34. Home hunting (1/4)
It was pouring down with rain and the wind was so strong that hoods, scarves and coats were flapping around. We looked like a bunch of lost scarecrows. The sky was dark grey, the rain drops felt like ice cubes. We had the two babies with us so wrapped up they looked like two tiny bundles with tiny red noses poking out.
'Can you remind me again why we moved here? I mean, we could have stayed in Scotland if it was weather like this we wanted. ... Scotland has better weather.'
The man was wearing a ridiculously thin jacket which could not possibly keep him warm. He had a scarf so loose around his neck we could see he was wearing a tie. I thought maybe that was important to him to show us that he was wearing a tie. I also thought that maybe he was Scottish.
'I have two houses for you to see today.' he said cheerily.
He led us to the first house and made for the front door. I asked to see the garden first.
'Just a quick look, I said.' He took us round the back. My mind was made up in an instant.
'No good. Too close to the water, I'd have to constantly keep an eye on these kids.'
Writing this with hindsight, the way they turned out I would have been fishing them out of the mud and the water on a regular basis.
My husband insisted we looked inside but I was not in the mood. The house was just a house and the sight of that garden had put me off.
The second house was as the man had said nice and bright, light and airy and perfect for a family. I was not sure why, there were stairs to fall down in, glass doors to go through and no nooks and crannies to hide in. Boring. I turned to my husband and said:
'This house has no charm.'
The estate agent had heard and turned to me:
'You want charm?' he asked.
'Yes, I want charm. And soul.'
'And 'soul'?'
'Yes.'
He looked a bit freaked out but recovered quickly.
'OK! I've got just what you're looking for. But I am warning you it won't be practical for a young family, no parking for a start and no garage, , it's in town so it's a terraced house, neighbours on each side ... '
As we were listening to him, he continued:
'There's the address, meet me there. But it's difficult to park. ... I got the keys dropped in this very morning as a matter of fact and that's why they are in the car. I honestly wasn't going to show you that house. Just appeared on the market. Well, I've got the key now so I may as well show you. I am warning you it's not what you're looking for. It needs a bit of work ... But it's on our way anyway. So let's go.'
Back in the car, the wee bundles were enjoying this tour of the neighbourhood and arguing about how many houses we were going to buy.
'Can you remind me again why we moved here? I mean, we could have stayed in Scotland if it was weather like this we wanted. ... Scotland has better weather.'
The man was wearing a ridiculously thin jacket which could not possibly keep him warm. He had a scarf so loose around his neck we could see he was wearing a tie. I thought maybe that was important to him to show us that he was wearing a tie. I also thought that maybe he was Scottish.
'I have two houses for you to see today.' he said cheerily.
He led us to the first house and made for the front door. I asked to see the garden first.
'Just a quick look, I said.' He took us round the back. My mind was made up in an instant.
'No good. Too close to the water, I'd have to constantly keep an eye on these kids.'
Writing this with hindsight, the way they turned out I would have been fishing them out of the mud and the water on a regular basis.
My husband insisted we looked inside but I was not in the mood. The house was just a house and the sight of that garden had put me off.
The second house was as the man had said nice and bright, light and airy and perfect for a family. I was not sure why, there were stairs to fall down in, glass doors to go through and no nooks and crannies to hide in. Boring. I turned to my husband and said:
'This house has no charm.'
The estate agent had heard and turned to me:
'You want charm?' he asked.
'Yes, I want charm. And soul.'
'And 'soul'?'
'Yes.'
He looked a bit freaked out but recovered quickly.
'OK! I've got just what you're looking for. But I am warning you it won't be practical for a young family, no parking for a start and no garage, , it's in town so it's a terraced house, neighbours on each side ... '
As we were listening to him, he continued:
'There's the address, meet me there. But it's difficult to park. ... I got the keys dropped in this very morning as a matter of fact and that's why they are in the car. I honestly wasn't going to show you that house. Just appeared on the market. Well, I've got the key now so I may as well show you. I am warning you it's not what you're looking for. It needs a bit of work ... But it's on our way anyway. So let's go.'
Back in the car, the wee bundles were enjoying this tour of the neighbourhood and arguing about how many houses we were going to buy.
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