Susie and Orbit's daily dribble

[moonlights]

Oh gosh Susie, house buying is such a stress. Take your time and really feel out what you need to do for you. It's a nasty shock to get that monetary demand now but if you can make the flat perfect and it's still within your budget it may be worth it. Or the flat on the coast, only you can know how you'll handle the commute. Breathe, picture yourself in both places and decide what's most worth it to you. You'll be ok. Xx

 

[Supersmileyme]

Susie, do you know st leonards very well? Is that the place you love being and makes you feel at home? If so, maybe that's the place to head.

 

[coffeelover]

That's interesting timing Susie! Make sure you think about it carefully though. I would tell them to stuff it with the french doors, but think carefully about a commute. Don't know of long of a commute it would be for you but I commute about 45 min each way so 1.5 hours and sometimes I just want to magic myself home especially after a rubbish day. Plus if your social life is in London, another consideration is you'd be traveling late at night. Although it seems ages away and I know how much you want this place, remember the glut of properties that go on the market about Easter time and your in a strong buying position. My mil always says 'what's for you won't go by you' Hope this all works out for you lovely. HUGS x

 

[ladyfelsham]

You are some amazing ladies, you know that? I love you all so much for your helpful and supportive words xxxx

Am sitting here having a little cry, tbh...my home life is so important to me, and all these blinking obstacles get thrown in my way! :cry:It didn't help that I came in the door tonight to find Orbs cowering, because Bully Boy Nasty Cat had just been in the flat terrorising her - but the landlord won't let me put in a cat flap, so I'd been really hoping to get it all sorted for the poor love soon.

Some of you will know (because I will insist on going on about it here ) that I've been looking to buy a flat on the coast for a couple of years. I really love St Leonards - don't know anyone there, but people are lovely and friendly, and as I'm pretty outgoing, I thought it wouldn't take me long to meet people. I've lived in London for 20 years and have virtually no close friends living here anymore, so my social life consists of work-related concerts and drinks after work - or coming home to my second love, Minimins

If the St Leonards flat was in London, I would absolutely jump at it, Linz (ex-Minis friend) and I just loved it when we walked in, and I could see all my furniture in the place (unlike the current one) - but if it was in London it would cost £300K, well out of reach for me. Here's the link in case I haven't bored you enough - 3 bedroom apartment for sale in Warrior Gardens, St. Leonards-On-Sea, East Sussex, TN37. Huge rooms and back area for Orbs, and a sea view from the bedroom window, two mins to the train station and nice quiet neighbours.

It's just the commute that is the challenge, about two hours each way - and there's not much on offer jobwise down there. I suppose the train or coach gives me time to work, but I do have late nights at work - eg this week I'm working late Thursday, and going to work Saturday and to a concert Sunday evening.

There would be days in spring and summer when I'd get off the train, breathe huge lungfuls of lovely sea air and be very happy with the decision. But some days would be hard.

Or maybe it's me and I just get cold feet.

 

[losingit]

That is a pretty big commute.... i used to do around 90 minutes train commute when i worked in Birmingham and although sometimes i got fed up and just wanted to be home, on the whole it was OK, just used to settle in with a good book / listen to music / read magazines / other hobby that you don't normally have time to do. Usually by the time i got home i didn't want to get off the train and was really chilled. The worst times were when the train was super busy, a long commute turns into hell when everyone is grumpy and you can't move and have to stand up next to all the other sardines packed into the tin.


That flat is so lovely... go for it .

 

[slaj]

Susie, I think things happen for a reason and it is more than a coincidence that you had the call about the St Leonards flat on the same day you heard about the French doors. Two hours is quite some commute though, years ago I travelled an hour and half each way, it was doable but made it a very long day. You have talked about living there for some time now and after twenty years in London maybe now is the time for change. We are love you and your never ending support for everyone else, take care and no hasty decisions tonight x

 

[Dietkitty]

Oh hon this is such a dilema for you and I hope you got some sleep - although knowing you, probably not a lot! You know I've always loved the St Leonards flat too and we would love to move away to the south coast in the future. But coming in to town at rush hour last week I could see the commuters standing on trains going in the opposite direction and really didn't envy them one bit. In fact a rather handsome chap opposite me actually started a conversation with me about it (you could tell he wasn't a regular on the train at that time of day lol)
Only you can decide. 4 hours a day on the train on top of a busy working day is an awful lot, and you wouldn't want to start missing out on the social side of your job because of it. Plus the season ticket would cost more for just one year than the price of paying the rip-off leaseholder the one off fee! But I know that would really stick in your throat. What a b4stard!!

 

[ladyfelsham]

Morning lovelies

Lisa you were right, not much sleep was had. I ended up doing a Pros and Cons sheet at 3 this morning...

