Post by Geranium on Jan 25, 2011 22:54:57 GMT
Other members are telling us about how they came to live in their homes, so here's my story.
I retired from a long career in the teaching profession in 2003. We had lived in Kent for 34 years because of our professions, but we knew we didn't want to stay there. Everything had changed during those years. Where there were once bluebell woods to walk in, now there were housing estates. Where ancient woodland used to be, the Channel tunnel rail link was pushing through. The M2 and A2 were being widened, and the once-beautiful area was turning to concrete, cuttings and rails.
We had started to look westwards in half-term holidays, and realised that Somerset was the county where we'd like to live. I had family links to the area, too - my great aunt and uncle had lived in North Somerset, so as a child I had spent happy holidays there.
We were lucky enough to sell our house quite quickly, and 'roosted' in a little house in Minehead while we started the search for our retirement home. I knew I wanted a dog - and had a picture of him in my mind - he would be a yellow Labrador and his name would be 'Henry'. Lo and behold, an advert in the local paper brought us our beautiful boy.
We registered with all the Estate Agents in the area, and started to receive house details. One of the Estate Agents, when taking our details and 'wish-list' had a picture of a cottage in their window. It had a large 'sold' notice across it. 'What sort of house are you looking for?' asked the agent. 'That one' we replied.
Well, we looked at the many details that dropped through our door, and went to view five or six houses. None of them were right. 'Then we had a call - the sale of 'that' cottage had fallen through! Were we interested? Of course we were! We got an appointment to view the same day - fell in love - and made an offer, which was accepted. Even though it was winter when we looked, I could see the potential in the garden. It even had a stream running through it!
I decided that I would wait and see what was in the garden before I did anything very much,, except keep it tidy.
Oh dear - there was Comfrey everywhere! I'd need to get digging. The garden had been neglected, but the hard landscaping was there - well, most of it! That was rather an ugly concrete slab path.
One big change we made to the house was to have a garden room built. As the house is a listed building, it was quite a complicated procedure, but we eventually got planning permission with conditions - the extension had to be 'in keeping' with the 500 year old house. The roof tiles had to be reclaimed, to be the same as those on the house.
I have worked very hard on the garden, and enjoy doing it - well - apart from removing barrowload after barrowload of comfrey, that is!
Can you see it in my wide border?
That's better!
To be continued:
I retired from a long career in the teaching profession in 2003. We had lived in Kent for 34 years because of our professions, but we knew we didn't want to stay there. Everything had changed during those years. Where there were once bluebell woods to walk in, now there were housing estates. Where ancient woodland used to be, the Channel tunnel rail link was pushing through. The M2 and A2 were being widened, and the once-beautiful area was turning to concrete, cuttings and rails.
We had started to look westwards in half-term holidays, and realised that Somerset was the county where we'd like to live. I had family links to the area, too - my great aunt and uncle had lived in North Somerset, so as a child I had spent happy holidays there.
We were lucky enough to sell our house quite quickly, and 'roosted' in a little house in Minehead while we started the search for our retirement home. I knew I wanted a dog - and had a picture of him in my mind - he would be a yellow Labrador and his name would be 'Henry'. Lo and behold, an advert in the local paper brought us our beautiful boy.
We registered with all the Estate Agents in the area, and started to receive house details. One of the Estate Agents, when taking our details and 'wish-list' had a picture of a cottage in their window. It had a large 'sold' notice across it. 'What sort of house are you looking for?' asked the agent. 'That one' we replied.
Well, we looked at the many details that dropped through our door, and went to view five or six houses. None of them were right. 'Then we had a call - the sale of 'that' cottage had fallen through! Were we interested? Of course we were! We got an appointment to view the same day - fell in love - and made an offer, which was accepted. Even though it was winter when we looked, I could see the potential in the garden. It even had a stream running through it!
I decided that I would wait and see what was in the garden before I did anything very much,, except keep it tidy.
Oh dear - there was Comfrey everywhere! I'd need to get digging. The garden had been neglected, but the hard landscaping was there - well, most of it! That was rather an ugly concrete slab path.
One big change we made to the house was to have a garden room built. As the house is a listed building, it was quite a complicated procedure, but we eventually got planning permission with conditions - the extension had to be 'in keeping' with the 500 year old house. The roof tiles had to be reclaimed, to be the same as those on the house.
I have worked very hard on the garden, and enjoy doing it - well - apart from removing barrowload after barrowload of comfrey, that is!
Can you see it in my wide border?
That's better!
To be continued:
...a lovely story Geranium, and a credit to you ;D
