I know it has been a long time since I have last posted here, perhaps I can have enough new things to talk about for a while. Husband has joined me and will be posting his own thoughts and ideas as well as mine.
We are moving closer to husband’s work not only to save money in transportation, but also in travel time. As it stands now, he is taking both a bus and a train and we wanted to reduce it down to just the train if possible. That meant most likely Paisley or any of the small towns on the train line.
Paisley would certainly be a smart choice as it is very active, filled with shopping opportunities and even a few things to do. But the closer we got to work, the least amount of travel time, so we pushed for around Gourock, Port Glasgow and hopefully not Greenock. The smaller the town, the less likely a flat would come available.
Two were available in Port Glasgow. The agent discouraged us from viewing too early, which was odd, but we waited 2 more weeks and asked to see them. In our situation, we must be able to give notice on October 1, so it was best to have the details settled in September.
I had not been on a train since we arrived in London nearly three years ago, so this was a fun trip to Port Glasgow. The day was absolutely lovely and that certainly was an added treat to the adventure.
The train station in Paisley.
The train station in Port Glasgow.
It was but a 5 minute walk to the first flat, where we were to meet the Agent for viewing. We had arrived early and had a chance to look around the immediate neighbourhood and to get a feel for the ambiance. It seemed very quiet, not a heavy traffic street by any means. Few cars, mostly pedestrians.
The walk up from the train station, the flat was just to the right of the house on the right. Marvellous for husband to be that close to the station!
At each end of the block of flats there are access tunnels under the train bridge to the other side which is where all the shops are. On this one, it leads directly to the largest Tesco (as the agent claims) in western Scotland. On the side closest to the train station is access to the town centre shops. It is a most perfect location all around for our needs. Both flats are two bedrooms and on the same street.
The first flat was older, still retaining it’s charm, with the lounge with the bay window as in the flat we are now in. The downside was an incredibly small and narrow kitchen. The back garden was extremely well kept, lawn mowed and flowers everywhere. Even a rose bush!
The second was a bit more modern, with a better kitchen and bathroom but lacked charm. No bay window in the lounge area, but a bigger kitchen. Downside to this flat, the landlord wanted double deposit plus first month’s rent and he did not provide white goods (washer and refrigerator). That meant of course that we would then have to invest in those items, plus all the household items we do not have but were provided for by our current landlord, like ironing boards, hoovers and the like. While our first impression was to take the one in better condition, after mulling over it, we both agreed that it was too much investment for a 4 year stay.
So, the first flat it was.
The lounge. The shelving is intact, in our current flat, we have just the indent. Also noted, that in the side panels to the window on the left, the knob was still there, this was also a standard cupboard in these type of flats. I was excited to see it, although it has been painted shut.
The closet to the back, is the original bedstead. These were built in beds. In our current flat, it was remade into a kitchen, here it is now a walk in size closet. (The second flat did not have but one small closet in one of the bedrooms).
One bedroom has a fireplace, another closet and a of all things, the door to the kitchen. Odd placement, but then that is part of the charm. This window looks to the back garden. I need to have a sewing room again, so this one will be what it is used for. Where to put the dining table under this window as it is close to the kitchen, I am not sure yet. Otherwise it is a trip to the lounge with plates of food.
At the time of viewing, they were repairing something, but here is the door to the kitchen.
Here is the extraordinarily plain kitchen. Nothing could be more lacking in charm than this. And to be sure, this is the whole width of it too. Absolutely only one person can move sideways down the length of it at a time.
But it as a window and I see a perfect place for my little white glass herbal greenhouse!
It’s almost cute to be so narrow. I am sure I will be complaining about it at some point. Good points, all the cabinets are solid and new, the white goods new and we have both a freezer and fridge. No more cooking smells in the lounge, nor the cooker gas deposits all over everything, this has an electric stove. I prefer cooking with gas, but electric is cleaner. There is also a door on the kitchen to close it off. I like that.
The bathroom is about the size of the one we have now, but the tub is wider. It has a folding glass door (not sure how that will work) and nothing much to go on about, it is standard for these types of flats. At least it has a floor rather than the horrid carpet we have now.
The bathroom also had a glass panel door, which made me smile, as it brought back memories of the one in Ved Volden.
The other bedroom is plain but a good size. These photo’s show a more golden hue, but the carpet is brand new and more of a neutral tweed tone, not as brown as it appears here.
That’s it. Most of the other photo’s I took were too blurry or of minute details. I have used a few of the website photo’s because they were a bit clearer than the ones I took.
At this point, we are approved for the flat, it is the paperwork that need finishing. Then finding a removal service (movers in USA) and off we go!
The Viking 