New Beginnings (Part Three)

It took several months to get to the signing stage of the sale - well 5 in total, but we got there in the end. The date was set as January 11th, but we hadn't allowed for the fact that the ferries adopt a Winter Timetable, and the flights were not on the appropriate days, so we ended up using the Channel Tunnel and then subsequently the drive from Calais to Huelgoat. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone - especially with a tight schedule, and we actually forfeited the return ticket and booked a ferry from Caen to Portsmouth to get back to the UK.

We stayed at Hotel du Lac in Huelgoat, and excitedly met the Estate Agent at his office on the morning of the signing. He came with us to the Notaires, and we were surprised to meet up with the sellers at this point. They were two brothers, who had inherited the house from their Uncle. He had died in the local retirement home, but we have heard several stories about him since - not nasty, I hasten to add !

The signing was quite elongated, and we were very grateful for the services of the Agent (who was English, and could speak a little French), and the Notaire (who was French, but could speak a little English !). There were a lot of signatures to be completed and a lot of initialling - all of which appeared to lean towards the males first - I was an afterthought, I think !

Afterwards, the two brothers took us all for a meal - how civilised is that ! We did have some photographs of this occasion, but sadly they have disappeared in a puff of smoke - or in this case in a cracked CD Rom (HINT - back up all photographs in as many ways as possible!).

After the meal, we all went to our new house, and they showed us round, introduced us to the neighbours, showed us which apples trees were best for jam, and handed over the keys - when I think of the English system of handing the keys over to a Solicitor or an Estate Agent, this seems so much more friendly.

We were given this photograph of the house taken in 1943, which we fully intend to frame at some point. We believe that the couple on the left are the owners, and the man on the horse, may be their son, who COULD be the Uncle that the house was inherited from. I feel quite privileged to have this picture, and would love to discover more of the history at some point. We do have a great piece of history from the War era, which I will share in another blog though.

Anyway, the house is ours............and the adventures begin...........

New Beginnings (Part Two)

The first house that we arrived at, was everything we didn't want ! It was the middle one of a block of three, with access to it over the neighbours land, and its own land a few miles away (or so it seemed !). I didn't even bother to go inside it - it was just not right.

The Agent rang his office for directions to the second, and at the same time as he got them, Craig spotted the house about 500 metres further along the road. What a coincidence. Both houses so close together.

We pulled up outside, and went inside the house - that was it - Craig had gone, exploring !

I think he knew straight away that this was to be the one. I looked at the Agent, and he looked at me, and we nodded.

It was a beautiful day, which of course made a world of difference too, but the house looked a bit sorry for itself, and unloved - how sentimental am I ? And we wanted to help it !

We went back to the B and B, and decided to drive back out to the house by ourselves. Obviously we couldn't go back inside, but plans were taking shape in Craig's head.

By the next morning, Craig had redesigned inside and out, on the back of a cigarette packet. He was brimming with ideas, which he bombarded me with, as I opened my eyes. I'm not at my best first thing in the morning - well, who is ? Anyway, we took another drive out, with Craig pacing out measurements, and pointing out where improvements could be made. I find imagining these sort of things quite difficult, so I'm not sure I took it in..........

Next thing to do - well, put in an offer of course !

We were told that this wasn't usual practice at the time, but never mind. We did it anyway, and then had to wait.

I can't remember how long it took to get a response, but we were back at home in the UK. The first reply was negative, but the Agent suggested a small increase. He said that as the buyers had taken a long time to deliberate over the offer, it suggested that they were close to agreeing, so we took his advice, upped the offer slightly, and - Hey Presto - the sale was going through !