Sorry to other people if this is a bit long but this is for Mrs Oook.
John's family moved into your house after doing a swap for their bungalow in Malcolm Drive for your house in Abbots Way with the retired couple who lived there. They had 3 young sons and Dad worked as service manager at Express Lifts which was behind your house where the new housing estate is. It was a happy family home and my in-laws were a real love-match. When Dad died aged 80 we found a letter he'd written to Mum (to be read on his death) telling her how much he loved her and giving her all the financial information she needed to know about bank accounts, etc.
Until they were quite old, in-laws always had a dog in the house. OH & his brothers grew up with Spot a beardieX who I knew as an old gent. After he went to the bridge they had Joe a yellow lab. Mum never worked after her marriage and made a career of being a mother and home-maker. Even when the boys were at high school and grammar in the town they cycled home for lunch with their parents. Oldest brother also worked at Express Lifts as design and development manger and the Tower, at the end of the road, (or as Terry Wogan used to call it the Northampton lighthouse) was where he tested high-speed lifts. Until he took early retirement he still called in for lunch with his parents even though he and his wife live only a mile away.
After Mum died the house was sold to the son of b-i-l's neighbour who built the extension where there used to be a single and a double garage. Three boys all had cars though rather ancient ones when they were young. The house has very happy memories for us and one of OH's favoutie photos was taken in the front room. It is of him, his brothers and Spot.
It really was spooky to see the house on your post. When we met you on a dog transport a few months ago you asked us where Sainsbury's was, well it's quite convenient for Abbots Ways isn't it? We still aren't far away in a village just a minutes from junction 15.
We both wish you Gook Luck in your nooo home.