Talking Location With author JS Monroe – West Penwith, CORNWALL
GIVEAWAY: 3 copies of ‘Open House: A Life in 32 Moves’ by Jane Christmas
17th January 2021
We are delighted to be able to offer 3 copies of Open House: A Life in 32 Moves, the wonderful memoir by Jane Christmas.
UK ONLY
Moving house has never flustered author Jane Christmas. She loves houses: viewing them, negotiating their price, dreaming up interior plans, hiring tradespeople to do the work and overseeing renovations. She loves houses so much that she’s moved thirty-two times.
There are good reasons for her latest house move, but after viewing sixty homes, Jane and her husband succumb to the emotional fatigue of an overheated English housing market and buy a wreck in the town of Bristol that is overpriced, will require more money to renovate than they have and that neither of them particularly like.
As Jane’s nightmare renovation begins, her mind returns to the Canadian homes where she grew up with parents who moved and renovated constantly around the Toronto area. Suddenly, the protective seal is blown off Jane’s memory of a strict and peripatetic childhood and its ancillary damage—lost friends, divorces, suicide attempts—and the past threatens to shake the foundations of her marriage. This latest renovation dredges a deeper current of memory, causing Jane to question whether in renovating a house she is in fact attempting to renovate her past.
With humour and irreverence, Open House reveals that what we think we gain by constantly moving house actually obscures the precious and vital parts of our lives that we leave behind.
This is a memoir that will appeal to anyone whose pulse quickens at the mere mention of real estate.
Jane’s writing is so accessible (Amazon Reviewer)
HOW TO ENTER
- To be eligible to enter, you need to be a member of TripFiction. If you are not already a member simply go to www.tripfiction.com, scroll down until you get to the JOIN NOW tab. As a member you will be notified of our weekly giveaways and you will receive our monthly Newletter, book reviews and more…
- Tell us in the COMMENTS below whether you are keen mover? Or do you hate the whole process? Do you have any stories to share? Do this by midnight, Saturday 30th January 2020 and the first three names out of the hat will be sent a copy each by the publisher (UK only)
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I love moving house, it’s such an adventure. Although I hope my next move will be into my forever home where I can hold parties and have my future Grandkids over for huge sleepovers.
I hate moving house. I love my current home and have no plans to move!
I am not a keen mover, I love my current home and don’t have any plans to move!
Have not moved in close to 20 years. Utterly terrified of it. Will live and die in this box flat!
Last time was so stressful that I swore it would be the last. Still have to downsize at some point though.
After 50 years in a cold damp Edwardian cottage I’d love to move to something modern & easy to look after….until I think….don’t want to lose my scullery, larder, big wild garden, quirky rooms, cast iron fireplaces etc…..Hmmm!
I love looking at properties for sale but not keen on the actual moving.
I hate moving-it’s so stressful & I worry I’ll have noisy neighbours.
I love looking at new houses and imagining moving, but the reality of it all and the stress always puts me off!!
I love moving. We are currently waiting to exchange contracts.
When I was younger I loved to move and I did fairly often (12 houses in my first 23 years). I used to love packing boxes. Not so much now though – we moved in the last year and it was so stressful.
In 1971 after 2 years of renting hubby and I bought a building plot for £300 and employed a builder to do the basics and sub-contractors for plumbing and electrics. We did all the site prep moving tons of hard core, soil etc with just a wheelbarrow and shovels to keep costs down. Also did all the decorating. When we finally moved in to our 2 bedroom bungalow we said ‘Never again!’ We have just altered the house to suit our needs. First into a 4 bed family home. Now to an OAP friendly one!
Been in the same house for 26 years!!!
I think I’d be in the non movers category. I’ve been married 34 years and lived in two home……. our present home for 29 years with no plans to move
Can’t remember if I am a keen mover as I have not moved for over 30 years.
I don’t like moving just too much hastle.
I don’t mind moving, early married life as a squaddie meant that happened a lot. What was difficult was packing up our belongings to put into storage before we rented our home and went travelling in our moho around Europe for 2 years. Helped our daughter move 3 times, that’s hard as you want to take control
I haven’t moved in 15 years but in my 20’s I moved house7 times in under 3 years. I had to buy my mum a new address book!
I have moving,but I would move if it would make our lives better
I’ve always loved moving, but now I’ve stopped
My first reaction was that I never move, but actually in the last 16 or so years I’ve moved 6 times, which is pretty good going!
I can’t wait to move house again..but would be happy if next house was “the one” and wouldn’t want to move again (never say never though)
I have lived in this house for 36 years and can’t be bothered to move now at the age of 73!
I’ve never moved as an adult – all been family moves before I was 6. But I know I have to someday and somewhat looking forward to it! With a bit of trepidation!
