h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

We're thinking of moving house. The only problem is that we'd be moving from an Edwardian end of terrace with big rooms to a newly build semi with small rooms. Sure, we get a village location, en-suite bathroom, garage, off street parking and a brand new kitchen, but we loose a lot of space and double our mortgage. If we're going to do it we have to exchange contracts in 28 days. I'll let you know.

Well..I had to resort to my Bill Bryson to know what a "semi" is but I have to imagine "Edwardian." I am imagining *big*. I'll be watching to see what you decide and, if you go for the move, the hair-pulling and grumbling that is sure to follow as you try to fit big into small.

There's already plenty of hair pulling . Do we? Don't we? And lots of running around measuring things. The problem is that the house isn't built yet so we can't even walk in to get a feel of how small it will be.

It has got to be tough to go smaller. My house is tiny so I'd have nowhere to go but bigger. Does it mean giving up special furniture and private space? And all you have to go on are floorplans and just the sense of what the new place will feel like? Yipes. I'd be pulling hair, too, and more than just my own

Some furniture may have to go, although I wouldn't necessarily call it special. We don't really have 'private space' atm and one of the bedrooms will still be a study with computer in etc.

No private space!!?? Oh lordy...if there were no private space in my house, there would be no room left in the backyard to bury bodies

Given that your house isn't what you'd call empty now, Slider, I suggest a sort of practice run might be enlightening. Come Saturday morning, remove thirty per cent of your belongings from the house and stack 'em in the garden. Decide whether you can live with the remainder...

I stand ready, helpful as ever, to take thirty per cent of your whisky collection off your hands. I know you hate clutter

Thanks for the advice and offer Morgan old boy but, as you will see, a decision has been made. The whisky collection stays firmly where it is and, for the moment at least, guests will still have to make the perilous journey downstairs for that 2:00am pee .

Yes, that journey can indeed be perilous, particularly since for some reason my sense of balance seems to be affected by the atmosphere in your house

I think it must be something to do with ley-lines .