EMMA'S LOVIN...

... my brand new house. Although it's not technically brand new (having been built in the early 1900's after all), but it is brand new to me.

Not only that, but I've finally flown the nest, leaving a teary-eyed Mum and Dad waving goodbye at the door, and embarked on a whole new adventure (albeit 10 minutes down the road!).

But with independence comes great responsibility. Without doubt I took for granted all the little things that used to "just happen" at my parents (batteries never running out, light bulbs changing themselves, clean clothes automatically appearing in the drawer), and now it seems there's a never-ending list of chores to do! Why didn't the magic house elves move with me?

No longer can I sit and watch Desperate Housewives and the Apprentice guilt-free, there's always a nagging thought at the back of my mind that I need to hoover the bedroom, wash the kitchen floor, take the bin out, wash the bath (so much for thinking bathrooms were self-cleaning).

However, I wouldn't change it for the world. Although I'm poorer, slightly more stressed, and a little more OCD than I should be, having my very own place to call home is THE best feeling. Second only to coming home and realising that the ironing fairy (i.e. Grandma Hudson) has popped over and done the entire stack that's been building up for the three weeks that I've lived there!