 10 years ago we renovated the old kitchen and bathrooms. We replaced the bright yellow benchtops in the kitchen with even brighter yellow ones with a brushstroke pattern, and the vivid blue in the bathroom with a marbled pattern in various blue tones. Then we tiled both mostly in white but with a border and feature tiles with a beachy yellow, blue and peach theme. Still not fashionable perhaps, but I love it!

I'm sure I'm going to miss my big gourmet kitchen. I love cooking, and I doubt anywhere else will have a kitchen with the facilities and space for cooking a meal for six people. But then now that I'm leaving the kids and family, I guess I won't be needing to cook for six anymore...

Ironically, we had just finished setting up my new study when I heard I got the job with ThoughtWorks. Josie had decided to move out of her black and orange room, into our granny flat. So we repainted it and set it up as my study. It felt really good to have a place of my very own. Now we'll be renting that room to Connor, one of Tim's friends (also Dave's second cousin, but that's another story...). So I have to pack all my stuff away again.

One of the things I'll miss the most is the peace and quiet here in suburban Canberra. On the battleaxe block we're well away from the street. We get a little traffic noise from a major road that cuts across the creek out in front of our house, and the neighbours sometimes have a rowdy party around Christmas time. The neighbours' dog, Theo, barks like mad whenever someone comes down the driveway. Other than that the noisiest things are the birds - the currawongs and cockatoos in autumn and the magpies in spring. Oh, and in March during the Canberra festival, the sound of hot air balloons huffing and puffing overhead. Our dog Gypsy usually hears them before we do and responds with a frenzy of barking.

Departing...

Somehow our departure date has crept up on me. ThoughtWorks has offered temporary accommodation in Sydney, but there's no car park so we'll be taking the bus. I don't know if my original aim of travelling on one suitcase and a backpack is going to work out, but it will definitely have to do for now because I hate the thought of having to manhandle lots of luggage onto a bus. I still have no idea of what our first accommodation in Sydney is going to be like, but I had a call this morning from Ian who has what sounds like a lovely home in Castle Cove that has a room to rent. Will that be our home? Stay tuned...