Monday 10 December 2012

A Wonderful Weekend



We have had the most wonderful weekend.

We visited what is potentially our new home, our 'forever home'.  Of course we have to arrange our finances and get a mortgage organised and then make an offer, have it accepted and then go down the whole survey route, all the time keeping our fingers firmly crossed that no cash buyer jumps in and buys it from under our noses. 

But if it was simply a decision to be made, we would be buying it tomorrow.

It is a bungalow as you can see from the picture, with four bedrooms, one of which we would use as an office.  It has a wonderful kitchen/living/dining room, which we would do most of our living in, as well as a large lounge.  But the most important part for us is the outside, although it has only half an acre is it wonderfully planned out with stables, greenhouse, polytunnel, hen house, goathouse, brick built 'man shed' and lots of space for us to develop veggie beds. It has some mature fruit trees and bushes and a large Asparagus bed.  The best thing for Lovely Hubby is that it has two wood burners, one in each of the main rooms and already has solar powered electricty and solar heated hot water, two of the three things he wanted at our new place, so we would be pretty self sufficient in generating our own power .... and the best thing for me is that it has room for an Aga in the kitchen!!

As it is so far from where we live now in order to view it and not be completely shattered we had to stay overnight in the area.  We chose to stay in a Premier Inn in Boston, and I have to say it was the nicest place we have stayed in for a long time.  The building was lovely, as was the Brewers Fayre right next door for food, we had chosen the 'Meal Deal', so we had a three course evening meal with a glass of wine just after our arrival at 5.30pm and then the 'as much as you can eat breakfast' from the buffet the following morning.  A lovely touch was 'Santa' wandering round distributing selection boxes to all the children as they finished their breakfasts.  The staff in both the hotel and the restaurant were brilliant, answering our questions about the local area and generally being on hand to help any way they could.  I really cannot praise it highly enough.

Before leaving for home we had a quick peek at another property, just for comparisons sake and a wander around Boston itself, lots of good shops.  The whole area is somewhere we have never been to before and we were amazed at how flat this part of the country is.  The area is one of the largest growing regions of the UK for vegetables, so I should be right at home!

Now we just have to be patient and get the ball rolling on this potential purchase.

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If there are some of you out there who are used to me leaving comments on a regular basis on your Blog posts and I seem to be missing, I just want to let you know I am still reading daily or as often as you post, I am just not able to leave comments using Lovely Hubby's laptop in the kitchen.  I can only leave comments if I use the usual computer in the office and it's FREEZING in there ..... literally, even the computer has a cover over it to keep the worst of the cold off.  Now and then if I've been out with the chickens or walking the dogs I leave my coat and hat on (and even my gloves) and have a ten minutes session, trying to leave as many comments as I can before I need to get back into the warmth.

So please bear with me if you don't hear from me on quite such a regular basis, I am still reading all the Blogs on my sidebar and lots of the Blogs that I 'follow'.  We are thinking of updating the laptop and then I should be able to leave comments or even moving the whole computer package  from the office lock, stock and barrel into the kitchen for the rest of the Winter, perhaps this coming weekend if we can.

It's freezing here today but the sun is shining and it's wonderfully fresh out there. I have a package to post off from an Ebay sale this afternoon, so I am letting my car thaw out naturally while I read my way around Blogland with a lovely hot cup of coffee and a rather late bowl of porridge.

Keep cosy.

Sue xx

55 comments:

  1. We drove over to Spalding one day and then onto Boston. Can't remember what day it was but they had a lovely market on in the square. Quite a few shops to choose from as well.

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    1. Some brilliant shops, and a good mix of them too While we were there the local dog training school was putting on a bit of a display, lovely to see.

      Sue xx

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  2. Oooh... that new home sounds divine !! First thing I noticed in the pic was the water barrel at the corner for catching rainwater !!
    Are we going to get to see inside photos or will we have to have patience ?!?
    I promise I will keep my fingers crossed that this new adventure will come true for you !!
    xoxo

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    1. Although I have literally hundreds of photos of the inside of the property, they are all full of the owners possesions, which I feel would be unfair to show to the world, so more photos will follow at a much later date.

