The Blatherings of Fran

Things are happening on the house front. Two places on our 'watch list' have been reduced in price over the weekend... One is absolutely huge, could be an incredible house, but requires an awful lot of work. It's at the seaside and is a bit of a pain in the arse to get to but would be a really nice place to live - it's very very popular and usually unaffordable. Basically next to a local train station so handy for getting into the city (not a major line so connections are still a bit pants) but could be noisy. The commute to work would probably be nearly an hour...

The other one is essentially the next town down the coast but the house is right on the outskirts - better commute but a 30 minute walk to get the train and probably too far to walk to the beach. It's also on a main road. More reasonable size and less work needed, I think.

He wants to be in town. Not on a main road, but walking distance to shops/bars/restaurants and ideally a short train ride from the city. Whereas my ideal is arse end of nowhere, with lots of open space.

I've already accepted I won't get somewhere remote, or even in a small village. And to be honest I can see the benefit of a train station and a shop... But we've seen a house on the outskirts of a city, and I am very on the fence.

I think I've seen every Rightmove listing within a 25 mile radius of work and there's nothing else we like (that we can afford). And while I know we don't *have* to move and currently have a perfectly good roof over our heads, I'm still a bit cheesed off about it.

House A is beautiful, needs a lot of work but could be an incredible house. Huge, perfect layout for hosting (which is important when we have a lot of friends and family who live abroad), gorgeous garden. It's in a nice location but really only has a pub within walking distance. There is public transport but it only really goes into one city. It also needs an incredible amount of work doing to it, has not been looked after well and has been empty for almost two years.

House B is not as pretty - it's still quirky and old but not pretty. Slightly smaller but has some outbuildings with potential to convert. Big garden, not as good lay out, and it's semi detached but not overlooked. It's in a great village, walking distance from a train station (limited connections) or 10 mins drive to a major station, huge park just across the road, a handful of different pubs/bars/coffee shops within walking distance. It's dated but well cared for. However it is within sight and earshot of a really big motorway - great for commuting but the garden is noisy.

On the other hand, I don't know if it could just be my mental health. I'm simultaneously really really wired all the time and quite depressed. I got home this evening and had a complete meltdown, told Boyfriend I wished I was dead and then had a panic attack sitting on our hall carpet. I had a similar episode earlier in the week.

This year has not been it. We managed a couple of days at the end of April and then it's been pretty grey and miserable since. Even when it has been sunny, it's either been cold or very changeable or both.