(Another) week in the Lakes, Progress on the plot and Starting a new job

Started writing this in the Lakes.
Finished writing this during my first week in the new job.

What a difference living north of the border makes when driving to the Lakes. Up at a reasonable time, pack up, drive for two and a half hours then arrive at holiday home. Very civilised. We have a cosy double room in The Watergarden Suite near Ambleside. Room for the two of us and we have a "spare" bedroom for the overflow of our walking gear.
A nice apartment with views of the Fairfield horseshoe and plenty of slightly complicated gadgets including an oven with a menu of settings, a double shower (two shower heads plus room for two) and lights aplenty.
Wifi also available which is useful.
Saturday was beautiful with sunshine, blue skies and the Fairfield horseshoe calling. So it was completed in just over 6 hours from the door. Just as challenging as memory had it and just as long. Sunday saw us walk from the door via Grasmere and Easedale Tarn to Stickle Tarn in Langdale where we met up with Jacqueline and Ian who had completed a walk in the area. Met at the pub for a well deserved post-walk drink. There was one part of this walk where the path climbed a wet rock face without visible sign that it was in fact a path!  It also included large amounts of lakeland bog - knee deep for Gary and too much of it for comfort for me. However all obstacles dealt with eventually and so ended two good walking days.
A rest day was called for on Monday so Jacqueline and I tested the spa treatments at Underscar in Keswick. (Ambleside's branch was fully booked) Relaxed and looking and smelling gorgeous, we returned through high winds and heavy rain to Ambleside.
Tuesday's forecast was for more rain, hail, thunder and snow on the tops. First signs of winter appearing. Quite a temperature drop too. After a quiet morning, we tramped off acrosss Loughrigg - testing new boots - in the pouring rain, hail and gale force winds, exactly as forecast. 
Wednesday dawned like a day from a different season - bright, sunny, clear blue skies with a bit of an autumnal nip in the air. Off we went to Coniston where we climbed the Old Man and carried on to Dow Crag where we walked the ridge to complete a circular walk from the car. All of this in hats, gloves and several layers. Bright and blue it might be but it was definitely winter temperatures, completed with a howling wind adding a high wind chill factor. So cool was it that second lunch had to wait until after 2pm when we could find some shelter to sit comfortably in. The late afternoon / early evening light was glorious - shadows, golden bracken and a blue, blue sky. Headed home happy to a promise of frost tonight. Luckily, we have all we need for a curry at home.
Thursday was frosty with a cloud inversion across the valley. Walked up and across Loughrigg taking numerous photos as we went. The light was glorious again and the fells looked on fire with clouds rolling along ridges. A few of the best attached below.

View back to Coniston Old Man

Across to The Langdales - fantastic clouds

Early morning cloud inversion from the apartment to Fairfield (Frost on grass)

A fine walk was complemented by a fine meal at Zefforellis that night. Yes it is a vegetarian restaurant; yes we all had an enjoyable meal. Quality food and atmosphere as always.
We packed up and headed back north; another fine drive of less than three hours door to door. 

Return to reality - the boxes were still waiting for us to unpack them!
Some progress from the Scottish solicitor - agreement seems likely on our revised conditional offer for the house plot. All being well, planning permission will be renewed by early 2012 so we should be able to complete the purchase. The croft will take longer but that's to be expected.

So to Tuesday 25th October - a key date as it is when I start to earn a living again. 
My first day back in the world of work goes well although it may take my brain a while to start firing on all cylinders. There will be plenty to do over the next two years which should keep me out of mischief. The drive to work was a delight - it took all of five minutes.


Here's to the next two years.




 

A quick visit to Skye

To get away from the boxes yet to be unpacked and to revisit the plot of land we hope to buy - just to check it's still there as just as nice as we remember it.
Will also be interesting to time the journey from Alloa and check out the options for future trips.
Journey out was via Callandar and Lochearnhead then on to meet the A85 at Crianlarich then on by the "normal" route through Glen Coe, Fort William and Kyle of Lochalsh. As we drove at a reasonable speed through the Kintail / Shiel range, we were caught and overtaken by a large lorry which appeared to be fully loaded with 10 live fish tanks. The driver had no problems with overtaking on a winding A road at more than 60 mph. I was happy to let him!
Stopped for coffee and a 20p pee at Kyle - finally, loos that merit the entrance charge. Plants, posters, information booklets and clean and sweet smelling. And they have their own poem.
Settled into our lochside B&B for the night in a room with windows a stone's throw from the water's edge. You could hear the tide going in and out - very peaceful. Could also hear the main road through but not so that it interrupted a good night's sleep.
Monday morning dawned with sunshine and showers. We decided to visit the north of the island as we hadn't been up there before. Headed out, parked up and climbed up to the "Old Man of Storr" A 45 minute walk up some steep ground through a stunning natural ampitheatre to these amazing rock formations. Even on a cool October morning it was busy with tourists taking a look. The final 50 metres was a scramble on loose scree and rock. We passed a Japanese couple; he with camera and water bottle, she in Harris tweed coat, red trews and riding boots. She appeared to be absolutely terrified and at one point was physically unable to lift one leg to progress. She did make it to the top of the Old Man but whether (or how) she managed on the descent we can only guess. 
Picture shows the Old Man and the sheer cliffs and rock formations behind it.   

