The smiles said it all as Clifford and Jillian arrived at Linda Jones retirement village this morning.
The couple were literally beaming as they cut the ribbon on the door and stepped into their brand new home.
“We didn’t realise we were going to be the first to move in until the other day,” said Clifford.
The couple, who have moved from their previous home just two minutes down the road, had roped in their daughter and son-in-law plus their two grandsons to help them shift.
The move came about when they decided to check out the then planned village at the information meeting held at St Andrew’s Golf Club last year and, liking what they saw, everything had ‘developed from there.’
“We thought ‘right, we will make the move!’” Clifford said.
There were a few more firsts involved too. This was the first time they had lived in a brand new home and the first time they had bought a home straight off the plans.
“It is a bit different doing it that way because you don’t quite know what you’re dealing with,” said Clifford.
They had been busy downsizing their belongings as they were moving into a two-bedroom house from a three-bedroom place.
But having come from a big farmhouse before that they had accrued a fair bit over the years.
“There could still be a bit of downsizing to go!” he laughed.
Daughter Selina, who had come down from Auckland to help with the move, said she was pleased her parents could still be in the same neighbourhood as before.
“They have a few friends from bowls moving into the village too so it’s all lined up really nicely for them.”
She said the fact they would be living in a lovely new house was fantastic.
“It’s just nice to know that you’re the first to live there and everything’s lovely and new.
“I think they’re going to be really happy here,” she said.