Something I've learned in the last week is that there is a big community of Brits here, and that they all stick together! I posted a msg on a 'MS Social' site saying we were new to the area and have been innundated with messages from Brits offering dinner, coffee, playdates for kids, etc. We have found a really nice Estate Agent through this who has been here for 3 yrs and whose husband works 1 floor above G. I also met another really nice girl yesterday who has 2 kids and we went to the beach and tomorrow I meet another and there are others lining up too. Plus they all know each other and there's a huge 'web' of Brits which all look out for each other. I asked jokingly if anyone ever talks to the 'locals' and apparently the answer is no - lol. I'm not complaining it's refreshing to hang out and not be 'different' or 'foreign'.
Our lovely real estate agent has found us a house too....... well, we have made an offer on a place tonight, how scary. However, there's another offer on the table too and the market here is 'hot' which means often people end up in bidding wars that go over the asking price, so I am trying not to get too excited.
It is a nice house though, older and on a fairly steep hill (it's very hilly here!) in a nice established neighbourhood. It's a 'split level'.... you go in and the main living areas are on that floor. There is a vaulted ceiling in the living room and in the dining room area, and a nice kitchen. Then there is a laundry and 3 bedrooms (master with ensuite) and another bathroom at the end. The kitchen and living room open onto a beautiful deck (off ground because the house is on the slope) which overlooks wonderful valley / mountains / forests.
Then downstairs, which I guess you term 'walk out' is mad. There is another living room (both living rooms have wood burning fireplaces), a dark room (i guess the previous owner was in to photography!), another large room, another large room again, a hot tub room with a hot tub in (!) with all wood panelling and tiles, a bathroom, and then on the other side of the hallway another 2 large rooms. Not entirely sure what we'd do with the space if we get the house , I think it's 2900 sq ft in total!
Well it may all go wrong yet, we may not get our offer accepted and also the inspection might put a damper on things, but it's certainly the best value for money we've seen so far. It does need a bit of updating, esp the kitchen and bathrooms, but it seems to be in fairly good nick (nice big garden too) and the area is very nice and pretty. Best of all it's 15 mins walk into Redmond town center (hurrah! life!) through beautiful leafy streets (although bit of a climb uphill to get back!).
I'm getting carried away with myself, I must not get my hopes up too high!
It's extremely beautiful here, there are mountains in every direction including the mad Volcano whose snow covered peak sneaks up on you everywhere you look. There are trees and beautiful plants everywhere, and water everywhere too. After Brampton it's just bliss to be surrounded by such a stunning landscape. We have driven to the Ocean (2 hrs) ..... by that I mean the pacific shore not the Puget Sound r...... fantastic. I have so much that I want to do that I'll never fit it all in before the end of the Summer, not that it gets any colder than about 8 degrees in the winter apparently !
As you may be able to tell I'm feeling quite positive about being here :) Everyone we've spoken to loves it and doesn't want to leave ever, which is refreshing from the Brits you meet in Canada who when you ask if they like it say 'No not really'.!
I also bought a Sat Nav which is funny and very very useful. Managed to drive around all over the place today without getting lost and it even directed me to the nearest Starbucks! I had experienced Neils sat nav with the rather angry EXIT THE ROUNDABOUT voice, but this one is a little more polite!
Harry is absolutely fine, growing like a weed, clapping and waving and chattering away , also crawling ! He turns 1 on Friday, can you believe it's been a year? Dylan is still a bit unsettled by the whole moving thing, has developed a giant fear of Daleks and Dr WHo (something he LOVED prior to coming here) and refusing to go to bed every night incase his mum gets turned into one. I hope he'll settle soon but it's tough on him to be so out of his own environment and not able to have his things around him. Trying to meet as many people as possible to find him some little buddies.
Other than that, continuing to try to find my feet but mostly feeling extremely positive and enjoying it!
Posted by katie at July 20, 2005 12:34 AMWhat do you expect for 50 quid? All "please" and "thank you"???
Posted by: neil at July 20, 2005 03:59 AM