A Big Adventure - Moves Afoot!

Apologies that nothing has been written in quite a while, but there have been moves afoot (quite literally).

At the beginning of 2015, nothing could have been further from our minds than a house move. We had looked at the possibility of moving to Tavistock in Devon back in 2003. However, too many negatives had reared their heads at the time, one of which had been my poor health. The other had been that we hadn't seen anywhere that we wanted to buy. That dream had been buried with a decision made to move from Brighton to Seaford, opting for a smaller move rather than the big adventure we had hoped for.

In 12 years, life had changed. My health following two operations and other treatment, had become immeasurably better. We had started travelling to different areas, in Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset and Devon on camping trips and experiencing different surroundings and the most beautiful scenery. All of which was very good for the soul.

 And it was in those trips, where the television wasn't immediately available, that there was time to chat, not just with each other, but with the people that we met on sites and in the places that we visited. We talked with those who had moved from one end of the country to another; and from others who were now retired, enjoying regular trips away in their mobile homes. We listened to people just like us, who were now living their 'big adventure' now that they were no longer working. Over time the thought took root - how about a move to somewhere we really want to live, not just for convenience but for ourselves? But where?

Camping at the Runt in Tun

It was during the trip to 'The Runt in Tun' in Heathfield, Sussex (not far from where we lived), that the subject was first broached.
"How about," Alan said, "moving to Heathfield?" We had had a lovely week at the site, enjoyed some great walks and liked the nearby town. It was a possibility we both thought worth pursuing.

So, after registering with Rightmove, I started looking at properties for sale and found that financially it was a possibility. Then, I had a light bulb movement - what about the big move to Devon that we had dreamed about all those years ago? Discussing it with Alan. after checking prices, it also seemed a possibility.

We didn't need much persuasion to go back to Devon. But, as this was now October and because we needed the time to explore, we decided to leave the tent was left behind and to stay in a static caravan near Ashburton.

Before we went on our travels, our home in Seaford had to be valued and put on the market. The decision was made to get three estate agents to visit and to make the choice from them. We had an idea of the possible value, This all took place in a few days and the impressions I received reminded me very much of a fairy tale - the Three Bears. One was too high, one too low and the last 'just right' (ish).

View of Devon from our base

Having found our estate agent, we went down to Devon and started our search. And it was the first property we viewed that we fell in love with. A stone faced bungalow surrounded by trees and shrub reached by steps,a large double garage being beneath. Situated in Buckfastleigh, we thought we'd found our dream home. Our offer having been accepted, all we had to do was to sell our home. Simple!

Except it wasn't. Although we'd had many viewings to start with, our home was either too big, or too far from town, or not in the right town. We had wondered whether we would have issues because we knew that the kitchen and bathroom needed updating, but were assured that it would not be a problem by the estate agent. We were also assured that the price was right, only to have them request to drop the asking price twice in less than a month. The old confidence started to drop.

And then there were the viewings! I'm not the tidiest of individuals - let's just say it doesn't come easy. So to have every day for three months ensuring the house was clean and tidy was my idea of purgatory. Especially when Alan decided that the best way of presenting the house was to pack half my books away and to dismantle a large wardrobe in the smaller bedroom!

Then two weeks before Christmas, we had the phone call that we had been dreading but expecting - the vendor of the property in Buckfastleigh had received another offer. We comforted ourselves with the belief that maybe that property wasn't meant for us. Alan confided that he had started to have doubts about managing the garden, so for him it was a kind of relief. For me, if I'm blunt, it was the loss of a status symbol and I was a very disappointed, but resigned. And the viewings for our house had dried up.

Our home in Seaford

Then, one week before Christmas, we had two viewings and both potential buyers viewed the property twice. Interestingly, I had to do the viewings as the estate agents had said they were busy. And from that came an offer. But what would we do now with no property to buy and all the other potential properties in the area sold subject to contract or totally unsuitable?