Linda King is enjoying the buzz of Walton-on-Thames after relocating from Lincolnshire to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. Her new apartment at Churchill’s Ash Lodge has enabled her to leave loneliness behind, make new friends and lead a busy and active lifestyle in the heart of the leafy riverside London suburb, where there is always plenty going on.
“I previously lived in a big four bedroom bungalow in Lincolnshire,” she explains. “I had been very happy there with my husband, but he sadly died some years ago, and since then I was becoming a bit lonely and didn’t like being so far away from my daughter who lives in Weybridge. I’d been considering a Churchill apartment for quite a while, and last summer I decided to take the plunge and make the move to a lovely new one bedroom apartment here at Ash Lodge.”
Talking about the move itself, she adds: “Churchill’s Home Exchange put me in control of the move and took all the hassle out of it. I had help from specialist downsizing advisers and a free removals service, and it all happened in a matter of weeks. I love how new and clean everything is in my new apartment, I’ve decorated and given it a new colour scheme which was fun, and I’ve settled in very quickly.”
As a very ‘young’ 76-year-old, Linda is one of the livelier members of the Ash Lodge community and takes part in all the regular social activities on offer in the Owners’ Lounge, including weekly keep fit classes, rummy club, a monthly Saturday evening get-together, and much more. Our Lodge Manager David is brilliant too, he is always happy to help and sometimes he even gives me a hand carrying my shopping upstairs.”
She says: “I’ve made lots of new friends since moving here, but the closest is another apartment Owner called Hilary who is also from Lincolnshire! We hit it off straight away, probably because of that Lincolnshire connection. We go out for walks together and have a coffee when we’re free, we often go out for a nice lunch in town, or just spend time relaxing with a glass of wine in either her apartment or mine.”
“I’ve made plenty of friends outside of Ash Lodge too,” she adds. “The local bus service is excellent so I’m always out and about. I do aqua-fit sessions at the local pool and I also join in with the local bowling club, although I’m there for the social side of things more than the bowling. In fact Hilary and I are looking forward to going away on holiday with the bowling club later this year, and I’m also planning a holiday with my daughter and her family this summer, so there is plenty to look forward to.”
Summing up what’s great about her move to Ash Lodge, Linda says: “I’ve gone from being lonely to having lots of friends and lots of fun things going on in my life. It’s been brilliant!”