The Old Man is the rock spire to the right and in front of the cliffs.

There were many Dutch and German tourists walking and climbing around the Old Man. Some poorly equipped for the ground conditions and the scramble and many wanting to know "How far is it to the top?"
We were lucky and avoided the rain for the time we were out and about. Decided we could have spent the whole day up there and will certainly return another time. The views back across Skye, to the mainland and to the Cuillins were amazing.  Gary is determined to return with camera gear so watch out for some atmospheric photos in the months to come.
Drove across one of the most remote roads on the island, complete with beautifully tended graveyard half way (no habitation at all) and ended up back in Uig.
Checked out a couple of houses for sale (beautiful lochside location) just in case and found a couple that we would consider if it all goes pear-shaped with the plot.


Tuesday was another variable weather day and we drove through a tremendously heavy shower to get to Fernilea. Vivid rainbows to compensate though. Still like the location, still like the plot. Met up with Mary and her oppo, Ian. He lives locally so could tell us about the area / the people etc.
Once they were kitted out in full waterproof gear, we waded onto the house plot and Ian showed us where the corner stakes setting out the plot boundaries were. No wonder we couldn't find them in the summer - it was difficult even with the bracken dying down. Mary and I were shoulder deep at times.
There is a small burn on the plot along with a number of natural trees which will give some shelter from the winds. The site is down below the road so the house will benefit from low visibility and more shelter. All good so far. If we can get the croftland too there is a small wood, plenty of heather and goodness knows what else in the undergrowth. It will be an interesting adventure finding our way to the loch.
Thankfully, the site is even more lovely than we remembered. Mary was already designing and placing the house. I was imagining the views from the floor to ceiling windows and Gary and Ian were being more practical.
Bottom line - now the house is sold and we have moved into our new home, it is time to get this purchase moving.
Calls to solicitors and vendor imminent. We (with Dualchas) can apply for outline planning permission if that unblocks the impasse, so that is our fallback position. 
Photos show the house plot.

View from plot (house) showing loch and trees.

                                If you look really hard, you can just see one of the boundary stakes                                                       (right of centre and in line with river valley across loch)

Back home via the A85 and the A9 - you have to try out the different options but this won't be one we do again in a hurry. Too winding (A85) and too busy / dangerous (A9)


House is looking more like home. Will unpack a few more boxes tomorrow then it's off the the Lakes for a week. Once we return from our final holiday this year I have to start thinking seriously about work!

Driving through rainbows, moving in and house sale completed.

All went to plan on moving day, van locked and loaded and on the road by 09.30. We cleaned up, handed over the house keys to Kevin and followed at 11.00. A clear run to Cumbria via Shap summit and horizontal wind socks warning of high winds. No kidding.  Bad enough in the car, heavens knows what the winds would be like for the van. Passed all of our wordly goods somewhere between Birmingham and Manchester. Everything that defines us - in a single, medium sized, lorry!
A lovely B&B and a good pub meal to end the day.
Woke to stormy weather for the drive to Fishcross. This made for a drive through rainbows as the sun hit the storm clouds. In addition, the spray from other vehicles made for some mobile rainbows - something I had never seen before. Very pretty, almost magical.
No sight of the removals van on the motorways but as we arrived at the house (dead on time) the van and the lettings agents were waiting for us. The heavens opened again just as we arrived and as they opened the tailgate. Paperwork signed, kettle found and on for a brew.
Rain or no rain, the furniture and boxes were being unloaded. Just the two guys to do the unloading - they were both excellent and were happy to move things around, help with reconstructing the furniture and lifted and shifted as required. 
Within four hours, with only a short break for lunch, everything was unloaded, van checked (found three small pots and a bucket of cleaning products in the locker) and they were off back to Devon.
So we were in our new temporary home surrounded by boxes and falling over various items  every time we decided to move anywhere. Time for some logic and some food. Then to work sorting out the lounge (somewhere to sit) the bedroom (somewhere to sleep) and the kitchen (food and drink)
Some time later, TV set up and settled in for the night. It was as quiet as we hoped it might be. We had no internet or phone - all due to be connected tomorrow. Luckily all the windows have blinds (but no curtains) so we shut out the night and slept the sleep of the really tired.
Friday -  the shifting and organising and tidying continued with order gradually being restored. There were many instances of finding something, putting it down / back in a box then losing it for a couple of hours only to re-discover it later. So far, no breakages to report and we know that everything is here somewhere. 
Then, late morning came the call we were waiting for - the house sale was complete and the cash was with the solicitors. Well, you never really believe it's going to go to plan until you get that call. If only the bank had played the game and confirmed the redemption figure as promised, we would have had the cash transfer today. However, unusually for First Direct, they were a bit tardy and we missed the bank deadline for transferring the money. Will be first thing on Mondy then - not concerned as the balance is with solicitors and the buyer has coughed up (something that had been in doubt in our minds following the chaos that was the exchange process)
After unloading yet more boxes we went out for a short stroll. The photo below shows the view from the cycle / footpath five minutes walk from the house.

