LORNA and Graeme Harper wish they could pack up their neighbours and take them too when they move to their new home.
The community spirit in Castlepark Drive, Kintore, has been perfect for raising their two small children, Robert, 4, and Anna, 2.
And now the couple hope to find another street that’s just as family-friendly, in Aberdeen.
“The quiet cul-de-sac was what initially attracted us to this house,” said 28-year-old Graeme, who works as an offshore electrical technician.
“As soon as you go into the street it becomes a 20 mph speed limit, making it safer for the kids to play in.
“And it’s such a quiet street that there’s not many cars using it anyway.
“All the neighbours look out for one another and we all keep an eye on the kids if they’re out playing on their bikes.
“We’ll probably never find such good neighbours again – I’d definitely take them with me if I could.”
Graeme and Lorna, a 28-year-old freelance aerobics instructor, bought their home when it was new, three years ago.
They were already living in Kintore, but wanted more space for their growing family.
And this four-bedroom house, part of the Bett Homes development, fitted the bill just nicely.
“It’s a good size and the rooms are all nice and spacious,” said Graeme. “The garden was another bonus as it’s pretty big and is ideal for the kids when they’re out playing.
“And the driveway is big enough for six cars, giving them even more space.
“But even though the house was all ready for us to move into, I’m the kind of person that can’t keep still and I’ve done quite a few jobs around the house over the years.”
Graeme tackled the garden first by getting a digger to flatten out all the earth and lay a lawn, making it easier to maintain.
Indoors, he and Lorna changed the layout of the kitchen by having the breakfast bar taken out to make the most of the space.
They also had a new feature fireplace put in the lounge and had LCD TVs fitted in the lounge, dining room and master bedroom.
They fitted new flooring throughout, including in the garage and the loft.
And with the house adapted and decorated to their taste, they’ve made the most of the family living it offers.
“My favourite room is the lounge for chilling out in,” said Graeme.
“It’s big and relaxing, and great for either having friends over and entertaining, or sitting in and watching a DVD.
“The kitchen is great too because we have a dining table there and it’s nice to have the family at the table and the radio on while you are doing the cooking.”
With Lorna originally coming from Kittybrewster and Graeme from Northfield, in Aberdeen, the children’s grandparents live in the city. And this is why the Harpers are now looking for a new family home in the Granite City.
“Anna is too young to know what’s going on, but Robert is going to miss all his pals in the street.
“But we’re sure he’ll make new friends in no time.”