House of Cards

It is amazing how quickly everything can come tumbling down around your ears. In the space of a few hours we have lost both our buyers for our two properties; it probably means we will be unable to proceed with our purchase in the Forest of Dean.  I knew I shouldn’t have picked the wallpaper so soon.

We thought we were about to exchange contracts on the coach house because all the searches were complete, survey done etc. and the solicitors had prepared all the paperwork.  Turns out the female buyer has split from her partner and no longer has the money for the deposit.  It’s a pity it took so long for her to reveal this fact to the estate agent.  It’s been two months since we accepted her offer.

The same day we hear that the divorcee buying our other property has withdrawn because she has discovered there is someone living close by in the street that she doesn’t like.  Duh!  I wouldn’t dream of making an offer on a property so lightly.

Needless to say Paul and I are very disappointed.  I shall spend the weekend cleaning windows and polishing, shampooing carpets to get this place into show house condition again.  We shall book the Eurotunnel and set off to France in a couple of weeks’ time and leave the estate agents to do what we pay them for.  We can’t stay here any longer, the grass needs cutting at the chateau.

The Dog Who Thinks He's A Cat

Rick was full of beans on his walk today. We went out early and managed to get home before the rain arrived.  There are a lot of dogs around here, some he gets on with and others (like the two chocolate Labradors) we give a wide berth to. There are bins dotted about the estate to enable dog walkers to deposit their bags of dog poo and keep the pavements clean.  I just cannot understand dog owners who carefully scoop the poo into the little black bag, tie a neat knot, and then hang it from the nearest branch.  What the....  ? 

Anyway, one of Rick’s two favourite people when we are out is the guy from the council who empties the dog bins every day.  He is a giant, with a red beard in bright yellow day-glo waterproofs. Rick can spot him from a mile away and cannot contain his excitement. His other favourite person is Jim, an elderly gentleman who walks with a stick.  I think he is recovering from a stroke. Jim doesn’t say much but he and Rick greet each other like old friends.

Rick is without question a bit of a handful.  His barking sometimes drives us mad but it’s a small price to pay for the love and affection he gives us. He is the first dog I’ve ever met who expresses his pleasure by purring.  When he was in foster care he shared a home with several cats; I think they taught him how to do it.

I just love this scruffy, crazy mutt.

Dunroamin, Shangri-la or Chez Nous?

Ta-dah!  Oh, it’s just a twee little bungalow I hear you say. Are you disappointed?  Come on, look closer, it’s got window boxes.  I’ve never had a window box before.  Don’t be deceived by this picture, it’s not a bungalow, it’s actually a house built into the hillside. The wow factor is the back of the property that leads out on to a large terrace and fantastic views.  You will have to wait until we move in before you get those images.

No period features but easy to maintain and it comes with a large conservatory.  I think I will call it an orangery, sounds much posher.  I intend to make the interior very contemporary with a touch of James Bond retro.  Does that make sense?  It is an upside down house with a large open plan lounge/diner on the upper floor making the most of the views across the valley.  There are three double bedrooms so plenty of room for visitors. It has a cellar that Paul is particularly excited about; I don’t know why.

The garden is terraced with a small lawned area, there is a greenhouse and raised beds for Paul to grow vegetables.  There is also a pond with a very kitsch fountain (boy and girl hugging), sorry but that is one feature that will have to go.

replacement fountain

The House in the Forest

We crossed the old suspension bridge across the muddy expanse of the River Severn and then turned right and headed north towards the Forest of Dean.  This is the leafy land of hobbits and elves, wild boar and beavers. Abandoned mines and quite a few medieval castles dotted about too. Not forgetting the beautiful Wye Valley that meanders its way along the far side of the forest.

We arrived early for the viewing and explored the local area.  Paul even accosted a dog walker to ask about suitable walks for Rick.  Of course the forest is famous for its cycle trails and hiking.

The estate agent told us there had been a lot of interest in the property and second viewings were booked for the weekend.  No doubt a very clever sales tactic but we always make decisions quickly so we made an offer there and then.  It just felt right. I can’t resist amazing views.  The house is lovely too.  I’m already itching to paint over that pink wall.

