BY THE time you read this, I’ll be knee deep in moving boxes in deepest darkest Buckinghamshire, unpacking my old Uxbridge life. We’re upping sticks and moving to be closer to Alex’s new high school and a house that can only be described as a ‘project’.

It will be a lovely family home in a year or so (fingers crossed), but there’s a lot of dust, builders and upheaval to deal with in the meantime.

Although I grew up in Harrow, I’ve spent more time in Hillingdon – 14 wonderful years living here, not forgetting the six years I spent at Douay Martyrs in Ickenham and a year at Uxbridge college.

I’m sad to be leaving wonderful neighbours, a home that we’ve put our heart and soul into, new friends and old and the place where my son was born. Not to mention lovely in-laws in Hayes End, and siblings, nieces and nephews in West Drayton and Ruislip.

Although I’m delighted that Alex got his first choice of secondary school, it’s such a wrench having to leave everything and everyone and all that we know to move on to start a new chapter.

There will be no more school run, as Alex can walk to his new school in less than five minutes.

He’s got a canteen, so no packed lunches need to be made.

My little boy is growing up so fast and our lives are changing before my very eyes.

I have to keep telling myself it’s only Chesham and that it’s just 15 miles and 35 minutes in the car, but it feels like it might as well be Australia!

I’ve really enjoyed writing this column during the past eight years and sharing our parenting highs and lows along the way, celebrating the things that are great about living in Hillingdon – and some that could be better.

I’ve loved getting emails from Leader readers and bumping into them around the borough too (excluding the time I was standing naked in the gym telling off a three-year-old Alex for waggling his willy instead of getting dressed and someone recognising us and wanting a chat. Oh the shame).

A move out of the borough and my little boy growing up into a 'tweenager' seems like the right time to be moving on from this great paper to concentrate on our ‘house project’ and my full-time job at Netmums.

Thank you for reading and sharing during the past eight years. I’ll miss you all – it’s been a ball!