Yesterday we found out that the house we’re renting sold at auction. What’s more it sold for an unbelievable price, which was far out of our reach.
We moved here at the start of the year to be close to Mr6′s school, Bron’s parents (who live in the same street), and because we love the area. I took on a one-year lease as opposed to the two-year one that was offered because of the state of the house. The mould, dampness, and general lack of maintenance was worrying. But the rent was cheap, and the location was perfect.
It didn’t take long to realise that we really love this house. We have so much space for the kids to run around in, a REAL garden for us to pitch a tent in, and a large indoor studio in which I’ve been itching to start more baby photography, as well as a big garage for the cyc and big-people portraits. All year we’ve spoken about the changes we would make; rip that wall out, put new bathroom in, strip that ceiling etc. and give the state of the house we thought that by the end of next year we could afford to put in an offer.
It caught us completely by surprise when the landlord called to say the place was up for sale. Straight to auction and we wouldn’t have the opportunity to put in an offer beforehand. Needless to say this annoyed me immensely. I’ve rented for 20yrs, since coming to NZ, and have never experienced this. Yes a rental is someone else’s house, but it’s our home. To have someone phone and say you have to move out is heart-wrenching.
So onward with yet another move, hopefully in the same area. I’m adamant that Mr6 is not moving schools as he’s doing so well, and Miss4 is due to start there next year. I’ll lose the studio, so back to photographing babies in their homes as before. But I know we’ll manage. I will miss the space, the garden, the studio, and the security of an enclosed space for the kids to run around in. But I will certainly not miss that god-awful wallpaper!
