Our building project is cancelled!

Sorry to hear about your dad. I can only imagine how tough that is for you. It's good that you said you won't judge him cause you love him. That's a great way to deal with it. Discovering the car collection sounds like it was something really good that came out of all that. That's great that you'll be able pay off the manor and also take care of your daughter's education. I wish you well with your move. (((safe hugs)))

Thank you @Deilla and you're right, I don't judge my Dad. He's at peace now annd I'd like to think he senses my feelings of daughterly love even had he lived.

That car collection of his begs belief. But all the funds for this historic house have been lodged now and today a full building's survey is set. It will cost just as conveyancing, but that car collection, some of them will be kept because their value could rise even higher.

Today after breakfast we're visiting a Land Rover garage out in the sticks to see a rare East Coast Defender 'Viper'. It doesn't have those horrid brown snake-textured seats. Instead it's in black leather and apparently very comfy. It's an import from the Netherlands, previously owned by a Dutch garage owner. Customs taxes have already been paid inc VAT. As usual, accessories count for nothing, but attract buyers. It's nowhere as pricey as my previous SVX, so I can still budget for this truck, and in turn, driving it should significantly lower the horrible anxiety I have when driving our Honda Civic.

I've always had trucks since my Dad loved them. I felt safe in the previous and there is no way I'll ever get a Porsche again! Lovely cars, but the memory of my crash is best left unspoken....

Mentioning @splitimage, there are a lot of country houses in the UK, some being protected under English Heritage, a company of England's National Trust. 'ER' preserves Grade 1 and II Listed properties that are of national historical importance. I was lucky inasmuch that the property is exactly what we as a growing family need, but the price of it was 100% more. If it wasn't for my father's car collection, I's have still bought it, but with a 30 years payback of the interest alone. The thought of that makes me shudder.

The Environment agency has a special catchment flood management plan for the area we''' liove in because the River Adur is not far away. The area has never been flooded which is a relief.

Slightly off-topic I've got a therapist's appointemtn with my local LMC, and it has enabled me to have an online therapy session. I need to lower this anxiety, and my boss believes this will be the best way forward. I must control this anxiety! I will not allow it to rule my life and affect my job. Buying this beautiful old manor will only help encourage me to start a family proper. boy or girl, I don't mind.

Thank you @Deilla too. You and splitimage have been most supportive. And everyone else, too.

That East Coast Defender 'Viper' cost far too much! No way were we going to buy that, but we did see a splendid custom 110 camper version built by Alu-Cab, another import much better for our needs. Because it had a roof bed bolted on its rear has an interesting kitchen-type conversion. The customised Defender illustrated on You Tube is very similar to this owner's.

YouTube

The Defender 110 had been on the forecourt for a couple of months. It cost a lot less because such campers are not used at this time of the year by Brits, but perfect for us and my partner's outdoor business so I bought it.

The manor house and out-buildings and converted barn survey was satisfactorily completed, and better news still, as the vendors have already moved out means we can move in this coming weekend @Deilla

Naturally I'm a bit anxious, but half an hour ago our removals firm said not to worry. They'll handle our move quite easily.

So this more or less wraps up our home finding project. There were many ups and downs, a lot of worry and sleepless nights. But we did it, and throughout were supportive of each other making us a super family.


We can't wait.

@Access Denied that's great news! I'm really happy for you. I hope the move goes well for you and your family.

And that truck is awesome! Yea, I can see that you'll feel more comfortable in that.

Sorry @Deilla I nearly missed you! That truck is going to answer our camping needs. It has an awesome fold-out canopy which allows for building a camp fire without us getting wet, and neat stowaway boxes of food and a comprehensive First Aid kit, in addition to solar panels on the top rig so we can run a small fridge or small appliances.

Everything has been carefully thought out by the previous owner. Though these trucks are not for everyone! These custom Defenders are big and imposing on or off the roads, but to go wading in flooded areas knowning we're safe is a bonus for having an inner and outer protective A frame, a hydraulic winch and a reinforced steel bull-bar.

Our British roads are narrow, especially in the countryside. Falling branches caused by gales have cost motorists dear. We are going to feel a lot safer in this truck than ever before, and camping will really become fun. The truck even has infra-red so we can see ahead through fog with the help of satellites. Rolls Royce and Bently employ this amazing technological gear. I see ours as a potential life saver. Who can see round the next bend and the one before it?

I want to fulfil our lives with excitement and belonging, but also provide each one of us with a sense of purpose and responsibility. My daughter will revel in it, and no doubt she'll teach me a thing or two.

We moved a day earlier and are now sat back feeling good about the day, with a bottle of bubbly to celebrate.


Also my landlord we were temporarily renting from had another leaseholder, so he knidly refunded me the three months, so it's wonderful having more money in the bank than expected, and tomorrow I get paid my salary for the month. Minus a massive amount of income tax and NI, but that's par with the course of being under a porky Boris government.

Yay! Good news! I’m glad to hear it. Enjoy your new place.

That's fantastic that you got the move out of the way, and that you were able to get a refund on your rent. Good news all around. Hope you enjoy your new place

splitimage

Awesome news! I hope you have many happy memories in your new home!!

Thank you @LilyMop and @splitimage and @Deilla for the wonderful encouragement and support you've shared with me on this topic. I am now fully moved, and everything unpacked and put away by the removals squad, saving a lot of time, stress and energy. My family are equally glad.

I had to sell a lot of very well loved belongings of my late father's, including a valuable 1938 Lagonda V12 racer to a private buyer. Had I not, and the purchase of this lovely old house would not have been even remotely possible. Other valuable items had to be sold and it broke my heart to see them go. My consolation is knowing Dad would have approved had he seen this beautiful house, and my partner and daughter said the same.

It will be interesting to see if we have snowfall this winter. Not that any of us welcome it, but the garden and grounds would look lovely under a white snowy blanket. Christmas coming will be tough not having my parents around, but living here is going to bring a new family one day, and we are all looking forward to that.