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Original poster

Calling anyone who knows BRISTOL

141 replies

Lonelymum · 26/01/2005 18:44

Fill me in on the place. Dh has just been offered a job and we are moving to Bristol, but we have to decide some things very quickly. Dh has to start job in a fortnight and I would like to just pick up the kids and go with him. Work will rent us a house for 6 months so we have time to buy later but still need to know which areas to look at.

A lot of our decision is based on schools. From what we can tell on the internet, good schools are The Castle Thornbury, Marlwood, Cotham and The Ridings. We also don't really want to live in the centre of Bristol but in a smaller community to the north or west. Can anyone advise please? Nice areas? Not nice areas? We are going to look at the weekend. Where would you suggest we looked?

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Original poster
Lonelymum · 05/02/2005 18:07

Don't! I am having severe doubts already! Have to hang on to the idea that dh needs to be as accessible to as many towns as possible......

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WideWebWitch · 05/02/2005 18:11

Oh ok lonelymum, I know nothing about Thornbury except that Thornbury Castle hotel is supposed to be nice (haven't been there thougH)

WestCountryLass · 05/02/2005 21:27

Been house hunting today, went to view that property in Portishead we liked the look of but it is not for us. However we drove home via Clifton and had a nose in some of the villages and chanced upon a lovely property which we are going to view tomorrow, wish me luck!

Original poster
Lonelymum · 05/02/2005 21:32

Ooh how exciting. Is it on the web? Can I see? After visiting Portishead I came to the conclusion that a good education for my children regretfully does not rate higher than literally everything else.

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WestCountryLass · 05/02/2005 21:40

Whenever we have been to Portishead we have visited the High Street but mostly the childrens play area near the lake and the 'sea front' and the open air swimming pool. I imagined it to be quite a pretty town but the rest of it is pretty crap imho, anyway, I digress...

Yes the house is on the web, I hope the link works:

212.50.188.106/cgi-win/vebra.cgi?details1?src=vebra&PropertyCode=1395003/WOODB/12325/3

The picture does not do it justice but it ticks all the right boxes for us

WestCountryLass · 05/02/2005 21:43

Infact, it is just like the hosue we live in now except bigger We could move in and not redecorate!!

Original poster
Lonelymum · 05/02/2005 21:45

Oh it looks pretty and I like the rooms you can see, but wouldn't like the shape of the bathroom - bit long and thin for me. Good floor plans. I wish estate agents details always included floor plans as I can "see" far more with them than I can their ludicrous descriptions. What would you do with the bedrrom in the roof? Use it yourself or give it to a child or use it as a playroom/study?

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WestCountryLass · 05/02/2005 21:55

We would probably use the loft room ourselves and then maybe partition off an area for a home office and/or install an en-suite. We would use the two smaller edrooms for the kids and then the bigger room on the middle floor would be their playroom so they can run riot down there and we could have our refuge at the top. Oooo, don't encourage me, I will get quite carried away with myself!

WideWebWitch · 06/02/2005 09:13

WCL, that house looks lovely! Hope you get it if it's what you want.

Original poster
Lonelymum · 06/02/2005 10:07

Yes hope the viewing goes well. Keep us informed!

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WestCountryLass · 06/02/2005 17:34

Well now we are in a quandry.

The house had the right feel though it does need some work, mainly painting and decorating, nothing too major which we would be more than prepared to do... BUT it is on the main road through the village (a very quiet main road I hasten to add as it only goes to the village) but there is no on street parking outside, we would have to park around the corner and walk.

We wouldn't have to walk far at all but it is the convenience of parking outside your house which is the dilemma.

There is the possibility of applying for planning to have a drop kerb and and having a drive in front of the house (knocking down wall and levelling off, again nothing major).

What to do, what to do????

We did have a giggle as we thought we would go to the local pub and have a drink and everyone turned round and stared at us in a 'you're not from these parts' way. To be expected I guess if you move to a small village??? We left as felt a bit uncomfortable and found a really ncie welcoming pub round thwe corner

And joy of joys Jacob threw up in the car on the way home!

Original poster
Lonelymum · 06/02/2005 17:38

Difficult isn't it? I suppose you need to sleep on it and think about how much you want that house and how likely it is that you will be able to get planning permission for a driveway... Not a good sign when the whole pub turns round and stares at you! Better ds throws up in the back of the car (though I turn cold at the thought) than that he does so in the house you are viewing. Can you imagine that?!!

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WestCountryLass · 06/02/2005 17:54

Definitely! I'd ahve been mortified!

I reckon planning would be fine as the hosue next door has done it

Out of interst, what sort of properties do you prefer, new builds or older styled one?

I did see these and thought of you as I would love a house like this (not sure if location would put you off though):

www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-5110802.rsp/svr/2002;jsessionid=5C957CE90682F07BA5C406EE905754EF?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy&chnl=buy www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-3752130.rsp/svr/2002;jsessionid=5C957CE90682F07BA5C406EE905754EF?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy&chnl=buy www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-4630190.rsp/svr/2002;jsessionid=5C957CE90682F07BA5C406EE905754EF?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy&chnl=buy

Original poster
Lonelymum · 06/02/2005 18:58

Thanks I like to have a look at properties. Actually we couldn't afford any of the ones you suggested. I like the look of the Keynsham one but it is on the A4!

We have certain criteria all properties must meet before we would even think about it. One of my top ones is that it is not on a main road! Dh's top pririty is that it must have a garage for his MGB, but all those houses did have one. We prefer old properties but we will never be able to afford one. Our present house is a 1970s box and that is the best we could hope for I think.

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WestCountryLass · 06/02/2005 19:27

Oh, sorry, I thought your budget was more, I will see what I can find that's cheaper

Original poster
Lonelymum · 06/02/2005 20:06

That is the same house as the third one on your earlier list!

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WestCountryLass · 06/02/2005 20:33

Not for you then, LOL!!!!

WestCountryLass · 06/02/2005 20:35

I think its a different one, isn't it???

Original poster
Lonelymum · 07/02/2005 10:57

Oh sorry yes you are right. I must have made a mistake pasting your link. Yes it is clearly different! Will look in more detail with dh later. Thanks.

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WestCountryLass · 07/02/2005 18:15

No worries! Any good?

Don't think I can cope with no parking situation but am off to view this one tomorrow:

www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-4589609.rsp/svr/3013;jsessionid=B9DF5A20EDF6DC3FEED3538C3D514038?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy&chnl=buy

Original poster
Lonelymum · 07/02/2005 18:17

Well it has a souble garage so you would be laughing with that one. Ham Green any good?

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Original poster
Lonelymum · 07/02/2005 18:21

Dh viewed this today with a view to renting it. I know it looks yuck, but it the only 4 bedroom property available in Thornbury.

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sobernow · 07/02/2005 18:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WestCountryLass · 07/02/2005 18:45

Actually one of my friends grew up in a house like that (on Waterford Close estate) and at the time it was a nice estate (nice families, well to do etc) and they are quite spacious inside. My friends family home is actually for sale as her Dad has bought a house in Portugal.

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