Kat is disappointed that we are not buying the Gothic mansion in Grimsby but in the end we have made a sensible choice.  Apart from the fact that it’s half way up a very steep hill and the garden is quite small...

somewhere amongst those trees

It will be weeks before we are in a position to exchange contracts so I’m trying to contain my excitement until everything is signed and sealed. Co-ordinating two house sales and one purchase is complicated but I’m sure we can make it happen!

House Hunt

Isn’t technology wonderful? Over the last few weeks I have looked at hundreds of houses on Rightmove without moving from my armchair.  I’ve been able to drive along roads to check out neighbourhoods on Streetview and zoom out to satellite mode to discover the whereabouts of power stations, quarries and railway lines.   I have travelled from Cornwall, through Devon, Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Cheshire, nipped over the border to Wales (yes, there was a house for sale in Trelawnyd), before shooting across to Lincolnshire and back down the east side of the country through Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.  Apart from a day trip to Wales all this travelling was done from the comfort of my home.

We had a whole list of criteria to consider – a large, private garden for Paul and Rick, a quiet, rural location, not too close to any neighbours (Rick barks a lot) and enough space indoors to accommodate visiting daughters.  I envisaged a period house with a big kitchen opening out onto an expansive lawn.

We put a shortlist of properties together but didn’t dare arrange any viewings until our two properties were under offer.  Finally we got the ‘phone call we were waiting for and we accepted an offer for our second property.  Now we could have some fun and arrange some viewings.  But we were too late and most of the houses had been sold, apart from a beautiful bungalow with a large garden in the Lincolnshire Wolds. We made an appointment to view and booked some dog friendly overnight accommodation as the journey would take several hours.  But we were thwarted once again when, just prior to setting out, the estate agent rang to say the owners had accepted an offer on the property. 

Back to scanning properties on Rightmove.  The perfect cottage in Shropshire with a large garden popped up on the screen.  Paul picked up the phone.  We would have to leave straightaway to make an afternoon appointment, other people were viewing too. We were very excited. Then I checked the room sizes, it was tiny.  Sadly we cancelled the appointment.

not this one

Back to the computer. A nice bungalow in Devon but a public footpath at the bottom of the garden would have Rick barking at every passer-by.  An idyllic, isolated cottage in Cornwall, the garden was beautiful but massive. It would be a jungle by the time we got back from France. A contemporary house in Gloucestershire, you must be joking with that decor.  Well actually, it ticks a lot of boxes and the bedrooms are a good size. So on Wednesday we headed west along the motorway and across the old Severn Bridge. The house was the polar opposite to anything we had imagined we would buy but the location and views sounded amazing. Would this be the one?

Here I Am Again

I have been unwell.  Paul and I were both hit by a nasty flu-like bug that left us with a cough, chronic fatigue and loss of appetite.  I even stopped drinking wine!  Today I am starting to feel more like my usual self again.  The weather here hasn’t helped, cold and wet.  Poor Rick has been a very soggy doggy but he does enjoy being rubbed down with a warm towel when he gets home from his walk.  Well, who wouldn’t?  The trick is to catch him before he gives himself a massive shake and splatters the wall with mud.

We have tried and failed to get Rick to walk to heel on the leash without pulling.  Finally, as a last resort, we bought him a Gentle Leader, a collar that goes around his nose as well as his neck.  It’s not a muzzle, he can still bark but it stops him from lunging forward. It works like a dream and he doesn’t seem to mind it at all.  It’s great for walking in traffic and busy areas when you want good control; we will use his other harness and loose lead when we’re in quieter places.  I certainly feel more confident that he won’t catapult me into space now.

Kat is flying out to Cyprus today for a two month posting. I think she is going to enjoy that sunshine. I have asked her for regular updates but I'm usually the last to hear about her escapades. I really must stop being an inquisitive mum and living vicariously through my children.  Now, I wonder what Sarah is up to in Australia....