Tired of living in two rooms and having no hope of the military changing our living arrangements, we decided to move off base and just pay out of pocket for our rent and utilities. We are so happy to have a place of our own. I have had fun buying antiques to furnish the house and trying to get the necessities as inexpensive as I can--since most will not be coming back to the states with us.
The house is in Brackley--5 miles from the base and a little over a mile to the girls' schools. It is a 'British-sized' mid-terrace. It has three bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, one reception room and a kitchen/diner. There is a small garden in the back and a one car garage. It is small in American standards but it is enough space for us and we feel like we are in a 'home' for the first time in a while.
We have also FINALLY gotten Internet and cell phones. It has been an adventure to get something so simple, but the British do like to make things more complicated than they need to be. Gotta love it!
We have no t.v. because there is a $300.00 t.v tax required (BBC's way of making money without commercials) and tv is not that important to us!! So internet will be great--a piece of the outside world!
Time to go eat dinner--I never thought I would be so happy to actually COOK--but after a month in a hotel with no kitchen, it is great to be able to eat a homecooked meal aound a table!!
More later