      We will be taking all of our rain water barrels too, so they will all be interconnecting not a drop of precious water will be lost.

      Thanks for the crossed fingers!!

      Sue xx

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  3. ages ago we ventured North to that area and found it to be one of the nicest friendliest places we've visited.
    Love the layout of the bungalow but most of all I love the monkey puzzle tree!

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    1. It's a lovely Monkey Puzzle tree and a real whopper!
      I agree about it being a friendly place too.

      Sue xx

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  4. Not only do the house and grounds sound perfect for your needs, but a lovely area in which to settle - fingers crossed X

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  5. So pleased for you... fingers crossed x

    Vicky x

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  6. We are in the Fens, but somewhat south of Boston. Having transplanted to this flat land from Scotland, I have to say that you get used to it, and eventually, 12 years later, I can say that I find the amazing skies quite beautiful - there is SO much Sky here! My uncle and aunt are just outside Spalding, so I know that bit better than Boston, but I am sure that you will make yourselves at home wherever you go. The bungalow looks just perfect! Lots of luck xx

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    1. That was exactly what we were amazed at, the BIG SKY, it was a beautiful fiery red sunset on Saturday night as we were driving to the hotel and the whole area was bathed in the most glorious light.

      Sue xx

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  7. As soon as I saw the solar panel I was sold!
    Jane x

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    1. So was Lovely Hubby.

      There is a feed in system to the national grid (the house 'earns on average a hubdred pounds a month) and also solar heated hot water panels on the other side of the roof, the only thing missing for him was a wind turbine .... he says that will be going at the back of the property where there are open fields, and will most likely give us additional power for all the outbuildings (and of course be his new toy!!).

      Sue xx

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  8. I do hope it all works out for you. The bungalow looks great and I love the thought of woodburners and solar panels. As smallholderwannabes, we have just six months left to find somewhere to move to and I am getting a little downhearted about it but I feel better now that I've read your post. There are nice places out there because you've found one. I just need to find ours now : )

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    1. I hope you manage to find somewhere. Have you tried Greenshifters? A brilliant site that we use. you can sell, buy, rent and generally find out what is available for any type of rural house move or re-location. Just Google it.

      Sue xx

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  9. I live in South Lincs and visit Boston quite often, it is not too far from Grantham which is lovely for a day out. Spalding is smaller but has Springfields shopping complex, and just outside the town is Baytree garden centre, well worth a visit. A bit further south is Holbeach, the place to go for a meal out, nearly every cuisine under the sun can be found here. I hope all goes well for you and that you move in to the area, we are friendly folk by and large.

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    1. We saw signs for Spaldingbut didn't have anymore time left to visit, maybe next time.

      We were overjoyed to see that Boston has a Prezzo - our favourite eating place!

      Sue xx

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  10. The possible 'new estate' sounds wonderful, fingers crossed for your dreams to come true! I love the sound of the aga!! What bliss!! Also plenty of room for all the animals!! Good luck for the next step!! Kind regards, Heather

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    1. 'Estate'...lol, it's the tinest estate ever!!

      I can't wait to get an Aga again ....sigh!!

      Sue xx

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  11. Sounds like you found youe dream.
    Best of luck, hope everything goes smoothly.

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  12. Yes, best of luck Sue. Long way to go yet, as you say.
    Woodburners (that you can use!) and room for an Aga - what could be better.
    Keeping fingers and toes crossed. Jx

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    1. Thanks, i can't wait for my Aga!!

      Sue xx

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  13. Way to go Sue, brilliant, just the sort of property we would be looking at..........Lincolnshire is a lovely country and you have some great scenery. We used to go to the Flower parade in Spalding every year.
    We considered moving there some years ago.v
    I have everything crossed that all goes well for you and you get your forever home.

    I will look forward to reading about your efforts to bring your plans to fruition. Any more photos????????

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    1. No more photos for a while sorry, all the interior shots are full of the current owners possessions and the outside ones might be a good advert for someone to come along and snap it up from under our noses, can't risk that!!

