Loved the update JP! You’ve worked so hard and thoroughly deserve your forever home. I can’t wait to follow your journey and how lovely it must be to feel that you’ll benefit from the work you’re going to do for years to come rather than for others to buy and enjoy. ❤️
Just catching up with this now, JP. My goodness what a fascinating article! I have to say my favourite is the Surrey cottage (no 6) it's so pretty! I've been with my husband almost the same length of time that you & Mr C have been together (we met in a Dublin nightclub in March '97) and in that time we've done up 2 houses and bought our third (a huge project in Ireland which we bought in 2021 without seeing it in person (if we had Pete would never have agreed!!) and I can't believe you've renovated so many in that time! I wish we'd had your stamina :-) and also that we'd had the sense to buy in London first but hey ho. As you say, you buy a home don't you, we certainly didn't buy any of them thinking about making a profit (which was probably our mistake!) xx
Thank you :-) It's such a big project & completely overwhelming at times, but it's got such potential to be a wonderful home for us when we move over full-time, as well as an investment opportunity (holiday let!) I love it there so much. We've almost finished the first phase (which was the cottage) but now we're hoping to focus on the outside space (we have 3 acres & an old barn which is very exciting but daunting at the same time!) It had all been empty & neglected for 15yrs when we bought it, so there was lots to do.
What fun that was to follow along! I've been with you since #7, and your blog and IG allow me to indulge my fantasy of living in the UK. I've loved what's gone on inside and out at The Barn so far, and can't wait to see what you 2 crazy kids come up with next...(although, point WELL taken about being realistic about how much energy you have now and in the future, and making this the Forever Home - I MOST admire your patience, in making it livable now, AND taking whatever time it takes to realize your dreams).
Thanks so much darling and I’m truly grateful for all your support over the years. Patience, it’s a thing I’m learning, not good at it really, but needs must this time.
I laughed when I read about your Husband having free rein and buying the awful haunted house! At our last house ( we lived in it for 25 years ) my Husband had only looked through the letterbox until the day we moved in 😂 It must have been OK though as I never thought I’d get him to move, despite my addiction to Right move, until we moved to our current home 18 months ago. Can’t wait to see what you do with this one.
It's so emotional buying and selling houses, and when you find The One, it changes your life! Looking forward to more of your home renovating stories & pictures as we are embarking on exactly this ...!
That’s a lovely idea and it’s a great little documentation of your life through houses and gardens. It was fun to write. I’m very much looking forward to showing what we did to each one.
So enjoyable to read. I came on board with you when you were in your clapboard house. I always enjoy what you write about. I hope this get to you I seem to struggle with comments section.
Perfect read JP, love the energy you’ve put into your renovations and homes. Can’t wait to see what you do with The Barn. Good luck on attaining the planning permission 🤞
Loved the update JP! You’ve worked so hard and thoroughly deserve your forever home. I can’t wait to follow your journey and how lovely it must be to feel that you’ll benefit from the work you’re going to do for years to come rather than for others to buy and enjoy. ❤️
Yes, for the first time really, it’s all just for us. Feels good.
Such a lovely feeling xxx
Perfect read on a Sunday whilst the house is asleep with a cup of tea! Exhausted reading all you’ve done thus far JP! 😘
Ah thanks Lou, I’m exhausted too!
Just catching up with this now, JP. My goodness what a fascinating article! I have to say my favourite is the Surrey cottage (no 6) it's so pretty! I've been with my husband almost the same length of time that you & Mr C have been together (we met in a Dublin nightclub in March '97) and in that time we've done up 2 houses and bought our third (a huge project in Ireland which we bought in 2021 without seeing it in person (if we had Pete would never have agreed!!) and I can't believe you've renovated so many in that time! I wish we'd had your stamina :-) and also that we'd had the sense to buy in London first but hey ho. As you say, you buy a home don't you, we certainly didn't buy any of them thinking about making a profit (which was probably our mistake!) xx
Your Ireland home sounds interesting. Are you finished?
Thank you :-) It's such a big project & completely overwhelming at times, but it's got such potential to be a wonderful home for us when we move over full-time, as well as an investment opportunity (holiday let!) I love it there so much. We've almost finished the first phase (which was the cottage) but now we're hoping to focus on the outside space (we have 3 acres & an old barn which is very exciting but daunting at the same time!) It had all been empty & neglected for 15yrs when we bought it, so there was lots to do.
Wow what a project! How wonderful to have so much land. Well done for taking it on. 👏🏻
What a wonderful journey ♥️
Thank you, hard work, but so worth it.
What a journey JP, I feel tired just reading it, with all those tubes to and from Walthamstow, trips to the country and back - hats off to you
Oddly, at the time it felt perfectly normal, but it’s only looking back now that I’m wondering whether we were/are just a tad crazy! 😆
What fun that was to follow along! I've been with you since #7, and your blog and IG allow me to indulge my fantasy of living in the UK. I've loved what's gone on inside and out at The Barn so far, and can't wait to see what you 2 crazy kids come up with next...(although, point WELL taken about being realistic about how much energy you have now and in the future, and making this the Forever Home - I MOST admire your patience, in making it livable now, AND taking whatever time it takes to realize your dreams).
Thanks so much darling and I’m truly grateful for all your support over the years. Patience, it’s a thing I’m learning, not good at it really, but needs must this time.
I laughed when I read about your Husband having free rein and buying the awful haunted house! At our last house ( we lived in it for 25 years ) my Husband had only looked through the letterbox until the day we moved in 😂 It must have been OK though as I never thought I’d get him to move, despite my addiction to Right move, until we moved to our current home 18 months ago. Can’t wait to see what you do with this one.
He clearly must have been pleased with your choice!
We lived there for 25 years so…( I actually wanted to move on many occasions 😂)
Love the updates, and sneaky peeks around your lovely homes. Your enthusiasm makes me feel tired I must say! 🥴 x
🤣🤣 It knows no bounds!
So enjoying this new series, can’t wait for the next episode to begin JP! 🥰🤩
Ah thanks so very much Chriss
I love your story!
It's so emotional buying and selling houses, and when you find The One, it changes your life! Looking forward to more of your home renovating stories & pictures as we are embarking on exactly this ...!
Oh how exciting! Is it a big project?
Yes, a barn! Ours was a farm storage barn years ago.
It’s just a dirt floor and sooo much to do.
What about your barn?
Oh wow that’s fabulous! Ours was converted in 1979, but very badly. It was a tithe barn and piggery dating back to 1509. X
I love this travel through your houses..... it's made me think I want do the same, just for my children to see!
That’s a lovely idea and it’s a great little documentation of your life through houses and gardens. It was fun to write. I’m very much looking forward to showing what we did to each one.
Wonderful read whilst drinking a cuppa in balmy Perth So looking forward to the barn renovation x
Thank you so much
So enjoyable to read. I came on board with you when you were in your clapboard house. I always enjoy what you write about. I hope this get to you I seem to struggle with comments section.
Thank you so much, loved that house.
Perfect read JP, love the energy you’ve put into your renovations and homes. Can’t wait to see what you do with The Barn. Good luck on attaining the planning permission 🤞
Fingers crossed.
I so look forward to reading your posts, always inspiring and amusing!
Well done getting your reward for all your hard work…looking forward to seeing the barn and garden transformation 🥂
All coming up soon.
So inspiring!
Thank you