After almost 14 happy (and a few not so happy years) on the east coast of Norfolk, we’ve bitten the bullet and decided to move. Not far away though hopefully – we intend to remain in Norfolk. But moving is definitely on the cards.

We relocated to here in 2008 for several reasons – we both got promoted roles as teachers. We needed to escape stresses of the north, family and our children, young then, loved days out on beaches at Filey, Cleethorpes and Whitby.

So we sold up, rented for 5 months in Gorleston-on-Sea, bought in the town, and settled into Norfolk life, with a 3 year career move to Suffolk for me. Mostly good times, though I would not recommend teaching in Norfolk to anyone. It’s a horribly toxic place to work as a teacher. Trust me.

But.

The area, despite breakdowns, depression and a commitment to teetotalism brought on by bullying and trauma in the workplace remains home. A happy one too.

We’ve spent the last 6 years in a new build in Bradwell, a lovely suburb of Great Yarmouth and rediscovered a real passion for life – from woodland walks with our rescue border collie, swimming, tennis and relaxing at Fritton Lake, and, of course, complete freedom from teaching with this business, which me, Trish and my son run jointly.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

Charles Dickens sums up our time here well.

A new chapter is being written though for the next few years, as we pack boxes, up sticks and move to a new area and new home. Where? All revealed later.

I do get playful attacks – though that sounds paradoxical – for my predilection for moving. I know many people are born and raised in one area and never leave. Comfort, habit, familiarity, family, all that. I don’t like that though.

I’m 56 and have lived in 13 places since birth and Norfolk, with another 3 or 4 years tagged on in the new home, will mean 18 years here. Beating childhood in Thorne, Doncaster, where I was anchored until gammon Sunderland called for Polytechnic in 1983.

We will have lived in 4 homes here since 2008 and all have been happy.

Norfolk has its many faults, its road network is poor, travel times are horrendous and it is a bit Brexity and Tory for a northerner, and yet, those skies, long summers, mix of city, coast and country have held us here, apart from a brief flirtation with Edinburgh when I hit a trough of despair when Johnson was elected in December 2019 (I think). He’s on borrowed time though and I’ve learned from jumping ships with schools that the grass is never greener.

So.

Norfolk will remain our home. Just a different part with a new lifestyle that I’m certain we’ll love.

Here’s our home with a guide price of £375,000 to £399,000:

So if anyone is looking for a great 5 bedroomed detached home with woodland walks, beaches and towns near by, you could do a lot worse than look at ours. We will miss Bradwell as we move but I’m certain, like Piaf, there will be no regrets.