WHEN May Wong says a final farewell to her home, she’ll take away precious memories.
There’s the impressive kitchen and family room, where she has prepared many a meal with an eye on her sons Christopher, 11, and Matthew, 9.
Or the formal lounge, where she has stood by to make sure they are practising their piano lessons.
Or the playroom conversion above the garage, where she has taken them on in many a mean game of table tennis.
May, 39, said: “This is a big house but the rooms have all been well used over the years.
“We spend the most time in the kitchen as it has a family area. That has been my favourite space, as we can all be in the same place while I am cooking dinner.
“And the boys have made the most of the games room – but only after their homework.”
The splendour of Westside Croft is all down to full-time mum May, whose husband Kenneth, 49, owns the Chinese restaurant Yu on Aberdeen’s Union Street. Originally from Hong Kong, she came to Aberdeen 18 years ago to study for a degree in land economy.
In 2003, she selected the land at Maryculter as a good site to build her dream, family home.
And three years later, after a painstaking process of securing permission, planning and finally, building, the family moved in.
May had a big input into the layout of the house as she helped design it.
She has also decorated it from top to bottom herself and Kenneth has been happy to let her lead the way.
She said: “I knew I wanted to have a sun-room and that it should have high ceilings and be nice and bright.
“And I wanted the family space within the kitchen so we could all be together there and I could look after my children while cooking.”
Downstairs, the home has an impressive four public rooms.
As well as the kitchen/family room and the lounge, there is also a big games room with a pool table.
And the sun-room, perfect for a bright dining space, has great views over the garden and the countryside beyond.
There are six big bedrooms altogether in the house, and the children also enjoy playing in the converted space above the triple garage, home to their ping pong table.
The big garden is another of May’s pride and joys.
“There’s lots of wildlife. I had a fish pond put in with just a few fish in it,” she said.
“And there’s a couple of birds that I see every year in the summer. They come to lay their eggs in the garden and we see them every single day – it’s their home too.
“In the morning I often hear them pecking against the door, as if they are saying hello.”
Both boys will soon be at Robert Gordon’s College together, and the Wongs are planning a move into Aberdeen.
May added: “This is a good house with lots of space for a family with children.”