Buying a home

Today we dipped our toes into the house buying waters and went to view a couple of houses in East Sussex. For our first viewings we chose the most contrasting properties possible. The first was a 1930s red-brick semi, the second was a out-of-town development of new houses.

Buying a house is not something I ever really ever thought would happen, for both financial and commitment reasons. We're on a tight budget and we've no idea what's out there, so yesterday viewing the differing houses put perspective in our minds about what we do and don't want.

Stepping into the 1930s semi, everywhere you looked there was a DIY makeover desperately crying out to happen. Original fireplaces had been covered, pebble-dash paint was cracking, decades old carpet musting - I'm by no means DIY adverse but this would take £50k and a team of builders to completely overhaul the space. There wasn't one thing that wouldn't have needed changing. Lesson learnt from property 1 - we do not want a huge project. 

In the car, we shot off to location/property number 2. Within seconds of walking into the brand new house I wanted to get out. I hate new houses. Partly because of my distaste for the government schemes they are built upon and partly because of the abundance of magnolia, mdf and plastic. In the UK the government has schemes set-up to allow first time buyers to get the first step on the market. However, the new houses roughly work out at £100k more than an old house. Leading to the poor home owners who sign up for the deals part-owning over-priced property that will take twice the time to pay off and unlikely to ever sell for as higher price. Here are some links to more information about that here: Huff Post Evening Standard

Rant aside. First time house-viewing verdict - this is not something I'm going to enjoy.

xo

Busy bee

Now how did that happen? There we were, plodding along, then all of a sudden we got b-u-s-y. 

To the beginning, my dear Marianne. The girl who 4 years ago saved my bacon by getting drunk with me at a party of people I didn't know, weeks into mine and R's relationship, then in the same evening dragged me to her flat and offered me somewhere to live for when I became homeless a few weeks later. Marianne recently moved to the beautiful south-west city of Bath, so as the boy was away, I planned my own escape for a much-needed day and night with one of my favourite people.

After trawling the charity shops on what has been the hottest day of the year so far (I managed a dress, floral trousers, Mari got the most amazing bright floral jumpsuit) we went to Same, Same but Different - a lovely reasonably-priced tapas bar. We both had the chorizo and butter bean stew - it was the most delicious meal I've had out in ages! The stew was in a creamy, smokey sauce and we indulged by mopping it up with bread. Yay us!

The following week was the great British jubilee, so to make the most of my parents empty house we headed to Sussex for the weekend. Our Ldn neighbours and their baby came down for a few days and we managed to fit in dinner with my brother, his wife and niece too. We opted for a simple dinner of BBQ grilled chicken and salad, but were treated by my sister-in-law who brought over 20 cupcakes for us! We wouldn't call ourselves royalists, so we didn't so much celebrate the Queen's jubilee, as howl with laughter watching bits and pieces of the BBC coverage. Thanks GB, for always being ever-so-slightly embarrassing. We wouldn't have it any other way.

xo

RAM - the deluxe edition

The beautiful, warm sun is finally shining over London town and all this heat has put me in a particularly happy and wholesome mood. This generally amounts to dancing in my kitchen while I cook up a feast for me and R and tonight the soundtrack was Paul and Linda McCartney's 1971 album RAM.

It was the first album released following the break up of the Beatles, written at the couple's farm in Scotland on the Mull of Kintyre, and has just been reissued in a particularly luxe guise.

I've never been one for limited editions, but this has totally won me over. Partly, because of my soppy nature and ability to find romance in almost anything with two halves, and partly because of the silliness and fun the couple clearly had recording these tracks. 

Sigh. A photo album of sheep, a scrapbook, the uncut story of RAM, photo prints from the album's recording, a documentary, t-shirt. And more. Unfortunately at £100, this one will have to stay in my dreams. If you're reading Sir Paul, how about some limited edition prints?

Megan xo

Fields of praise, Wales

Here are some snaps from our long weekend in Wales. Despite it being my family's native country, this was my first time exploring Wales outside of the Valleys. Staying with the boy's family on the coastline near Haverfordwest, highlights from the trip included cantering a horse named Speckles along a sandy bay, visiting a working Welsh woolen mill and feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of vivid hues on offer outside of the city. Will post more pictures this weekend  but below are some of my favourite colours from the weekend offered up by the Welsh countryside.

Hope you like them,

Megan xo