My brain is overheating

And my hair may soon spontaneously combust.

Wedding was great, scorchio weather.  No photos as I took the groom's camera and took pics for him all day, so not expecting to see those for a while. 

Visiting parents was lovely, I scoffed at their kitchen refurbishment - not everyone else has an 'old kitchen' to move into while theirs is done up -  and that may come back to bite me in the arse very shortly*.

Took pictures of the carpet that inspired the blanket - will post soon.

I am in full job- and flat-hunt mode.  Hence impending cranium combustion.

I have seen two completely different properties that I really like.  I just don't know what to do (with myself, dah dah-dah-dah dah-dah)

Flat W

• Private garden
• One big bedroom, funny L shape (possibly an opportunity to make it into two rooms, as in the flat above it, for resale)
• New build
• Ground floor
• Ready to move into
• Area I kind of know, near her, hurrah
• New development, mostly private housing nearby
• 5 mins walk to a small park
• Transport - 10 mins walk to tube.  But on district line.
• Vacant
• Has another equal offer so it's into a survey race
• Will get a mortgage on it pretty easily
• 50 square metres

Flat V

• Balcony
• Two bedrooms, the smaller one could be my room and the other could be the STUDIO (slash guest room)
• Ex-local auth block, not sure of mixture of private and council
• Period, *needs a new kitchen and cosmetic work everywhere
• Second floor, with lift
• Area I know very well, near her, hurrah
• Beside a common, and just around the corner from the huge park
• Transport - 10 mins walk to bus, 10 mins on bus to tube.  But then on central, Hammersmith & City and District line (same station as now, in fact)
• Vendor still living there, have to get them out
• There could be issues with getting the mortgage
• 60 square metres

W is the easier option, by far.  It's also 15k more, not that it makes much difference when you're talking mortgage numbers (i.e. telephone numbers).  But it needs nothing doing to it, save perhaps injecting some character.  I'm not a fan of new builds.

I also like going upstairs to go to bed.  That could be one of my wierd things, Helen (I've already done that meme but I'm sure I have another 70 or so wierd things to gradually share with you)

I know that in my heart I'm scared of doing the work on Flat V, the one I can really see myself in, after XH criticised the job I had the builders do on our house.  But then again, he is a fink.

I'm  going to a sewing meet up tomorrow, then knitting at the Dove, and finally Eurovision, yahoo!  With a couple of 2nd viewings for the flats in the late afternoon.  I'm impinging on the good natures of some of my fellow knitters, asking them to come along with me. 

There's about 219 more things I have to tell you but I have to go and put a cold towel on my head.

Comments

[kirsty]

I'm sure you'll figure it out before your circuits blow!! W sounds good ;-) Or is it just sensible? Go with your instincts.

[Jade]

Well, you're already well-versed in the trials of home renovations and discounting the XH's thoughts on the matter, how did you really feel about the it? Would you happily challenge yourself again, or would you be suffering through the ordeal again? Then take your pick. Good luck!

[lazylol]

Hope the brain in a bit more relaxed! I love Eurovision too - it is so bad it's good!
Both the flats sound good, hope you can decide soon. How is the job hunting going?

[caroline]

flat hunting raises so many dilemmas and of course everyone has different opinions as to what is good or bad. Which one do you think you could call home? Because if you can feel happy somewhere then all the other things tend to either not be such a problem or no longer matter at all. Follow your heart!

[Fliss]

Flat V sounds good, although I don't know what you mean about the vendor still being there. It may be worth an hour off legal advice to see where you stand: re tenant's right. That would be the deal breaker if it were me. Re: the amount of work that needs doing, if you're there for the long haul it would be lovely to stamp *your* mark on it (fresh start and all that), rather than live with someone else's deisgn choice that is never quite the same as yours. You may even make some money into the process. I'm quite biased towards renovation as we gutted our first house and loved every second. There's loads you can do yourself - I learned to tile, paint, plaster (though not skim), and even laid a reclaimed (from a Post Office sorting room in Nottingham) block parquet floor using bitumen!

The danger is that any project like this could fall two ways. It could either be the challenge you need to refocus your energies and give you something positive to throw yourself into. Or it could just add to the stress you're already under.

Good luck with the decision you make (phew - long comment, sorry!).

[Fliss]

Oh yes, and by way of a comparison our house took 12 weeks to do (new plumbing, heating, wiring, walls, plaster, flooring, decorating, tiling, kitchen, bathroom, internal and external doors), cost £14k in 2004 (although we did spend £600 on taps!) and our gaff is 64 square metres. I appreciate that London prices will be more though!

[P]

what's the problem with it that might affect the mortgage? Otherwise I'd say V all the way, but if it's about to fall into a large hole/there's nuclear waste below/it was built by dodgy 60s builders you'll be stuck with it forever.
Personally I'd worry less about the chain (ha ha ha ha, please someone buy my house so I can be in a chain...)

[julie]

Not suprised your hair is in danger! I hate weighing up decisions, listing pros and cons often helps to make the decision a logical one on paper but logic doesn't get the heart racing or the synapses firing. I say go with your heart or take the old addage 'when the road ahead splits in two, take the third path' - maybe your perfect flat is still out there?! Sorry to add my confusing advice - you better get that wet towel out! Good luck x

[Ting]

What does XH know anyway??!! Having seen his photo, I don't think potato heads are entitled to opinions.