Yes, I loved it at that cottage. Our landlady lived in the house next door and she became like the mother I never had and doted on the kids. When we left, we said we'd keep in touch, but she just didn't keep up the contact.

I think she was hurt that we moved because we were always calling but she didn't after the first few times. She was like grandma to the kids and I still feel loss when I think about her.
My dd1 still asks about her sometimes and still remembers her even though she was only 3 and a half when we left.

All the other neighbours were really nice too and I remember one night going into labour with dd2 and being in total pain and then realising I hadn't fed the cat yet so H was calling the cat in for her food and I was trying to put my shoes on which is kind of difficult when you're having contractions and you can't see your feet because your stomach is too round, lol, so there I was having a bad moment with my shoe laces and the neighbour walked in (this was 11pm at night).

She said, don't worry, I'll feed the cat. She tied my shoe laces whilst I was in extreme pain (no dignity there ) and started asking did I want her to water the plants.

I was like gritting my teeth and thinking I don't give a monkeys about the plants, just go away

When we brought her home a couple of days later, all the neighbours were standing outside our house, waiting with flowers and teddies. I didn't even get to hold her when we got in, as the neighbours were

Steam trains used to go by our house all the time, so we'd be out there in our dressing gowns, waiting for the 7am one to go by, with dd1 and we'd point out the trains to her.

We had street parties and everything. We would walk into each other's houses quite a bit and nobody minded.

Every night I used to wait for the 1am train to go by and I couldn't sleep until it had been. It was like my security blanket.

I simply loved that place and the community and it was such a great place to bring up our dd's. We were crazy to leave.

I hope we find somewhere that nice again in future where the community spirit is just as good.

Excuse my trip down memory lane

Jo.