March 2004 - It all kicks off

We find out that the barn next door to our lovely little cottage is going to be sold at auction - we have coveted it for several years so we need to move fast! During the years between us moving into Gothic Cottage and now we have had a variable relationship with the farmer who owns the barn. It didn't start off too well but we've stuck with it and I think he has realised over the years that we are relatively harmless and are staying for the duration. So, he is approached, with a bottle of duty-free whisky in hand (the first of many over the period of negotiation and beyond!) and, eventually, a price is reached for the barn and approx 2 1/2 acres of land.

The financial effort required to come up with the readies is considerable and involves financial advisors, re-mortgaging other properties, generous and much appreciated loans from relatives and friends but finally the barn (and land) is ours on 16th July 2004!!!!