So we picked up our keys late on Friday afternoon, walked the dogs back down the riverside and then leaving them at home headed off in the car. Although the new homes are only a ten to fifteen minute walk from here, Alan's leg is still very painful so hopping in the car seemed like a very good idea.
In no time at all we were letting ourselves in and having a good look around.
Don't properties just look so much sadder when they are empty of everything they once held!! Seeing the bare bones of Alan's place made us realise how well the furniture and clever staging had hidden the damage and the wear and tear the house had suffered purely from being a well used family home that the previous owners had simply fallen out of love with. It all felt quite sad, and made us realise that quite a lot of work was needed. The first thing to order will be a large skip.
My little place was quite a bit cleaner and fresher and although needing some work will be a much easier proposition ... once I have decided on the style of kitchen I want that is.
So if you would like to now it's time to grab yourselves a cup of coffee and settle back for the full tour of my new tiny home.
I still love it.
Sue xx
Hi Sue. Love so much about your new home especially the skylights, separate shower, doors in the lounge and bedroom and the general feel of it. Can't wait to see what you do with it. Great choice for you, Alan and the animals. Thanks for sharing and the tour! Claire x
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely and light isn't it, perhaps that's one of the reasons it really lifts my spirits when I step in there. My current flat is a pretty dark place, I feel like a Hobbit at times.
DeleteOhhhhh, I love it! It needs some updating and SCRUBBING, but it has so much potential to be a really cozy little nest! I absolutely love those double doors leading to the outside. Would paint over the fence mural, though, not my taste. The bathroom is surprisingly large with both a tub and a separate shower. Although it's work, it is always so much fun to make a new home 'yours'. So glad that you are taking us along.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair it's pretty clean, the only things that need a really good clean are in the kitchen and as that's being ripped out in the next couple of weeks I don't think I'll bother ... phew!! The fence is being taken down too, although I think we will be re-using the panels again in the back corner to replace the wonky ones, so yes they will be painted.
DeleteIt is a cozy space and when you get your own bits in, it will be just perfect. Is there space to walk the dogs in the area, as they probably like a bit of grass? Can you paint the fence? I look forward to seeing how you make it yours. I did just read the upper comments again and you did say that the home is only 10-15 min away from riverside so you will have place (familiar) to walk the dogs. ..great
ReplyDeleteThe fence dividing the two halves of the garden/yard is coming down, and yes if we re-use it we will repaint it. We are right on the canal, so there are lots of canal-side walks, that do at some points link up with the river and there are countryside walks extremely close by. The dogs are already very familiar with the canal, it's a small town and we've walked all over with them.
DeleteIt's a lovely home and I look forward to seeing all of your magic touches! The dogs looked just a bit confused. I'm sure when you have your own things in the home as well as their beds they will love it. Thanks for showing us the video, I enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteHaha, they were totally baffled, they had just explored Alan's house and then coming into here with me confusion reached whole new heights. They loved the outside space though and were running up and down sniffing at the fence to next doors ... I wonder if they have a dog too or if it was just the smells from the canal coming through?
DeleteAm I missing something, I can't see your house/home. Is there a link I've missed. Glad it's all gone well and i look forward to hearing and seeing your posts regarding your new life in town.
ReplyDeleteI can only see the first picture as well .
DeleteThe link does seem to be working going by all the comments above. Just click on the YouTube still (the final photo) and it should launch straight away. Thanks, we were both pleased it went so smoothly in the end.
DeleteStill can't see it. Nevermind. X
DeleteHere's a direct link to the clip on my YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmaX6UQbwAY&t=3s
DeleteThanks Sue, I've had a lovely walk around your new home and I love it. It was good hearing you voice too. I'm sure you'll have the new kitchen sorted and have everything ship shape. The tiled floor makes cleaning easy too. It was a real artist that did the fence work and something different to look out on.
DeleteThe fence will be down and re-used elsewhere by the time I move in, it's too close to the doors and splits the garden up too much to remain, and although lots of you love it I really don't, it's far too twee and whimsical for me.
