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Original poster

Oh F**K we are going to be homeless at Christmas :-(

51 replies

Miaou · 01/08/2006 17:58

Our landlady called and spoke to dh whilst I was at work today. They are renting their house to us as the job her dh has has an apartment with it. But the owners have now said they need the apartment back at the end of the year. She (the landlady) is v. upset about this turn of events and has been very good by telling us now as she only has to give us two months notice.

But houses round here are as rare as rocking-horse sh*t and the chances of us getting another in this area are about nil

We always knew it was a possibility but both we and our landlady were looking at this as a long-term arrangement.

I'm absolutely gutted.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 02/08/2006 09:22

Bump for morning crowd in case anyone can come up w/some good ideas and send well wishes to Miaou and family.

Original poster
Miaou · 02/08/2006 09:25

Perhaps you could all buy me a lottery ticket

OTOH, if anyone has a spare £150 grand to invest and wants to buy a property and rent it out to us we would be very interested.

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LemonTart · 02/08/2006 09:28

I am a believer in fate too. We have had a fairly easy life but have a had a couple of nasty blows in the last five years that have sent us reeling. Both times wonderful, unexpected consequences have happened, people we would never have met, experiences that only became possible etc etc Hang in there. The future will all unroll in front of you really soon. This is the beginning of your future.. xxx

bramblina · 02/08/2006 11:46

I actually believe this will end up in a pregnancy for you...just when you could "do without it" IYSWIM. It took us 4 mcs and 3 yrs to end up pg, just as dh lost his license and job!!! The timing is always the most bizarre thing!!

JennyLee · 02/08/2006 13:03

hi Miaou,

Yes I have had the same thought about home schooling as the local school that is better, is not in the catchment area for this street but will let me know when school goes back andthe other school that is the catchment one is 'rough' not that I am a snob, but since we moved here, me and my son have olive complexions and dark hair because my mother is spanish, and my son has been getting the most awful racist taunts and comments on and off from the kids in this street. so I am thinking if the school is like that I will home school and if he is the only 'dark' kid and gets hassle I will not let him suffer I will home school untill we get re housed permanently. But he will start school to see if it will be okay. it is rubbish having to uproot kids, his old school was wonderful and very diverse. Also I could end up anywhere in west lothian out of 15 areas we had to put down for. hope it works out for you, know you don't have the same reasons but home schooling is definately something I am considering.

Original poster
Miaou · 02/08/2006 14:02

Aw Jenny hope it works out for you too.

Bramblina, I know, it would be just sods law wouldn't it?! There is never a "right" time but this would be as close to a "wrong" time as I have ever been!

I have told my mum this morning (v. upset), and my good friend (also v. upset - but is now on a mission to find us something!). We are looking into going into a caravan and putting everything into storage just now (there is a possibility of finding a caravan in the next village, the one where I currently work).

Ironically I feel better after talking to mum and my friend, as I ended up consoling them! So I was running through all the reasons why it would be ok iyswim.

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Blu · 02/08/2006 14:24

Miaou, I'm really sorry to hear all this, it sounds a terrible shock, and so many factors of your life are hanging on where you live.

You are lovely, and brave and you and your dh obviously work well as a team. It sounds as if you have already made some good contingency plans - but hopefully luck will be on your side, and a miracle house will reveal itself. I am sure your landlady will do her best to let you know of anything else, too.

At least try to enjoy your holioday - you deserve some relaxing holiday time - you didn't deserve this blow.

Thinking of you.

expatinscotland · 02/08/2006 14:26

K, so so far the plans may be: 1) find a winter let of a holiday home 2) caravan 3) lotto 4) the vibes will have to kick in and something WILL come up.

How about putting up some cards in the local shops looking for a let? You never know, someone there in their holiday home may like the idea of letting it in winter, too!

cupcakes · 02/08/2006 14:39

So sorry to hear this. Did you have any luck with your friend with the holiday cottage?

UCM · 02/08/2006 16:52

What about advertising in the wanted section of your regional newspaper/free ads. Also putting an advert in your local newsagents/post office if you have one. Even the nearest supermarket may have a notice board..sorry it's not much good, but I was thinking that there may be an empty house that you don't know is empty and the owners might see your ad.