      Sue xx

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  14. Best of luck with it, sounds perfect! :)

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  15. This Canuck was a bit confused at first when you said 'Boston' .. I happened to be talking to my Dad (An escaped Londoner) when I muttered 'There's a Boston in England?' And he made a disgusted noise and said of course there is. There then became a quick geography lesson as he tried to get me to comprehend where it was. I finally said "OH! Above the hip of the doggie on the right side!" .. I think he's given up on me at this point. :)

    The home looks beautiful and does sound very perfect! Rubbing bunny paws and thinking positive things for you!

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    1. To make matters even more confusing for folk the area our cottage is in is called New York!!

      Thanks for the positive thoughts.

      Sue xx

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  16. The house is gorgeous. I wish you the very best of luck with it and I hope it all works out.

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  17. Hope it all works out. When we found our current home, we were in the same position. Our house has a third of an acre garden with poly tunnel, green house, summer house and sheds. At the time we had a new born baby, had to prepare our house for sale and then wait and hope no one else bought the house...
    And they didn't! We got the house and have been there two years.
    Good luck and Best wishes
    x

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    1. Your place sounds perfect!

      Thanks for the good wishes.

      Sue xx

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  18. Sounds like it would be a fabulous move for you and a perfect little bungalow for you too grow old into and make completly your own. We have moved from North Lincolnshire and some of our family still lives in the Louth area. It certainly is flat and full of vegetables xx

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    1. I love the fact that there are SO many vegetables growing all around it's amazing to see, how have I never seen this area before!!

      Sue xx

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  19. Sounds fab. Hope it all works out for you. Can't help wondering what made you settle for a forever home in a place you hadn't visited before? It certainly sounds like it's just perfect for you, x

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    1. Our 'home' is simply the place where we are, together with our animals. Wherever we are together is the right place.

      This house and land simply fitted all our criteria and while we are all mobile (ie drivers) family is accessible, it is also most definitely nearer to all our other family members than where we are now.

      It is also the first and last home we will be buying together.

      Sue xx

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  20. Sue, this sounds lovely, I do hope your plans work out! We have put solar panels on around 12 months ago, no regrets at all. Cheers Judy xx

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    1. These were only put in around that time, so there is lots of money earning time left on the contract, a nice little earner for self sufficient folk.

      Sue xx

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  21. The place looks lovely. Good luck, I hope all goes well and your offer gets accepted. :)

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    1. There are lots of crossed fingers, but we do have to be patient, not something I'm terribly good at!

      Sue xx

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  22. Hi Sue,

    A big hello with a big smile from a fellow veggie. nice.

    feels amazing to see the change. and especially fellow men who are part of this change. feels like family.

    btw beautiful blog you have got, the old one and this both.

    Chandan

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  23. Oh how exciting Sue. I hope your dream comes true. I can't wait to read all about it !

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    1. ..... and you will, lots more Blogging material now over the next few years!

      Sue xx

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  24. Hope everything works out for you Sue. We live in Nottingham and often visit Boston, its a bustling little town and Im sure you will love living in Lincolnshire.Kind regards.

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    1. We're really looking forward to exploring a whole new area again, we have done it so many times, I'm kind of glad this will be the final time.

      Thank goodness for Google and Sat Navs to find out where everything is.

      Sue xx

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  25. Good luck wth forever home lets hope it is an easy process.I know Boston very nice part of world.

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    1. Thank you. You never know with house purchases do you, at least there is no chain (at the moment).
      Sue xx

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  26. Lots of good luck Sue. You certainly have great energy and purpose in everything you do and that is half your battle done already. Fingers crossed too that all goes well. I lived in Newark a long time ago - not so very far away from Boston and that was a lovely area too. Like everyone else I look forward to hearing all about it. Ann x

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  27. Haha.....let's home the energy lasts!!

    I spotted the signs for Newark on the way and got really excited, isn't there a huge antiques fair therea couple of times a year, I've always wanted to go to it?

    Sue xx

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  28. Fingers crossed for you Sue - it sounds wonderful.

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  29. Good luck Sue, it sounds perfect!

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  30. Good luck - it sounds like an ideal home.

    Julie Q

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