DeleteYour lovely little house looks ready to make it your own, lots of opportunities to have it just the way you want. I love the quirky fence painting, it will look fabulous with a few potted plants added here and there.The courtyard has good potential, I have seen some fences painted deep charcoal to really show off the beautiful greenery up against them.
ReplyDeleteIf you are replacing the kitchen have mostly drawers, it made a huge difference when I had mine done.
It will be so nice to get moving on all the work you want done in the warm weather and have your space all done and cosy for the Winter .
The fence between the two parts of the garden/yard will be coming down straight away so that the dogs and Ginger can play together and so that it's not so claustrophobic outside my doors, and the painting ... as it's really not to my taste ... will be covered over if we decide to use the panels elsewhere in the garden.
DeleteThat is a brilliant idea about having drawers instead of cupboards ... genius!! No more scrabbling about on hands and knees to reach things at the back. I am most definintely going to follow this advice, thank you.
What a cozy little home. I can't wait to see what your plans are. Like the idea of the folding table.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Plans are spinning around in my head all the time at the moment, first stop kitchen ideas :-)
DeleteI think a folding table is a must, as I do like to sit and eat at least my breakfast at a table. I am going to see if the kitchen design people can come up with something suitable.
So many changes in your life, and what struck me in your video was your quiet voice, calm and thoughtful, negotiating the what-comes-next with a very practical focus. I, too, look forward to seeing what you do with your little place. I expect that it will be marvelous.
ReplyDeleteI was trying to talk a little bit quieter than usual ... it was very echo-y :-)
DeleteThoroughly confused now..so you each have your own, separate homes?
ReplyDeleteGlad I am not the only one that is confused lol
DeleteAlan has the four bed house you can see him letting himself into in the photo and I have the annexe with the other black front door. It suits us both down to the ground, he likes space and lots of rooms and I like cosy, small and simple. We both also like each others company ... but not all the time. We have always lived our lives in a part-time way, as Alan's work has dictated this since we met seventeen years ago.
DeleteWhat a perfect way to live, my husband has one bedroom and me the main one with the dogs, it started like that because of his snoring but we both like it that way now and couldn't go back .Since he retired I find it difficult and suffocating being together all the time so now we have the static van just 20 mins away near the coast, he has a fishing lake there too and we can take turns to use the van and have "me times", we would drive each other mad otherwise.We have decided to rent it out during the school summer holidays which will pay our site fees and neither of us would enjoy all those children in one place ( I don't mind them , but in small numbers and far away :) )
DeleteThanks Chrissie ... at last someone who understands and is not convinced we are on the brink of divorce. If we all lived our lives the way we wanted to and were not afraid to put suggestions forward that seem 'out of the box' or 'not normal' I think there would be a lot more happier people out there. Being different is good, and very refreshing.
DeleteI know exactly what you mean about children ... or 'the screaming hoards' as I used to call them. The caravan park was not a peaceful place in any sort of way during any school holidays. And that is the perfect time for you to be able to make the most possible cash on your van. Hope it goes well.
Once your furniture is in, it will look so much more like home. It's a blank canvas at the moment, waiting for you to make it yours. An exciting process. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteThank you, yes it's definintely an exciting time. Once the ball starts rolling I think my space should take shape quite quickly.
DeleteIt will be lovely, all of your places have been. I hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI was only thinking the other day that each place I've lived has been totally different to the others. I seem to have followed a winding path to find this lovely, small home.
DeleteIt will be a delightful home for you because it is right for this point in your life.
DeleteI can't wait to see you put your own stamp on it. It looks like it gets plenty of light. X
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to making it 'mine'. I had forgotten since the first and only viewing, that even the bathroom has a Velux window, so yes the whole place is beautifully light.
