Well hello...!

So, a new blog for a new start! But why a blog?

Well, I'm currently waiting to get the OK to move into a new flat. I've been homeless and living in temporary accommodation since 1st December 2016. This blog is about me charting that journey to a new life.

The Past - Homelessness
It's been challenging. No-one expects to be made homeless, but life has a way of throwing up the unexpected. I had just three weeks between learning I was to be made homeless, to pack up my life and live in limbo for six months - it's been a very surreal experience!

I won't go into why I was made homeless, but what I can say was because of circumstances beyond my control. I've been lucky though, I've not been made homeless due to debt or addiction. I've just been a victim of circumstance. I may have run out of savings and am living on a shoestring, but I'm lucky that I'm managing to scratch out a life without debt. There are far too many people who are not that fortunate, especially amidst our political climate of cuts, cuts, cuts!

I'm also fortunate that I have been placed in temporary B&B accommodation. Like 1 in 4 of use, I have mental health issues, which means my local council has a duty to support me during my homelessness. I have a superb mental health team backing me up too. This has meant I've coped with being homeless reasonably well and kept my health stable too - through sheer determination to stay well mind!

So all in all, whilst being homeless totally sucks, it could have been a lot worse.

The Present - A Waiting Game 
I'm currently going through the vetting process for the Housing Association whose flat I have been offered. I'm so excited! I got the builders to let me have a sneaky look at the flat, so I know that I'm waiting for a flat that is lovely, on the edge of countryside.

The Future - A New Start
So, a new home in a new town awaits. I'm already planning where my furniture will go and possible colour schemes. However, as I have a low income, it's going to be making a home on a serious budget. I'm quite looking forward to this though. Part of the reason for this blog is so I can document how I've made a lovely home for as little as possible. I'm a huge fan of second hand furniture, upcycling, freecycling and generally winging it! I love eBay, charity shops and recycling stuff someone else doesn't want anymore. I like saving furniture from landfill and saving the resources that going into making new 'stuff''.

So here's to a new beginning and the start of an awesome journey!