5 Gardening Dairy: Happy gardening and happy snapping ..

[Esther Knapicius]

Mentioned your name because you told me that you thought the houses looked nice in the UK. The house I viewed today suffered from subsidence because of a huge tree at the back of the property. Funny enough, we were discussing about another big tree AT THE FRONT of the property. Basically, the foundation of the house subsided and it would be a liability for insurance and the house seems to be condemned.

It was the homes I saw on Escape to the Country show that looked nice. I know other parts of the UK really don't look like that.
30 years ago we bought our house for 125. recently in our neighborhood a same type sold for 250. Not planning on leaving for 20 years though. Might buy a second home somewhere though. We have been discussing.

 

[Perki]

Have you sold the house again alp ?

 

[alp]

Thank you @Perki , for your humour and my torment. These people love the house to bits, but of course, are not willing to pay. Houses like mine ask for £425 with a garage up front, and not such a big garden. My house now enjoys the benefits of having 2 supermarkets, one 2 minutes up the road and another 9 minutes' walk. But no, they offered £390K and when I asked for £395k, they promptly withdrew it. Then, they offered £380K and wanted to come with a builder by placing £383, 250 on the table. I kept going back to the bungalow to ask for being able to measure the decked garden and twice had to tell COLOURED building material that the buyers pulled out, leaving me very dodgy in the latter's eyes. Now, I stupidly told the estate agent I could walk away with £386 and he came back with that. I was stupid. I should have asked for £388k. The estate agent had been badgered by the man the whole night and he told me that he had worked hard for me to achieve £386K. I then told him that I wanted £386,500 and it was agreed. He told me that the woman with outrageous make-up sent him an email with a big smile. Boy, I feel so stitched up.

But, don't worry. Tomorrow is another day. I will tell you something later.

 

[alp]

Well, the buyer couple is now with a builder outside my house. I wouldn't be surprised if they want to pull out again. I so want to buy a house with a rolling landscape or like those in Escape to the Country .. with a river full of salmon popping up! That would be better than being stuck in a poky bungalow.

 

[johnny canoe]

Hello alp, hope the deal you worked out sticks and you get things signed so they can't pull out.

I'm also a fan of the show Escape to the Country, some of the mystery houses are a real hoot!

 

[Esther Knapicius]

I catch Escape to the County on Netflix, they have not loaded up more in a long time.

 

[alp]

Hello alp, hope the deal you worked out sticks and you get things signed so they can't pull out.

I'm also a fan of the show Escape to the Country, some of the mystery houses are a real hoot!

I am not sure I want to sell to them. They really have been nasty. Dangling £390K in front of my eyes, and then swoosh, removed it. Then gave me £380. My asking price is £400K. I am not bragging. My front lawn measures 40 feet by 30 feet. Back garden 115 feet although narrowing towards the end, Bathroom tiled to the ceiling and installed in 2013. Boiler 2015, Lean to 5.2m x 2.7m with 100mm insulation board on the floor, 50mm on the two walls with airbricks and then bricks and plastered. They wanted to give me £383.250 and asked to come with a builder. I said no. I told the estate agent that I didn't mind £386,500. The man worked on the estate agent the whole ofThursday and Thursday night. There I made this mistake. I am now stuck with this figure. I had the feeling that they came with the builder who worked to their agenda and would whittle down the offer. But the crazy wife wanted to have so much done that I think she should buy a plot of land and build her own. Thrown into the mix of it was Brexit. Why couldn't the PM and MPs get their act together and just get it over and done with. So much uncertainty that people are losing their jobs and loads of houses have been on the market. Now that my neighbour is letting, life is so much more relaxed.

When I more or less accepted the offer, the first thing I did was to go out to the middle of growing field and burst into tears. I have been so unhappy here! When they came this morning, I just showed them my back to show my displeasure. I shouldn't have shown my hands. But I was stupid, and couldn't really blame others. I was very stressed when I took the house back to wire in LEDs and replaster the walls and I had been getting rid of the wood chips for 5 to 7 days and after that, a lot of painting and wallpapering. I was so exhausted.

Boy, I'm such a moan! How are you, John? Hope you have ventured out again. Love nature and birds. Today, I saw a Jay! Ummm.. such a lovely bird. Virtual friends are no real friends ..

 

[alp]

Escape to the country, Esther, are showing repeats and showing how the buyers have carried on with their purchases. I kept asking myself: Why don't you upstick and find a house in Wales with rolling landscape and a stream on 2 or 3 acres of land, keep chicken, pigeons and ducks? But I have to think of my son. He's worried that he will have no chance to mingle and mix! I really love the two episodes I have watched. Generally, I fast forward the bits I don't want to know and just stare and salivate on the verdant landscape. I so wish to fish in a stream with trout or salmon. Better than those farmed ones.

Today, I went to measure the bungalow and my heart sank as the front measured 70 by 25 feet and the back only 40 x 30. Suddenly, the decking seems small. And I thought I had 100 feet at the back. My dream has been dashed.

Trouble is I don't know what I want and one estate agent was furious with me, saying that I wanted to viewed Chigwell and Wickford at the same time! Blurrrrrrrrrr.. What can I do? My son needs social life and I need space and I need to see what is on offer. He was so mad because he needed to drive to the Wickford house to do the viewing. My stupidity shows no end as I booked some days in advance and only found out the clash yesterday. He was livid. On top of that, the same company kept plugging Homewise for me i.e. selling my house at a fraction of the price according to the age of the buyer (target old age buyers).

Geeee! I have now morphed into @Colin who is expert at writing essay! Colin, it's a compliment, from your sister, alp!

 

[alp]

My bargain/rubbish today

2 for £5 alstroemerias

They look dead, but won't be for long. I will free range them in the front and hopefully will see flowers and seed pods this year. Love them a lot.

This is free ammunition! Lovely! Life's simple pleasure!

 

[alp]

Good morning - Couldn't sleep until 4am.

Going to plant out my alstroemerias. Can't wait for them to flower.

 

[alp]

Talking about Escape to the Country, Grand Designs sometimes serve up quite a few gems as well. This magic mushroom house on Herefordshire is a real treat

Looking at the panoramic view

Extraordinary hobbit-style dome house is latest star of Grand Designs

A breathtaking masterpiece has been created for £100k in the middle of the Herefordshire countryside by a couple who understandably never want to finish it

www.homesandproperty.co.uk

grand designs herefordshire house - Google Search

www.google.co.uk

It's amazing how loving and earthed this couple is! Years of hand crafting .. and the wife has been so patient.

I would love to get that view.

 

[Ian]

That house looks beautiful! So relaxing and tranquil .

I used to watch Grand Designs all the time, but I've not seen it for years now. Might have to catch up with it online .

 

[alp]

Ian, you will miss your automated lighting, hehe!

But boy, isn't he patient and those kids are now teenagers, with artistic flair, just like daddy!

 

[Ian]

Yep, a ton of patience - 10 years (and counting!). Wonderful and absolutely worth it .

 

[Perki]

@alp have you got any Helleborus x hybridus 'Ws Double Picotee' or Helleborus x hybridus 'Ws Double Yellow Spotted' ? If you have what would you say a better variety / better colour / true to colour not keen on muddy colours ?