Posts
Saturday 29 October 2011
Monday 10 October 2011
Not enough hours in the day..
The house is finished, tomorrow it will have an EPC rating and be on the market! We have already started sprucing up the pub and should have it on the market by the end of November, provided we can keep working 18hr plus days
We have a growing sense of excitement that finally, we're going to achieve our dream. All our spare time is spent talking about, planning and researching our move, we feel like a couple of kids looking forward to Christmas!
More soon!
We have a growing sense of excitement that finally, we're going to achieve our dream. All our spare time is spent talking about, planning and researching our move, we feel like a couple of kids looking forward to Christmas!
More soon!
Saturday 17 September 2011
New pump...
.....Fitted and heating system all working....hoooray!
Only the kitchen and exterior left to paint, house should be on the market next week, weather permitting.
One good thing that's come from getting the house sorted, I've re-discovered my adiction for DIY, I'm ready for whatever our new Portuguese house may throw at us!
Spent what little spare time I have loading films on to my WD MyBookWorld Nas, we'll have entertainment once we get to Portugal.
Only the kitchen and exterior left to paint, house should be on the market next week, weather permitting.
One good thing that's come from getting the house sorted, I've re-discovered my adiction for DIY, I'm ready for whatever our new Portuguese house may throw at us!
Spent what little spare time I have loading films on to my WD MyBookWorld Nas, we'll have entertainment once we get to Portugal.
Friday 9 September 2011
What a week!!
Tarting the house up ready to place on the market can be stressful!
Used the reserve and collect function at B&Q to order the paint for the exterior, arrived at the store and everything was waiting for me on a trolly at the checkout, paid and shoved the 40ltrs of paint in the boot. Got to the houses and started to paint, all going well so far. Day one got one gable end and the front coated, was thinking that the Sandtex magnolia was some what lighter than before, but the place was looking good. Day two, was halfway through the second gable end and needed to open the last 10ltr tub.....a different colour....it was magnolia....it said so on the tub, checked the other tubs.....oatmeal....!@$4$$$$!!.
Day three, heating oil arrived so time to spark up the boiler for the first time in over a year. Whats that I hear....running water?....Games room is awash....water running down the walls and through the ceiling....a dammed burst pipe....great!
Day four, pipes repaired, re charged the heating system, fired up the boiler, radiators lovely and hot....then...a strange sound from the boiler....and the pump has died....happy bloody days!
And there are those who say I have a charmed life....
Used the reserve and collect function at B&Q to order the paint for the exterior, arrived at the store and everything was waiting for me on a trolly at the checkout, paid and shoved the 40ltrs of paint in the boot. Got to the houses and started to paint, all going well so far. Day one got one gable end and the front coated, was thinking that the Sandtex magnolia was some what lighter than before, but the place was looking good. Day two, was halfway through the second gable end and needed to open the last 10ltr tub.....a different colour....it was magnolia....it said so on the tub, checked the other tubs.....oatmeal....!@$4$$$$!!.
Day three, heating oil arrived so time to spark up the boiler for the first time in over a year. Whats that I hear....running water?....Games room is awash....water running down the walls and through the ceiling....a dammed burst pipe....great!
Day four, pipes repaired, re charged the heating system, fired up the boiler, radiators lovely and hot....then...a strange sound from the boiler....and the pump has died....happy bloody days!
And there are those who say I have a charmed life....
Friday 2 September 2011
The Dreams Alive
.....Only just mind. Its no fun being in the licensed trade in the UK at the moment, costs are up and takings are down.
Have spent the past two months getting our house ready for the market, plastering, and a lick of paint inside and out. We can't wait any longer, we've held back and held back hoping for the market to recover here, but it just is not going to happen, we're down £90k on the 07 valuation.
Just have the garden to sort before instructing the estate agents, we have a Japanese Knot-weed problem that's cost a small fortune to treat over the summer, it appears to have died back now, fingers crossed we get a quick sale.
We then have to sell the Pub, that could be more problematic, not many people are buying Pubs at the moment, so we've decided to put it on the market for the price we paid in 07 and hope for the best.
One way or another we WILL be living in Portugal in 2012. The value of our assets have fallen by around £200k in the past 3 years so we will have to scale back our plans. We have spent hours discussing the move and the both of us are in total agreement that no matter how much we have to scale back, the quality of life will still be better than we have now.
