Quit everything , and start again over 50?

harz99

LL, Dorset is a big county! Portland is on what is best described as an island connected to the mainland by a causeway style road to Weymouth. Poor public transport.

Much better in Weymouth/ Upwey where £170k will buy a very decent 2 bed house with reasonable public transport. Or go the opposite way to Southampton for similar pricing.

However I still think either Bournemouth or the outer areas of Poole are a better bet because, although dearer than Weymouth and surroundings, they offer better prospects of employment which is an issue given AC is at least 15 years from State Pension age and doesn't drive.

All depends on AC realising that he can make a new life anywhere, and really doesn't need to be on his friends doorstep in Lower Parkstone. A once a week trip on a train or bus would be more contact than he had with them from Twickenham, and yes friends can be made anywhere if needed.

IMHO that £30k difference in purchase price would increase ACs safety buffer hugely.

another_casualty

Thanks folks.
I cancelled the other flat. It would've had to be the one, as there wasn't anything available for next Monday . And it was reduced from£1100, to £1000. I have to be careful now.

So , I should be going to an address I've just removed
Problem: The place is furnished , but landlady can have it moved.
Problem 2: I can't move in until next weds. I phoned my friend from the office, and thankfully I can crash there from mon-weds.
This property is for £875( inclusive of water and sewerage rates)
The landlady wants to see me next Tuesday . She has her own way of doing things apparently.
I could leave a bed in bedroom 2 for guests. I could just leave all my stuff in big yellow storage . There are certain times , that I have too many things to think about at one time .
In the middle of today's viewing, I got a phone call from the pensions/personnel lady at the place I just quit.
I asked if I could use her as a reference. She gave me the email address of my boss ( who is personnel ).
Tomorrow, I will go to nationwide to discuss my accounts.
Once I get in to Bellevue , I will need to find banks that are not part of Santander,Barclays and r b s . I'm not sure what's down here.

So, I had fish and chips today:)
As it was raining, and I was waiting for a phone call , I had to get a cappuccino &croissantbin an extremely busy coffee type place .
Busy day

lessonlearned

I realise Dorset is a big area.....:rotfl: It was just my starting off point. Anyway it's good that AC has yours and enthusiastic's local knowledge to help him.

And that £30k. Well you could live on that quite comfortably for 3 or 4 years if you had no mortgage or rent so I agree it's worth bearing in mind.

AC - Oddly enough I was working out a budget for when I move. I reckon I can live quite comfortably on £7k a year. That includes my little car. That doesn't include my fancy holidays though. :rotfl: ........they are the icing on the cake. No just bills, food, car, clothes, pampering, Christmas, cheap and cheerful outings etc.

It might be worth working out a rough budget yourself so you can see how the land lies.

Well it's been dreadful here. Dark, cold, wet and miserable. So I've been Christmas shopping......from my sofa. No queues, no hassle, no getting wet, just my cosy sofa throw, the cat and a cup of tea.

Very civilised.

another_casualty

Same weather here LL .
I'm trying to think of getting something quickly , so I don't squander anything. Then again , I'm on a sabbatical , so if it doesn't work out , I can just move somewhere again. Obviously , I can't do London .
I've just got to focus .

lessonlearned

Well I'm sure you will feel happier when you are settled. Hopefully you can be in time for Christmas. Try and make that your next step but do try and find somewhere which will be ok for 6 months. You don't really want to have all the hassle of moving yet again.

Househunting proper, switching bank accounts etc can wait until the New Year.

One little tip.......you've got the winter ahead so somewhere small and cosy to keep you warm and not have to worry too much about high heating bills might be your best bet.

Period properties with elegant rooms and high ceilings are wonderful But unless the house is really well insulated and has a good boiler and heating system, it will be like a cold and draughty barn.

The boys both have period properties but We have renovated to a very high spec, extra Insulation, state of the art heating systems, thick warm carpets, good curtains etc the biggest house has a wood burner - lovely.

If it's a rental I can pretty much guarantee it don't be up to spec with the heating and Insulation. So your best bet is go for relatively modern, compact and warm.

When you buy your forever home you can spec it up to the level of comfort you want.

wendym

I really don't want to scramble your head any more, but during your sabbatical, say in February, you could have a trip to see your friend in the northeast. A couple of nights in a B&B, and a mooch around to confirm or not that the southwest is definitely where you want to be, and is worth the extra cost.

I absolutely get your wish to be within striking distance of London, having done the opposite myself, but there is a really decent train link for the occasional visit.

It's vile here too. Cold, wet and windy, and I am not yet dressed, so it's obviously too late now. Recovering from demanding trip yesterday, and girding loins for tooth extraction on Wednesday.

another_casualty

Thanks again folks .
LL , the property I'm staying at is modern inside.
It's on the quality residential website .navarac court .
If you want to check it out ..:)

Wendy, hope the dentist will be ok.

Not a bad idea to go up to South Shields , as you say.

I have to laugh about my condition. The speech gets mumbled a bit.
The eye droops when I'm really tired.
The specialist is confident of getting me off the prednisolone and he says the rest.
If I lose the weight , then there may be a chance.Rest is essential for m G , hence part of my decision to quit everything.

short_bird

AC, you might want to take your address out of the earlier post...
:eek:

another_casualty

Thanks . I'd better do that:)
Just done it

wendym

Rest is recommended for my auto immune condition too, which is why I have always admired your energy and stamina.

A 'normal' person would not have considered my trip yesterday as worth a second's thought. I have gone from relief that I made it there and back to feeling pee'd off that I'm flattened by so little.

The dentist can't see the irony in pointing out that the reason for the underlying infection now having crept its way under the next door tooth is that it has taken a long time to deal it. You reckon?