Garth and Simone Sherriff are in what she describes as "a dentist and nurse situation".
Having met in England in the early 1980s, when Kiwi Garth was working there, they are still a team today, with Simone Garth's practice manager.
Their first home -- in St Albans, Hertfordshire -- was a 1920s bungalow so, when adventure-loving adrenalin junkie Garth persuaded Simone to move to New Zealand with him and their four small children, it was no surprise they found themselves in a similar style of house, with polished floors and high studs.
"The moment we saw this, we knew it was meant to be, especially since it is straight across the road from Remuera Primary School."
When they weren't out on their boat, water skiing and fishing, Adele, Stephanie, George and Edward Sherriff spent much of their childhood playing in the school grounds and splashing in its pool.
"I had a whistle, which I'd blow when dinner was ready," says Simone. "Another mother, a few doors down, used to bang two pots together."
The single-level bungalow, on its leafy corner site, is perfectly laid out for family living.
It features a covered front porch that's so large it used to serve as an outdoor playroom -- especially on rainy days -- and a substantial open-plan formal lounge and dining room, with attractive open fireplaces at each end, although the Sherriffs have never lit them as the house is equipped with central heating and a heat pump.
The wooden kitchen enjoys plenty of cupboard space and there's more storage in the adjacent laundry.
In the master bedroom, Simone has taken over the wardrobe for all her clothes.
"Garth doesn't have as many, so he keeps them in a cupboard in the hall," she says.
The pretty blue bathroom is modern and functional, and there are three further bedrooms, plus another small shower and toilet at the far end of the house.
Image 1 of 4: Desirable bungalow really does seem to say, 'This is home sweet home'
There's also a good-sized family room with loads of space for seating and a wood burner for winter warmth.
The room has French doors to a patio outside and, according to Simone, this was always the hub of the home when the children were in residence.
In summer, meals are eaten here, cooked in the fully equipped outdoor kitchen with sink, barbecue, pizza oven and power for a fridge.
"We never actually had one there, though, because we thought the boys might be tempted to fill it with beer," she says, referring to George and Edward, who now work in the super yacht industry.
A detached garage has the added advantage of a small workshop and there's also a handy garden shed at the corner of the property.
Simone's a keen gardener, although these days her focus is more on taking care of the rural property she and Garth own.
"Out there we have loads of fruit trees and I spend lots of time picking and bottling things. I'm becoming quite a good jam-maker."
The Sherriffs are now trading this family home, filled with memories, for a small apartment as they plan to spend an increasing amount of time out of town.
"We've had everything we could ever have needed here; the primary school, the fact that the children could walk to Auckland Grammar and Epsom Girls' Grammar, and being close to transport and shops was always handy, of course.
"It's a little sad to be selling but I think it's natural to feel that way."
She reveals that Garth is looking forward to pottering in their Awhitu orchard, and she can't wait to spend more time fishing.