The hills are the Ochils and we will be exploring them from our door over the next few weeks. A beautiful evening with clear skies, sunshine if a little cool. Anticipating phone and internet connections to be completed by the end of today; meanwhile we have mobile internet that works just fine.

Moving on - with a bit of help

Today was the day that we found out how many boxes all of our possessions would fit into. It took quite a few as it happened.
After a 08.00 start, the Wotton boys (and they were all boys) had our books, clothes, computers, knick-knacks, kitchen equipment and various assorted treasures out of our cupboards / wardrobes and into tidy boxes. 
Our (my) clothes fit neatly into 7 boxes, 4 suitcases and a few holdalls. And this was after a pretty severe culling prior to moving. Will have to reassess when we unpack. Luckily the rental house has plenty of wardrobe space and it seems that we will be using most of it. Obviously the shoe collection merited its own boxes.
Furniture followed and the van filled up although it seemed to be a bit tardis-like and always had lots of space available.
The removals firm started off with two lads on the early shift then a hoard of willing helpers turned up at 10.30. Lots of sweat, radio two and no bad language.
Result - by 1pm everything that wasn't tied down or in the "going with us in the car" pile had been packed away.

So we are sitting here now on two lone chairs, watching the TV (no remote, it was packed) eating a last meal, thanks to Tesco, and enjoying a bottle of red - well deserved after that hard work keeping an eye on what was being packed and what wasn't. 
Another 08.00 start tomorrow when they return to pick up the last few bits and pieces. Then we can finish the cleaning and follow our stuff up the motorway.

B&B booked for tomorrow night near Penrith so with a fair wind, we should only have a couple of hours of driving on Thursday morning. Probably shouldn't tempt fate and mention winds of any kind - having just watched the forecast for tomorrow I have a feeling that it might be a little on the breezy side. I also think I heard a forecast for snow on the top of Scottish hills at the weekend. That's proper autumn weather!

It feels very odd to be sitting in a virtually empty house which echoes to any sound made. We have had some good times here but it is time to move on. Time to re-invent ourselves and our lifestyle and time to leave the hustle and bustle of cities, motorways and busy, noisy streets behind us.
Whatever the future holds, it will be exciting and we will enjoy it.

Next post will be from north of the border and our temporary home.
 

And relax .....

We finally did it!
Contracts exchanged today so it's all go for next week without having to worry about how to sell an empty house from 450 miles away. We would have found a way but this is so much easier.

The deal is done.
Realised that my problem with the last couple of weeks is that I had absolutely no control over what was happening (or not happening) Didn't like that at all.

So to celebrate we have booked a couple of nights in Perelandra, a lochside B&B on Skye - which means that we will get at least one day's walking in as well as meeting up with Mary and hopefully progress the purchase of the plot and the design of the house.   

Just the packing to finish off, a few places to visit in Devon to say a fond and final farewell to and it's off to pastures new. 

A final note of caution - you have to let an awful lot of people / organisations know that you are moving. A standard email / letter goes a long way to making this less painful but you will have to phone some of them, often through a call centre and repeat the same old security stuff again and again. Tonight, all of that seems worth it.

Looking to sell your house and follow your dream ???

 Some advice based on our recent experience.

1: Never, ever, believe what you are told by a) the purchaser; b) your estate agent; c) solicitors acting for your buyer

2: Your house is not sold until the deposit is in the bank - even then you could be on dodgy ground

3: No matter how flexible you are as a seller - yes we will wait all summer until you are ready to move / yes we can be flexible as far as completion dates go / yes you can visit and measure up etc etc -  don't expect any payback (karma) it just doesn't happen.

4: Get used to waiting around for all of those important calls and waiting then waiting some more.

5: Never lose sight of exactly why you are doing this!  It is so easy to get lost in the brain maze of who is supposed to be doing what, when.

6: Very early on, make a list of who needs to know you are moving. At least this will give you something to do while you are waiting - see 4 above.

