Tuesday 6 July 2010

Been there, seen it, almost done it

Read this in a high, squeaky voice that conveys breathless excitement, disbelief, anxiety that it might not all come off, and a heavy layer of extreme tiredness, and you'll have struck the authentic note for where I'm at today.

My house has been sold - or as sold as it gets before surveys and contracts and all that stuff - to the tall, dark, handsome young doctor-in-a-hurry.

I have bought - or as bought as it gets, etc (as above) -  a house in a Somerset village. (Clutch your chest and breathe raggedly at this point as the simply-hugeness of this statement penetrates.) A house with a front lawn, a drive, a quiet winding street in front, and a garden with a huge, beautiful, copper beech tree, and a small river (more like a brook) behind, between the garden and the playing fields beyond. Here's a winter snapshot from the agent's brochure, showing the lower section of garden:


An airy comfortable house, quite liveable as it stands, but with potential to make my own by means of a few changes here and there and a lot of paint. A garden that will take some work to make pretty, but nothing of the major earthworks variety. Tenants with a 2-month notice period.

I went down there yesterday on the 7.30 a.m. flight to Bristol with my friend Lynn, who generously did all the hired-car driving, and prompted me regularly to ask intelligent questions of the estate agents, and we met up with Lizzie, who had already devoted far too much time and care than I deserved to industrial espionage and clandestine photography of the three properties I had planned to view, and who fed us and directed us to beautiful areas. It was so good to meet her at last. Between the two of them I was able to withstand the feelings I always risk of being overwhelmed and just wanting to give up, and we stayed on task for the day, catching the 9 p.m. flight home to sleep on it all.

This morning I woke up, certain and confident, to a round of decision-making that hopefully will bring the life-changing moves I've planned for so long. You may uncross your fingers a little, stretch them, check for webbing between them, then cross them lightly again till that all-important moment when Contracts Are Exchanged. Then stand by to give gardening advice!

I need to go and lie down in a quiet darkened room now. All that excitement, you know....

26 comments:

the veg artist said...

Brilliant!

Will uncross fingers, toes and paws for now although they remain on standby to help with the stressful days ahead, but IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT.

Gretel said...

Arrghh!!!! AM SO excited and pleased for you!!! I hope you will get down in time to enjoy the end of a west country summer and the gorgous autumns, without the nasty nip that you are used to *up there*.

SusanFrances said...

How wonderful...all that buying and selling! I have just done the breathless excitment, and raggedy breath, and it's a wonder I am still actually breathing at all now! I even thought about you setting off for your trip while I was walking the dog at 7.30am yesterday! The potential new house sounds fab...especially the garden. ( and a brook too) Can't wait to see more pics of it all.....fingers still crossed then that everything goes smoothly to your moving in. How many bedrooms? Can we all come and stay? I can paint!

Lucille said...

I feel quite giddy with excitement for you. A copper beech tree and a brook.
B+B ??

Lynda (Granny K) said...

Fabulous news! So pleased for you! I love it when a plan comes together!

Annie (Lady M) x said...

Woo hoo! Wow it all seems to have happened all at once. You must be over the moon.... I hope it all goes smoothly.

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

I need to sit down too ...
If I ever manage to pry my fingers apart , I'll raise a glass to you and to your hard work and determination which have made this possible !

Mac n' Janet said...

Congratulations! Somerset is so beautiful.

mountainear said...

Sooooooo excited for you. What a day it must have been. House and garden do sound promising - just 'un-done' enough for you to put your own stamp on without too much backbreaking work.

Have momentarily uncrossed fingers but will cross them again when circulation is restored. You need continuing good luck. Keep us up to speed when you've had a little lie down.

Dan said...

Whoop, whoop! I'm really excited for you Rachel! Looking forward to following your progress in your new home, which sounds just fantastic by the way!
Dan
-x-

Val said...

That looks like cat heaven ...er have you warned the wildlife yet?

Dragonfly Dreams said...

Hurray! I hope you can feel the smile on my face all the way across the pond! Congratulations!

Dartford Warbler said...

How exciting! Somerset is such a lovely county and the villages are friendly places. We loved our time there. Keeping everything crossed for you Rachel.

Paddy Paws said...

Oh my goodness - so quick! So exciting! Do you need any packing boxes? Shall I do the new address cards? We're all looking forward to your belated house-warming next summer in that lovely garden. Very best of luck it all goes smoothly from now on.

Fran Hill said...

All that ziderrr!

BumbleVee said...

sounds and looks wonderful. Your very own "alotment" right there in your very own yard.... alright! Oooh... can't wait to see what you'll be growing ... well, next summer of course..... and won't the cats have some fun in that big green space....

Veronica said...

Exciting! That garden looks like a great spot. My fingers are crossed for you.

Sweet Virginia Breeze said...

How exciting! I am so happy for you. Your new home sounds absolutely wonderful.

"Sunshine" said...

I love these continuous stories. I am sitting on pins and needles waiting for the next chapter. The house selling process would be, here in America, nothing less than a miracle.

Pam said...

Well done!!! (Must now look on map to find out exactly where Somerset is. Know where Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Kent are. Somerset must be the other bit down at the bottom. Sorry. Am Scottish, hence ignorance. Know where Sutherland, Kincardineshire etc are.)

Very very exciting. Oooh.

Anonymous said...

I think my first comment got eaten.

Very exciting news, and congratulations and crossed fingers for the next stage. Really pleased for you!

Jan x

jabblog said...

Very promising - fingers crossed everything goes smoothly. Hope you like cider!

Lesley said...

Yaaaaaay!! That's brilliant news. A plan that has come together...I'm in awe. xx

Deborah said...

Wonderful news! Good for you for making what seems to be a firm and lightning-fast decision. I don't know Somerset but have heard only extremely complimentary things about it. Happy homecoming!

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Absolutely and utterly fantastic! You deserve it to go smoothly after all your planning and dedication and sheer nerve. House sounds beautiful and garden looks fabulous. Definitely up for giving garden advice. Just my cup of tea, get to think about gardens without having to do any of the slog as too busy slogging in my own!

Rattling On said...

Great news. The garde looks like it has loads of potential. Look forward to seeing the rest!

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