Have spent the past two months getting our house ready for the market, plastering, and a lick of paint inside and out. We can't wait any longer, we've held back and held back hoping for the market to recover here, but it just is not going to happen, we're down £90k on the 07 valuation.
Just have the garden to sort before instructing the estate agents, we have a Japanese Knot-weed problem that's cost a small fortune to treat over the summer, it appears to have died back now, fingers crossed we get a quick sale.
We then have to sell the Pub, that could be more problematic, not many people are buying Pubs at the moment, so we've decided to put it on the market for the price we paid in 07 and hope for the best.
One way or another we WILL be living in Portugal in 2012. The value of our assets have fallen by around £200k in the past 3 years so we will have to scale back our plans. We have spent hours discussing the move and the both of us are in total agreement that no matter how much we have to scale back, the quality of life will still be better than we have now.
Monday 8 February 2010
Plodding on
2010 continued where 2009 left off but there is some light at the end of the tunnel. We had a helping hand from the bank and the RBS Six Nations Rugby has kicked off so things are finally looking brighter in the bar.
Need to find time to do a bit of DIY on the house before we place it on the market, house prices have recovered a little so we can at last hope for a sale with a reasonable return.
Portugal June 2009 seem like a million years away, we were so happy during that one month and the thought of a permanent move there keeps us going. We plan to visit Pat & Rick again this year and do a bit more house scouting, can't wait!
The snow and ice has finally melted and more people are out and about, though there are fears it will be returning before long, god I hope not, an empty bar is such a depressing place.
Actually managed to get out on the bike for a spin over the weekend, the sun was out but was well wrapped up so did not feel the chill too much, felt alive for the first time in weeks!
Need to find time to do a bit of DIY on the house before we place it on the market, house prices have recovered a little so we can at last hope for a sale with a reasonable return.
Portugal June 2009 seem like a million years away, we were so happy during that one month and the thought of a permanent move there keeps us going. We plan to visit Pat & Rick again this year and do a bit more house scouting, can't wait!
The snow and ice has finally melted and more people are out and about, though there are fears it will be returning before long, god I hope not, an empty bar is such a depressing place.
Actually managed to get out on the bike for a spin over the weekend, the sun was out but was well wrapped up so did not feel the chill too much, felt alive for the first time in weeks!
Monday 21 December 2009
Disaster!!!
Well the recession really got a grip of the Pub game in the last half of this year, everything is down, including our spirits.
We're now putting in treble the hours we were at the start of the year, in an effort to stave off absolute financial collapse we have had to let all but the bar manager go, strange how these things creep up on you, August was fine then October took a nose dive, November and December have been grim months.
Anyway, we still intend to put our home on the market in the new year, probably in the spring and if there are no further hurdles, buy a place near FDV.
I love this country, but I hate where our Government is taking us and the cold, wet weather leaves a lot to be desired, especially when you've had as many broken bones as I've had!
I can't remember the last time I rode my bike, its either raining or I'm working.
Had our first snow of the winter this week, all cleared now but there are those who still hope for a white Christmas, I'm not one of them.
My Jacqui's been a rock, she works silly hours and never complains, she can still see light at the end of the tunnel and thinks its a price worth paying, think I'd have turned to bank robbery by now if it was not for her.
Looking forward to having all my family at home on the 25th and to the end of what has become an "Annus horribilis"...as Liz would say.
Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year To You All
We're now putting in treble the hours we were at the start of the year, in an effort to stave off absolute financial collapse we have had to let all but the bar manager go, strange how these things creep up on you, August was fine then October took a nose dive, November and December have been grim months.
Anyway, we still intend to put our home on the market in the new year, probably in the spring and if there are no further hurdles, buy a place near FDV.
I love this country, but I hate where our Government is taking us and the cold, wet weather leaves a lot to be desired, especially when you've had as many broken bones as I've had!
I can't remember the last time I rode my bike, its either raining or I'm working.
Had our first snow of the winter this week, all cleared now but there are those who still hope for a white Christmas, I'm not one of them.
My Jacqui's been a rock, she works silly hours and never complains, she can still see light at the end of the tunnel and thinks its a price worth paying, think I'd have turned to bank robbery by now if it was not for her.
Looking forward to having all my family at home on the 25th and to the end of what has become an "Annus horribilis"...as Liz would say.
Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year To You All
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