DeleteHousework won't take you very long will it?! Running costs will be almost invisible too :)
ReplyDeleteHousework ... which as you know I hate ... will be a doddle :-)
DeleteAnd running costs could be virtually nil as all the utilities come in from the main house!! But I will be fair and we have discussed a one third/two thirds split. The only bill that is currently separate is the Council Tax for some reason we don't understand, as the annexe cannot be rented out separately from the main house at all.
Love it! Just right for one plus a little dog. I am sure we all wish you well and look forward to seeing your things in and the eventual changes that you will make.
ReplyDeleteSuky is going to love it. Her own space, her brother and sister to play with in the garden AND the ability to run into Dad's to try and cadge a second breakfast. She's VERY good at 'hungry eyes' :-)
DeleteI absolutely love it and when you hade done it up to what you want it to be, it will be simply fantastic. Will you create some beds in that little garden?
ReplyDeleteI have a diddy bath too - I rather like it and it's much more economical on the water. Fitting a bath and a shower into that small space is very clever.
Thanks for the guided tour. xx
Yes I am planning on raised beds at the end of the garden for a mix of food growing and a few plants and some slightly raised ones around the edges with shrubs and bulbs etc topped with bark chippings so the animals can make use of the area when they need to. We probably won't have grass as that just needs cutting regularly, (and a lawnmower) although we might still change our minds as we have never not had grass!!
DeleteI think the bath is my favourite thing, I have never had a nice dinky sized bath before. I'll be able to fill it every night and not worry about lots of wasted water.
Very nice. I could move straight into that. Love the fence painting. Lovely to see Mavis again.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Mavis has settled nicely into the flat and is doing really well. Hopefully moving into the house will be her final move ... poor confused little doggy. Suky just takes everything in her stride, but as you know Mavis does worry.
DeleteI like the fence painting too!
DeleteI really don't like it at all, it's far too fussy and whimsical for my liking, it'll be nice to see the fence down and even more light getting in. But I guess quite a few of you will be sad to see it painted over :-)
DeleteAbsolutely love it. Especially the patio doors in each room.
ReplyDeleteThey do help to flood the place with light don't they :-)
DeleteThanks so much for sharing the tour of your new home. You will make it lovely and cosy. It will be gorgeous 😍
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, it was nice going around and filming it and almost seeing it through fresh eyes through the camera lens.
DeleteReading this from Malaysia. Your dogs seem to be enjoying the tour. It'll be a real cozy home when all your stuff get laid out and arranged. I like the sunny area next to the yard, nice and bright. Happy remodeling the new house. Thanks for the tour.
ReplyDeleteThey seemed to be in every room all at the same time didn't they ... it was like I had six dogs not just two ;-)
DeleteThey seemed to be waiting for their beds. ;)
DeleteThank you for the tour. It will be lovely once you have it as you want it and it will be great to see that in the future. It seems just perfect for you.
ReplyDeleteI think we have at last both hit on just the right places that suit our personalities and what we liked best out of all our previous homes.
DeleteIt is perfect for you Sue - I look forward to seeing your new kitchen and how you decorate it.
ReplyDeleteI'm trawling Pinterest for ideas for the kitchen company to work from, I think I am at last getting a good idea of how I want it now :-)
DeleteA great space to get creative with - the modern simple kitchen vibe opens up the space. Shame it's in a bit of a state but great you will get it changed. Hope you enjoy the process of choosing options and making it all cosy :-)
ReplyDeleteAt first glance it looks good, but I might as well get everything done before I move in and have it exactly how I want it to suit how I will be using it.
DeleteI too like the fence but can understand you wanting to open things up. Will be grand when you get it how you want.
ReplyDeleteYes, apart from anything else that fence is just too close to the doors, you have to close the door to get around it. The dogs will love sharing the garden :-)
DeleteI have friends who are divorced. They live in their own houses, but they refer to each other as their 'best friends'. They will tell you that they love each other. I've often wondered about the divorce part of things, although it's not my business. I love them both. But I really think that your (and Alan's) solution would have worked very nicely for them. It does not have to be either/or. Sometimes the answer is 'and'.
