Sometimes I get irritated with myself because I haven't achieved any of the things you are meant to by my advanced age - no house, no car, no brilliant career, no other half, no kids... But if I'm really truthful, & could have a fairy godmother wave her magic wand, the one thing that I long for is my own place, over and above everything else. Especially this week, staying in my friends' lovely grown-up house, with its big sofa and proper espresso pot and own garden.
Unlike my Young Ones-style student hovel. Little things we don't notice any more - like the spoon sticking out of the back door in lieu of a proper handle, because the wood's so rotten it won't hold up to drilling, that we forget unless visitors ask us 'Why's there a spoon sticking out of the back door?'
So this is my mission this year - 'own own house'. It is the most achievable, notwithstanding London being The Most Expensive City In The World (TM). Tokyo? New York? Monaco? Zurich? Mere pretenders, I tell you.
The reason I write this is just to put it out there in black and white - so if I'm not on the way to having my own in place in one year's time, you have my express permission to throw rotten tomatoes at me and call me a big fat loser.
18 comments:
Madre Mia, whats that about throwing tomatoes!
Go for it, em...the house buying. I've been saying the same thing for years, never the right time, i'm not ready yet financially etc etc. Sometimes you just gotta do it. Anyways you go first and tell me what it's like!
Hasta la pasta.
I won't be throwing tomatoes and calling names. Encouragement works much better. You can do it! But start planning now, this sort of thing takes time (not that I know firsthand...)
Surely the phrase you're after is "slim, elegant, witty, erudite, sexy loser"?
Buying a house/flat is a PitA :D Credit, mortgage, paying debts, remodelling, checks... but it's worth it! Worth every penny! Go for it! If not affordable in one year then (as viking said) make real plan which could lead you there in two years.
And about price - Moscow is considered as the most expensive city in the world (price per square meter) but I'm sure living itself is cheaper there (comparing to London)
Don't worry to much about it - it's good to have a goal. I myself am trying to convince other half to do it with me but it is a major deal doing with someone else..it just seems the smart thing to do. I never think how it would effect a relashionship. Anyhow - back to you - if anyone can manage a way you can. You really need to check into that buy half of house and council owns other half - there are some nice ones - and you're a teacher!!! That much count for some breaks?
Love Bad.S
Yup buy a house.
Then spend a fortune repairing it, maintaining it, painting it, rebuilding bits of it... ohh the joys of joys. Don't even get me started on the boredom of weeding and cutting grass..
But yes, it's mainly good. Even in our wee semi-detached.
Bienvenido, Sr Tronosco! I know your game, you just want to watch me get in a big old financial pickle so you don't have to buy a house!
Viking, it's so true - but I want it NOW!
Tim, ooh, I say! Hey, let's form a mutual admiration society!
Shyha, Moscow's mafia billionaires are broke once they come to London, I swear. Do you have your own place? But you're so young!
Sar, there are some deals out there but they all seem to be in Chigwell. No offense, but I don't want to live in Chigwell. I think you should buy your current place, I love it.
Yay, Gordon! *rolls out red carpet* Gordon, you have your own grass to cut? Okay, now you're really selling it to me.
hey, Irvine Welsh says of house owning, "default on your morgage repayments, and you'll soon find out who owns your house" or something like that. Just a warning. It seems a super middleclass sensible thing to borrow £200 000 off a bunch of loan sharks and spend your life paying it back.
I'm presuming of course you're not going to buy it in cash. Now that would be a fine thing. Especialy after a good night at the casino.
Stick with the door spoon - it's chic and will look better in your obit.
Yup, I have a flat. Bought it last year. But remeber - it's not as expensive here as in London (or, UK generally)
Wise words Helga, but lovely as my flatmate is, comes a point when selling your soul to the loan sharks seems a small price to pay for never having to share a bathroom again...
Shyha, you are more sensible and sorted than me. Maybe will reverse the trend and move to Poland...
There's a lot language schools here :) Every one of them needs some native speakers :) In the company where I used to work were english lessons for workers. There were two teachers - a married couple: Welsh and his wife. They live close to me although I don't know them personally :) I also had lessons (in my current company) with a native speaker from Canada. He was born in India and is also married to Polish girl. They're waiting for the second kid to born! :)
Dazzling, intelligent and stupedous heroines of the teaching profession deserve their own house to read the Guardian in and grow fennel.
There.
Now, all we need is a cunning plan....
That's Stupendous of course.
Just in case you make me write it out fifty times in alternating red, blue and black ink.
Annie, I tried the "grown-up" house for 26 years and am now in a Young Ones-style student flat (Not hovel, yet but give me time!)
Both have their good and bad points.
Life like holidays, is merely in the head!
I find it's when I compare myself with others, compare what they have with what I don't have, then it's when I feel irritated with myself.
But it's also good to examine where I am, to see if I'm anywhere near my goals.
Shyha, one of my grandparents was Polish. Maybe it's meant to be...
Greavsie, thanks for the vote of confidence. Yes, where is my herb garden?? Maybe I can train the kids to pick pockets for me, and make my fortune that way. (Fair enough, I am more stupedous than stupendous.)
Cream, how true. I know it must be strange for you right now - but I've lost count of the different people I've shared different houses with over the past *counts on fingers* 17 years - crikey!
GG, sometimes I wonder if I would be totally content if I didn't compare myself with other people. It's a tricky question.
Now wait just one minute Ms. Slaminsky, what's all this about not having achieved the "things" you should have. Well, maybe not, but let's look at the things you have achieved:
1.You are incredibly artistic; just look at your Flicker photo site
2. You´ve been to Vietnam
3. You´re a teacher for gawd´s sake!
4. You put your money where your mouth is: examples include telling a man off on the bus because his aftershave was too strong, and actually meeting your blogging friends in the flesh
5. You have a degree and an MA
6. You are extremely well read - any book you recomend is a corker (same goes for films)
7. Maybe this should have been number one on the list but you have a large and very dedicated group of friends
8. You´ve stuck to your vegetarian convictions when all around you others where falling for the flesh option
9. Even though you hate your job, you haven´t fallen into the pit of lethargy and depression. By mastering these IT skills and actually maintaing a Blogsite (more than most folk I know)you have kept a lot of people very well entertained and informed and made more friends in the last year and a half than anyone else I know.
10. You are a fantastic aunt. I feel more for your siblings' offspring than my own.
So, home owner shmome owner - stick your brick and morter up your arse. What do you need to be in debt to The Man for? Plenty more in life to judge yourself by than your three piece suite and matching taps.
Over and out xxx
PS - if this comment sounds a bit redneck, it has been influenced by the Jonny Cash film "Walk the Line", as recommended by you, and I think the southern twang has infected me!!!!
Ah, thank you petal! I will avoid The Man at all costs! xxx
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