7: Be prepared to prove your identity so many times that you can answer all of the questions in your sleep. (I am sick and tired of proving who I am and that I have the right to live / work in the UK)

8: Remember that you are not your agent's / solicitor's only client. Therefore you will only receive priority attention if you nag them just a bit and chase them relentlessly to do the job you are paying them to do.



Otherwise, all is going well!!

The removals lorry and men are booked, we are dismantling the house around us, B&B booked for the night of 5th October, made arrangements to meet with the chap from the lettings agency to get the keys to our rented house, all non essential stuff either recycled, given to charity or binned, last hair appointment made ( new hairdresser one of the important issues to be resolved) and change of address messages drafted ready to be sent.

On a more positive note - we will be spending a couple of days on Skye to see and stomp around on the plot, meet with Mary at Dualchas and discuss what we could build. (The purchase of the croft and house site is proceeding at Skye pace with a couple of issues remaining outstanding) We also have a week in the Lakes to look forward to in mid-October then a final few days of rest and relaxation before I  enter the world of work once again.


It's been an interesting experience and, compared to some, a relatively easy process I suppose. However, I am so pleased that we won't be doing it again for some time.


Exchange finally expected tomorrow with completion due on 7th October - everything crossed.
Very therapeutic writing this.

House hunting, not as simple as it might seem!

After a straightforward and trouble free journey to Scotland on Friday morning, we were early for our first viewing so I was able to visit the council and prove my ID and sign some documents before we headed into the countryside to start the business of deciding where we would be living for the next two years.
As an aside, probably not the way I would choose to spend my birthday, we were up at 06.15!,  but needs must.
So today we viewed four properties, two of which we wrote off pretty quickly, one of which we liked very much and the remaining one would have done for us but there was a dodgy approach lane!
We had booked into a B&B close to Stirling - this turned out to be part of a small estate complete with animals, huge grounds and situated down a very long drive so nice and quiet. A large bedroom and separate bathroom both of which were comfortable and well kitted out. West Plean House is part of "Stay on a Farm" B&Bs and we would choose one of these again based on our experience here.
Gary suggested a supermarket cafe for dinner (I think he was having a laugh) but we ended up eating in Cabes, a lovely shack with excellent food in Stirling.
Slept reasonably well but both brains on overdrive with details of houses. Decided we both liked the first property we saw - a steading in Saline.
Breakfast on Saturday morning could be described as Farmhouse and was really good. Many of our previous B&Bs could learn from this one. Quality food, no limit on juice, coffee, toast etc and a good choice of cooked breakfast if required.
Four more houses to view today - again one written off quite quickly, one no show and two possibilities. Much thinking to do. Both of us agreed that the first and last properties we had viewed were our favourites. Which one to go for?
After much discussion it was the steading from Friday. Decision made.
After another fine breakfast on Sunday morning, the long drive home was waiting for us.
As it turned out, not a bad day to travel. Made it home in under 7 hours including stops. A cloudburst at Bristol slowing us up on the last leg.
Monday morning and most of the day was spent on the phone to various agencies, landlords etc; the steading was ours if we could fill in ten pages worth of forms, prove our IDs, prove I would be working etc etc. Many hours later the forms were sent by email, the deposit was sent by bank transfer and we could cross that one off the list. Oh and at the same time the washing was on so Gary spent his birthday unpacking, washing, drying and generally having fun.
Another decision made - birthdays celebrations would be deferred this year to a date not too far in the future when we could actually take time out to enjoy ourselves.
(as if we haven't been doing just that all summer)
So to bed thinking that at least we had sorted out our accommodation, just the exchange of contracts (due on Tuesday) and the removals firm to confirm.


If only ..... a call this morning from the letting agents to confirm all info received as needed but and it's a big BUT - the property owner had just received an offer from a purchaser who wants to buy the steading. *!$** and many other phrases were uttered when I could manage to speak that is. Oh dear and we had happily told all other property owners and agencies that we were sorted. And then there was the matter of money exchanging hands. 
Several quick phone calls later (and a bit of sweet talking from Gary) and we had agreed that we did want to rent our second choice of property. At least it was still available. Liz, the owner was happy to proceed with us as tenants. A very efficient lady called Kate sorted out the details and we filled out all of the forms again. Money to be transferred tomorrow - let's hope the other agency return the cash as quickly as they took it.

So, a quick re-group and we end the day once again looking forward to living in Clackmannanshire. This time within 1.5 miles of my place of work so I can be truly "green" and walk or cycle to work. Must check out the shower facilities first though!

Mentally exhausted, brains stuffed full of stuff whizzing around, signing off for now.
Hopefully no more drama for the next couple of weeks - at least we have booked the Wotton boys to pack for us as well as to move all of our stuff.