3 spring close, Fair Oak was my childhood home until my parents moved to Somerset and then on to Spain. Sadly I don’t have any photos of the house and very little of the me as a child in general, but my memories remain of what it was like. Our 3 bedrooms semi detached was in a lovely quiet cul-de-sac. Very few cars were around when we were kids and were fortunate enough to have a lovely green out front to play on. We had a back garden to play in and spent as much time outside as possible especially in the summertime in the paddling pool. We had a huge weeping willow tree that provided shelter from sun and made a great den too. Playing ball in the back was always risky, big chance of it going over either neighbours fences but we were lucky to have lovely neighbours. Back then of course they were auntie or uncle. We weren’t related but it was respect thing and were given drinks and food by most, they loved for us to just drop in to say hi ,or to get our ball back! Downstairs was the hallway and living room which had a purple and pink flecked sofa with a huge TV no remote back then and only 3 channels. On the left which lead through to the dinning room with glass sliding doors that could be used to separate the two rooms. In there was a table and chairs with a huge cabinet with a liquor cabinet. By the side of that was dad’s record player and speaker ( which was his dad’s) an armchair and our second TV which was black and white which we were allowed to watch our programmes on after school. The kitchen was narrow and followed on from the hallway. I remember the cork floor tiles this lead to the back garden which had pretty high steps which we took pleasure jumping off ! There was a raised concrete area which was great for playing with our sandpit. We had one of those old fashioned metal washing lines that had a pole at either end and double row for hanging from a fair height. The grass was sectioned into two halves with a concrete tiling path. At the back by the back fence was our veggie patch and next doors garage backed onto our garden. This was very handy when we wanted to go out but didn’t have permission too. Eventually the weeping willow had to come out as it roots were growing underneath the foundations and cracking the concrete. Upstairs was the bedrooms and a bathroom with a separate room just for the toilet. The bathroom was black shinny tiles and yellow walls. My bedroom was next to that and was green walls with brown carpet. Apparently I chose it as wanted my room to be like the forest. I had the water tank in my room and used to imagine monsters lived in there so kept the door closed at all times. My parents room was next with built in wardrobes , dressing table with a huge mirror and an ottoman and at the time what I thought was a huge bed. My brother had the box room with a captains bed to maximise space with shelves on the walls he had Flash Gordon wall paper and at the end of the bed was a storage cupboard where his toys and clothes went. On the landing was the entrance to the loft and remember thinking dad was some sort of ninja being able to pull himself up to get in there at that time we had no ladder. At the top of the stairs was a huge shelf that had all the best books from encyclopaedias , David Attenborough wildlife and of course the all time great ‘mummy I don’t feel well ‘ book that all parents used to find out what was wrong with us . The downstairs hallway had the cupboard under the stairs with the tumble dryer in it and hoover. By the front door was the phone on a small table. We didn’t have double glazing till later on in my childhood so there were two thick purple curtains that we used pull in winter across the door and I have memories of scraping ice and mopping up condensation from the window seals. This was my home, my sanctuary and my prison if grounded! Broke my heart when it got sold but hope someone else is building memories there.