What it boils down to is that the freeholder's excessive demands for money - at this stage of the game - make me hugely uncomfortable and vulnerable worrying about what could happen in the future. I have no guarantees that there will or won't be problems in the future, but I don't want to be a hostage to fortune.

So I have decided to withdraw. Just told my solicitor and she agrees that it is the right thing to do.

Can't decide about the coast today - one major decision a day is all I'm up for.

I also look like *****, had a massive sob before bed and now I look like a swollen panda... But it's not the end of the world, it won't cost a fortune in fees, and I still have all my savings. Onwards and downwards.

Love you all so much for your wonderful posts, thanks xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Scrumbles]

What it boils down to is that the freeholder's excessive demands for money - at this stage of the game - make me hugely uncomfortable and vulnerable worrying about what could happen in the future. I have no guarantees that there will or won't be problems in the future, but I don't want to be a hostage to fortune.

That's exactly what would worry me and why I would have backed away. You already know that this person is a money-grubbing shark, so who knows what they might sting you for in the future? I wouldn't want to have any dealings with someone like that - you may very well have had a lucky escape here.

As for the coast, keep thinking. However lovely it is there, will you see enough of it considering how many hours you spend at your job and getting to and from? Are the difficulties of the distance likely to outweigh the pleasures of weekends by the sea? Pity you can't do some kind of trial run, maybe rent down there for a while to see how the life suits you.

Good luck with whatever you decide, hon xxx

 

[Quak]

Aw Susie love, sorry if I sounded flip on FB but obviously I didn't know why you were up at 3am..............I too think you have made the right decision, leasehold properties can be an absolute nightmare - we are in one but nobody knows who the freeholder is so we had to take out insurance in case they ever come looking for the land rent for the last 100 years!!!
2 hours commute each way on a daily basis would be way too much for me to contemplate - social life or no social life, and some of the hours you work would make it impossible to cope with in my opinion. In short my advice would be to stay where you are until you find the right property within reasonable distance while you still need to work. When you don't need to..............then St Leonards will still be there xxxx

 

[sammy1]

Hi for what's It's worth I think you have made the right decision....also scrambles idea is good try renting beside the sea before you decide. I did a 1 and 1/2 hr commute for a few years and it wax exhausting...spent all week end catching up on things that I had no energy for during the week. ..

 

[ladyfelsham]

Afternoon all

Well everyone has been notified, so the deed is done - but it turns out I've had a very lucky escape, because the agent let slip that the seller is selling because of the awful freeholder! So, all in all, a good thing.

I know I would grow to hate the commute, so am not going to think about St Leonards for a while - will just concentrate my search on SE London and hope that something nice comes up in a nice area

Aw Susie love, sorry if I sounded flip on FB but obviously I didn't know why you were up at 3am

Don't be daft lovely, a natural assumption to make

 

[coffeelover]

Sorry it fell through Susie, but sounds like a narrow escape. Like Sandra said, everything happens for a reason but what a bunch of bstrds. Good idea to rent though if you think St Leonard's is the place for you. Thing about a long commute is you may love it, but too tired and not enough quality time to enjoy it. xx

 

[ladyfelsham]

Well girls things have moved on slightly.

This afternoon I got an email out of the blue from an agent selling shared ownership flats just up the road from me. I had a look in June and was really keen on them (gorgeous kitchens) but as a contractor I couldn't get a mortgage.

I told him I had just been made permanent and he has a whole load of SO flats for me to think about. I've done SO before, so know all about it.

This might just be "meant to be"...

Here's the link Welcome to Central Park - Apartments Central to Your Needs

 

[Supersmileyme]

Wow, it looks lovely and it's off Friendly Place, need I say more?

 

[coffeelover]

I remember them Susie, they're gorgeous and great locations.

 

[sammy1]

Wow that looks fab, no work to be done and close to work......it just might be the one.

 

[stubbsey]

You did have a lucky escape! What a vile person! Sorry you have had such a horrible time x

what is shared ownership?

 

[Kat1e]

Hi Susie, just checking in. So sorry to hear about the awful freeholder and flat falling through. I do think you are right to avoid commute - if you are desperate then definitely rent first to test it. Far more exciting SO option - good luck and hope all goes well
Xxxx

 

[ladyfelsham]

SO is where you get a mortgage for a share of the property, say 50%, and then pay rent and a service charge on the other 50%. Helps people who can't get onto the housing ladder on their own.

Hopefully I can mooch around on the weekend, before I have to go to work. It really depends on how much privacy there is on the patio, and how safe I think it is for the cat. Some of these schemes don't allow pets - not that I'll own up to having HRH Orbit!

And thanks Katie, it has been a real rollercoaster of a week so far - but i am glad I'm out of it now