Original poster
Miaou · 02/08/2006 19:24

Oooh you are all lovely. Blu I really appreciate your post, thank you! Expat, yes that's our scenario summed up neatly! Cupcakes, I'm very much a "plant the seed and wait for it to grow" person - so I talked to my friend today (it's actually her daughter that runs the holiday cottage) and I'm sure that if it is available we will be offered it. UCM, because of the housing shortage in the area our advert would just join the dozen or so in the paper every week - honestly, the "property wanted" section in our local paper is about twice the size of the "property to let" section!

Am feeling more positive though. My dm has put feelers out and came up with a few suggestions that we are following up.

It's times like this it really pays to be a "wanted" member of the community - no-one wants to see us go.

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nutcracker · 02/08/2006 19:29

Oh no Miaou, really sorry to hear this. Dunno why but I thought you did live in a HA house.

Hope you find something soon. I wouldn't want to lose you if you lived by me so am sure your neighbourhood will be keen to help you find somewhere.

frogs · 02/08/2006 19:29

Oh Miaou, I'm so sorry -- I hadn't realised this was your thread.

Am keeping everything crossed for you -- surely somebody must be prepared to rent you their holiday cottage, no?

Really hope something comes up.

Original poster
Miaou · 02/08/2006 19:37

nutty, what a lovely thing to say

frogs, the thing with holiday cottages is a lot of people have folks to stay year in year out - so it's possible/probable that we could get a place over the winter but not permanently. That's what puts me off going there; we'd probably have to move twice in under six months. It's another option though

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Gillian76 · 02/08/2006 19:55

So sorry to hear this, Miaou.

Really hoping something works out for you soon xxx

MrMiaou · 02/08/2006 20:40

Hi Folks

Don't worry we'll get something sorted out. I've got some superb plans, if they workout it will be fantastic. All I need to do is persuade the owner of one of the local estates that an old and dilapidated property right on the beach ought to be brought back in to use.

Then we rebuild it using various grants etc whilst doing the work we live in a caravan on site.

Just working on probably the most important and persuasive letter I have ever written!

Please keep supporting DW as you all do anyway. She is brilliant at most things, but change seems to terrify her.

You're all invited to the housewarming

JennyLee · 02/08/2006 20:44

Good luck with your letter mr miaou!

Gillian76 · 02/08/2006 21:58

Good to hear, MrMiaou! Thinking about you all

Original poster
Miaou · 11/08/2006 18:33

Hiya, a little update on our situation and it's not that positive really. A friend of ours is moving out of our village and we have been trying to get her house (four bedrooms too) but unfortunately it has now been let to someone else . That's it, there are no more houses in our village, so we are now in the process of trying to secure one in another village about 40 miles away. It's far more remote and the kids will have to move schools () plus it is only three bedrooms which is a bit on the small side, and it's an extra £75 per month. But beggars can't be choosers (and boy are we begging!). We really daren't risk turning this down on the bais something else will come up as housing is in such short supply (unless you can afford £300k plus ). On the plus side it has a lovely view out to sea and the school is a good one, plus it feeds into the same secondary school. We will find out whether or not we get this one tonight (again, someone else has looked round it before us so it's up to the owners to choose who gets it). Fingers crossed.

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JennyLee · 11/08/2006 19:02

Good luck I hope you get it, I am sick to death of the council temp accomodation as adequate as it is and the fact that school is going back a week on tuesday here and I'm anxious about that. Wish we were settled and knew that we were staying for a good long while. anyway good luck

expatinscotland · 11/08/2006 19:09

Good luck, Miaou!!! Hoping you get this place so you can at least have some peace and maybe something else will come up in the interim.

WideWebWitch · 11/08/2006 19:34

Oh good luck miaou, it's a horrible situation to be in, similar happened to us a few years ago and it really is horrible, I know the feeling. Good luck, I hope your dh's plans come to fruition.

Original poster
Miaou · 11/08/2006 21:41

we got the house at Lochaline - yeh!

I have a good gut feeling about it - we shall see it (for the first time!) a week on Monday so I hope it lives up to my expectations (which are fairly low I have to say!!). Thanks for all your good wishes etc, it does mean a lot

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vitomum · 11/08/2006 21:43

great news Miaou. I hope you are all very happy there

nutcracker · 11/08/2006 21:49

Yay thats fantastic news