I’ve moved around 8 or 9 times in my adult life. So stressful. I’m hoping that the next place I move to will be my forever home.
Ha, I haven’t moved for 22 years. The very idea sends shudders up my spine!
We moved in here on husband’s 38th birthday and his card I put somewhere safe for moving day has never turned up!
Haven’t moved for 22 years. Still remember the day. Van full and waiting for solicitors to finalise, on a Friday. 4pm on a Friday , we finally got the keys.
Moved last year after ten years of awful neighbours, as time went on my health was suffering and at 65 thought I would never move. It was the best thing I have ever done and wish I had done it sooner. My life is so much better now and the neighbours are fantastic.Do not let age put you off.
1 Comment
It is hard to make change and good for you for finding the courage to do so!!!
I hate moving and as such have lived in the same house for the last 22 years. I think only a llottery win would make me move.
I haven’t moved for a while now and would find it difficult and expensive!
Moved during pandemic and found it very stressful – everything so slow and then we went into lockdown the day before the move . We have now been in for 3 months and only had 1 visitor.
I have only moved once but it was very enjoyable. It was great fun packing up all of my stuff and having a good clear out. I really enjoyed deciding where everything was going to go in my new home and also buying lots of new items
I really do not like to move. It’s such a lot of stress and time consuming.
I hate moving – it’s so stressful! I’m quite happy staying where I am for as long as possible
I like to stay put, it’s all very stressful!
I prefer to be settled although I do love to travel but I like to always know there is one place in the world that I am familiar with and can call home. I’ve moved about a lot in my life but it means a lot to feel settled now.
Hate moving and am currently so happy with neighbours and friends locally there is no chance of me moving
Hate moving. Would like not to do it again. Had issues last time with removal men damaging stuff, sliding it across the floor rather than picking it up.
Like to stay put
I love the idea of moving but the process itself is such hard work and stressful it puts me off!
I hate moving and have only done it once…I have too much stuff to pack and unpack..
Only moved twice in 40 years – it is my idea of hell!
I keep putting off moving and need motivation to make it happen soon
Not moved house since I was little but memories of it were stressful so don’t think I’d like it…all the organising of Utilities and setting up everything in the new home…must be really hard
i find moving exciting!
A good friend of mine lives in the same house in which she was born and now she is 60! I find that enviable but at the same time unimaginable. I have moved 3 times in the last 3 years (for happy reasons) and in the course of my life have lived in 5 different counties – one for each decade – plus 3 different countries. The downside is that if someone asks me where I am from, I genuinely do not know! The whole moving process is stressful, but a necessary fact of life!
1 Comment
Really interesting to hear your thoughts!
I hate moving it’s too stressful
i dont mind moving but in my forever home now
I don’t enjoy moving. We desperately need to buy a bigger house and I’m determined to make sure it is exactly the right house so we never have to move again.
I have moved too many times to remember even though I don’t actually like the process of moving house
I’ have a love/hate relationship with moving. Firstly I get excited about it, then when all the packing, removals and decorating are being done I hate it but when it’s all done I realise it was worth the hard work and am happy.
I hate moving. Also having lots of books is a big disadvantage when you move! They are so heavy!
Hello, I really like moving house, I think it is fun going to a new place and having a change of scene.
I hate moving house. I’d happily stay where I am forever
I don’t enjoy the upheaval of moving but I do like putting my stamp on a new property by decorating and purchasing items for it.
I love looking at houses online but I hate the stress and upheaval of moving.
I find moving quite stressful but love the opportunity to have a really good sort out
I hate moving – I’ve only moved once when I was a child. I’ve lived in my present house for 65 years so have accumulated a lot of “stuff” so the thought of packing up to move fills me with horror!
The last time I moved I was 6 years old so it was completely beyond my decision. I’d love the idea of moving into a place that was mine but not all the work involved!
We are on our 7th move – house has just gone on the market. Love the excitement of looking at new places, but not the reality of packing up! Book looks really good, would enjoy reading this while preparing to move.
TBH I hate moving now, I have moved so many times in the past, I just want to stay put now x
I love moving house, from the searching online, to viewing, and hopefully having your offer accepted. Once in, the thrill of investigating your new neighbourhood and beyond is always a delight. The downsides are the actual packing up your belongings and the actual move itself.
I have moved relatively few times in my life!
Once to leave home to go off to college, 4 different shared homes there, another move to Borneo for 3 years, (3 different homes there), back to the UK, off to uni for a year, into a new flat for 10 years & then to my current home, where I have been for nearly 23 years now!
All my previous moves, apart from the last one, were minor, as I had few possessions.
If I ever move from here, it will be massive, as I have so much stuff now, accumulated over the years, plus some of my parents’ possessions, too!
It would probably take 5 years for me to declutter ready to move!
Hate it. Have moved twenty times in twenty years. Hope that’s it.