The New House...

I collected the keys for the new house yesterday. Now the fun starts - although that may be a bit optimistic! I have spent a lot of time over the last couple of weeks on the phone trying to co-ordinate builders, plumbers, electrical suppliers, electricians, estate agents, debt collectors (to clear rubbish from the house!), solicitors, planning application departments, and so on. I think, I hope, I pray, that all is now in place.

In theory, Tuesday the electrician and plumber will make sure that the builders can safely have power and water. Then a long weekend as there is a small wedding on Friday. The following Tuesday the builders move in and will remove the back of the garage, the roof, part of the chimney, a wall in the bathroom, and replace a kitchen ceiling and build a new roof, and so on. Hopefully by the end of May/beginning of June, we will have a habitable house that doesn't smell.

The tricky bit will be keeping a lid on the budget...

I realised that you haven't seen the front of the house. It's really quite a mess. Just look at its potential - try. I know it's difficult.





Oh, and have a Happy and Blessed Easter.
Christ is Risen!

We're Moving - Again!

Okay, so that is a bit of a dramatic title, and potentially a bit misleading, but yes, we are moving again, although only about 500m away. We have found a house to buy.

It is an interesting house - there is a rather large hole in the kitchen ceiling, the fire in the lounge has been condemned, there is no water, heating, electricity, the garden is a total mess and in need of a goat, the flat roof over the extension leaks and the entire house smells of damp. It is a genuine house, just in case you think I am about to let you in on the one fact that tells that it is actually a rabbit hutch, or something.

The house has been empty for about a year, so we have been told. Sadly the owner went bankrupt and so the house has not been maintained. This does mean, though, to our advantage, that we can actually afford to buy it as Heddon is somewhat expensive. We will have a lot of work to do before we move in but can do that while still in our rented place. Then, the good news, I can decorate! Even Ken has conceded that all the carpets need to come out. So, no disgusting-overly-floral-overly-coloured-but-will-never-wear-out carpets in our new house. Yeh!!!

The really cool thing about this house - there is a small irregularly sized room at the back of the extension that you can't fit a bed in. It has a rather lovely view over the garden and currently is fitted out with a large desk. Guess what? I get my own scrapbooking room!

The photos don't really do justice to the state of the house or the smell. I didn't even remember to take a picture of the hole and you can't see all the rubbish in the back garden, the jumper still on the washing line, the three dishwashers still with some dirty plates in, the chips in the oven and the greasy dish, the general junk that is lying around, but hopefully you will get a slight idea for what a project we are taking on. Actually, let's be real, who will be doing most of this?!

Oh, the picture of the window? It doesn't close properly so is stuffed with toilet paper.