Walk for Homes - Week 5 - Housgirl is heading home!

Walk for Homes: Week 4 back down south - missing the accents

Housegirl headed to Tonbridge to meet an old Hastings activist friend who had moved there recently. They had an hour's pit stop and cool drink in their back garden and were given some lovely handmade soaps by their wife. They headed over to Tunbridge Well and to the very lovely tucked away home of the niece of another local activist friend. The house was so tucked away there was no street lighting so Housegirl ended up waiting on a dark corner for them to collect her, which didn't look weird at all. But then they remembered they were also wearing a house. So easy to forget.

Housegirl was treated to pizza and fancy snacks and a lovely evening spent with a lovely couple in their back garden under the stars.

Final day of walking and Housegirl was out of clean clothes! They were dropped into Tunbridge Wells and managed to buy another pair of shorts in a charity shop, though they may have been kids size. No matter, the walk commenced. Through Frant and down to Wadhurst, through the baking hot heat. Thankfully there was a lot of tree coverage along the way, and Housegirl found some (private) land to stop and have their lunch thank you very much. A nice view of rolling hills under the shelter of a cool woodland.

They kept themself amused practising Portuguese versions of Kent town names, through Ticehirst and managed to get as far as Hurst Green, then getting a wee House booster rocket to Dunelm in Seddlescombe North. From there they stumbled back to St leonards. As they walked the very last leg, all sorts of pains and discomfort of the body became strangely apparent. It's like it could sense the end of this incredibly testing journey.

It was a strange feeling too walking along the seafront late at night, so quiet, no one around. Then Housegirl bumped into an Acorn buddy and they walked them the rest of the way to their flat.

Opening the front door felt surreal. But the moment they closed the door behind them, they were sick and spent much of the night nursing themself in the bathroom. They didn't mention this to anyone as it was so awful, but it's important to understand the impact this sort of thing has on the body.

The following day, they put the house on again and headed down to the beach huts for a return party, which was lovely, seeing so many familiar faces again and feeling a bit better for it.

BUT, our co-op still had £1000 to raise to get their full amount of match funding! So Housegirl kept the house on to do their weekly shop and go for a swim and was even spotted squeezing around Coastal Currents open studios. Many folks were watching the donations come through, one particular highlight being at a party in the kitchen with a group of good folks gasping as someone announced we were just £60 away from our target!

It wasn't until Housegirl was walking home alone on the seafront again that their phone started buzzing like mad and they saw the crowdfunder had hit it's target. Onlookers watched on perplexed as they saw the house shaped woman running up and down the prom shouting.

The following days were a bit of a haze. Once our goal had been achieved, pure exhaustion kicked in and Housegirl's mouth swelled up. They'd had an immune system response, so it was really time for a rest.

Of course Housegirl's a renter and their landlady had been for an inspection while they were away, and were met with a list of things needing attention after 5 weeks immediately. No rest for the lowly tenant. Wouldn't it just be nice to come home to a home that's yours and tasks you get around to when you're ready? Bring on the housing revolution. Bring on the housing co-op!!!

Walk for Homes: Week 5 The last leg