So, I am now able to spill the beans. The above key belongs to something I never thought I’d be able to own and never thought I would find (well, at least not again). It’s special, oh so special!
I mean, will you check that badboy out for a start? Have you ever seen such a beast of a key? (I specifically photographed it in my hand to give you a sense of scale). So, what’s it the key to? …… It’s the key to an amazing house!
Yup, as if the stress of getting married wasn’t enough, 2 weeks before the wedding we went to view a house. Now, as you all know, we’re currently a single income household and are in no position to move, so we were essentially playing with our emotions and stress levels – but it really was at a price and location too good to ignore.
Then we saw it. It may have been built in 1863, but it’s also not been touched inside for about 50+ years. My dreams of what we are now calling ‘doing an Allsopp’ were in overdrive but it just wasn’t practical. Heart, head, and, more than anything, pride went into battle and I swallowed the latter and called in the financial troops and a number of investments and set out to try and get it (it was fixed price and therefore a race).
We had to try and put all thoughts of it to the back of our minds while we got on with the wedding and then the honeymoon, but I also knew we had to because I’d been in this position before when, about 3 years ago, I had an offer accepted on an amazing house only for it to be dropped a week later. So, with my emotions as in check as I could get them having seen the treasure trove of original features in there, I tried to do my best not to think about it all until I knew for sure it was ours.
We picked up the keys on Friday and dashed out to see it as soon as we got in from the airport. I’ll confess I got a dose of the wobbles when a closer inspection showed the mountain of work that needs done before we can even think about moving in – hopefully for Christmas (?) though. But what really stunned us was how much the previous owner left behind. His story is a real tear-jerker and we actually met him on Friday while we were there.
We tried so hard to convey to him our gratitude and reassure him how much we would look after this place and not bastardise it. Still, we felt a little guilty running around oohing and ahhhing over the things like an old wall clock or a fabulous art deco sideboard that he’d left behind.
So, out of the frying pan and into the fire. A mere couple of hours after getting back from the honeymoon I’ve now saddled myself with the ultimate crafty project. It ties in nicely however with ‘A Home For All Seasons’. What is that I hear you cry? Well, AHFAS, is the name of another site I’ve owned for a while (make that years) which will be home (no pun intended) to my handmade homewares and now also to my blog on renovating Casa Crafty. I’ll write about all the great things I’ve found or made and include plenty of before and after shots.
I haven’t had the chance to take any proper pics yet but here is a tiny sneak peak of one of the many great ceilings/lights.
Posted: April 21st, 2009 under Life stuff, My Projects.
Comments: 1
Still, I did a rush job on the tree last night and managed to get the majority of these decorations stuffed and tied so got a wee kick of achievement at seeing them there on our new tree. As with all things it was a case of trial and error and by the time I had learned from my mistakes we were all out of the fabric but we love them and their flaws. I really liked the heart ones and think I’ll be having a bash at bigger ones in the future (lavander filled or embroidered ones I think). Hmmm, now if only I had time to make them as wedding favours. Mind in overdrive…
So it’s the final month of 2008! Already?! What a year! I turned 30 and got engaged, both of which were enough to turn my stressometer up to 10+. I can only imagine how I’ll handle 2009 with the actual wedding and other big changes afoot!