ReplyDeleteMy son and his first wife got on much better after their divorce came through. They actually spent more years together after their divorce than they did while they were married.
DeleteIt is lovely and light, and I love the mural on the fences, very usable outside space. But it is a good job you are a minimalist. No wardrobes or built in cupboards in the bedroom. I could see myself there too though...
ReplyDeleteYes I'm still minimising my stuff, luckily clothes are already down to a good level, one small wardrobe with a drawer and a bedside table will be plenty.
DeleteI love your new place and I think you and Allan have come to a brilliant arrangement! The one time I almost made it down the aisle it was with the understanding that I got the house and he got the barn! Having grown up in a large family I treasure having my own small place.
ReplyDeleteOh and I second the idea for drawers rather than lower cupboards - best kitchen I ever had was tiny but so efficient because of all the drawers that had been installed!
Yes our lives suit us just fine, I forget that so many feel there's only one way to have a marriage. Those of us that like our space and are not afraid to say how we want it are much happier usually. Each to their own has always been my motto.
DeleteDrawers are a really good idea aren't they, thank goodness MargaretP pointed it out. We did have three lovely big deep drawers in our Isfryn kitchen that I used for all my baking tins etc.
Perfect situation for you, Alan and your fur babies♥ Very exciting to see your tiny house tour and to see what changes you will make to your blank canvas:) Thrilled that you've found the ideal living situation Sue and in such a gorgeous location, happy days♥ xoxo
ReplyDeleteIt really was a stroke of fate that led us to find this property, it is absolutely perfect for us.
DeleteThat looks like a typical Tokyo apartment. Very tidy and very clean. I love how estate agents bend the truth a bit well no a lot!! they are not allowed here. And land here is worth more than property which I find very odd . But no I love the backyard. It’s very cute. That’s what we are planning. Easy to care for. But at least you can put your own mark on it.
ReplyDeleteYes, the measurements turned out to include the six inch little recesses at the doors, saying the whole room is six inches longer is very naughty when in fact only three foot of it is ... and you obviously could not use this space for anything. It should be very easy to make my own :-)
DeleteI don't comment much but I would comment to say this. It's nobody else's business how you both choose to live your lives and whatever works for you is fine. During non-pandemic times I go for walking breaks with my friends several times a year and holidays with my sister so that we can spend time together. My husband doesn't like walking and my friends and I do. My husband has hobbies that he enjoys that I don't and enjoys those with like-minded friends. I have always maintained that the fact that we are married does not mean that we are joined at the hip and we each have our own lives. Happy new home to you both!
ReplyDeleteOh I agree entirely, but I will answer questions to a certain extent ... and it does crop up now and then with newer readers.
DeleteWe've always led part-time lives together as right from the get-go Alan worked away for 4 days out of every week, and when I had my shop I pretty much worked a six and a half day week. Just because he now works from home doesn't mean things have changed much, as owing to the nature of his work once he's in the office things have to remain confidential so I don't see him except for a bit at lunch-time and a couple of hours in the evenings.
Having our own space means we get the best of each other and all the other stuff is dealt with how we want it to be dealt with, with no annoying input or opinions from the other. I can be a stroppy cow with too much external input, I hate explaining myself, so to be able to do up our living accommodation to the way we each want it is going to be brilliant.
I could stand the silence.
DeleteHi Sue ... I’ve followed your blog for a while and have loved reading about your adventures. I haven’t commented before but am so pleased you’ve explained your living arrangements ... I know it is totally none of my business but when you follow a blog regularly you do start to feel like you kind of know a person (if only a little bit) and it is nice to have a bit more understanding of their lives and know not to worry about whether they are ok. I’m looking forward to seeing how you get on ... I might think about buying next door, putting a gate in the garden fence and trying something similar. Wishing you both all the very best in your new homes 😃
ReplyDeleteGo for it ... a gate in the garden sounds brilliant, but you knew I'd say that didn't you 😀
Delete