All go for house and car

A very busy time, searching for a house and a car.   Probably not a good idea to jump straight into it, seeing as we were jet lagged, but it needed to be done.   Grit the teeth and get searching.   Mind you Walter had researched thoroughly during the past six months, via the internet, so we had a pretty good idea where we wanted to buy a house.

The main criteria, other than being in the southern vales, was for a reasonable flat area around the house, plenty of space, and good access to medical centres and a shopping centre.   We were also restricted by price somewhat, as we could not afford the western suburbs of Adelaide itself.   And I forgot to say, we would like to be close to the beach.  We were not committed to commuting to jobs in Adelaide either.

Aldinga Beach came up as the ideal area, time and time again.   Close to the beach,    A flat area, surrounded by hills.    Easy to cycle and walk around.   Good cycle paths and footpaths.   Wide streets, and plenty of space.   Not forgetting the number of medical centres, dentists and other support services, plus two supermarkets, a lovely village not far away, and an Aldi within a cycle ride away.    And house prices were reasonable.

A couple of the houses we looked at ten days ago were pretty woeful, and certainly did not match the description advertised online.    It is very annoying when the agents use photographs taken from a previous sale of the house.

So here we are, having signed the final contract today on a house at 15 Dolphin Boulevard, Aldinga Beach, sold through Harcourts.   My apologies as I do not have the skills to put the link onto this blog.

The house is fairly large, with a large lounge, large kitchen dining area, plus four bedrooms and two bathrooms.  It also has a very large back garden, paved mostly, a huge undercover patio area, a large outdoor kitchen, a gazebo and a swimming pool.   Walter was not so happy with the swimming pool, but I have volunteered to take responsibility for it, together with the help of the grandchildren.  Famous last words, Walter no doubt thinks to himself.

And there is space, and more space, which we had at Ferndell Avenue, and were certainly looking for here.    

 The compromise has been the address, Dolphin Boulevard, which sounds like something from an American soap opera, and the front has a fountain in front, Venus I think, plus a dolphin shape above the front door.    These little extras may have to go, although it is amazing how one becomes used to them.

Yesterday we collected our car, a 2019 model Kia Optima.   A demo which has 1400 kilometres on the clock.   So not entirely brand new but certainly a few dollars off the selling price.    Although we will miss our Skoda, this car is a good compromise.

Interestingly when we went to collect it, it had a large red bow on the bonnet.   Although it was in the showroom, the car salesman insisted that we take it outside in order to take a photograph of it.   Too sunny and too much glare he said.    It was only when I looked at the photograph later on that I realised why he wanted to take it outside first.   The car was conveniently parked in front of the sign 'Kia Motors Stillwell'.   Very funny.

So we are now driving a lovely car around, and looking forward to moving into our new house on the 9th August, which will be a month after we put the initial offer into the house.   

It all happens so quickly here.