Heavenly Beverley : Here's Your Chance to Live @ The House that Rocks.

Sunday 25 October 2015

Here's Your Chance to Live @ The House that Rocks.

The lack of money really sucks. We are so close to fulfilling our dreams of returning the Forbes Building to a splendid premises for the East End Gallery, Wares West, and Sweet Pea's Treasures. The Redback Forge Studio and Workshop are ready to be commissioned as Michael's creative hub. He has started renovating the last fireplace. We have most of the materials needed for the final forty-five square metres of the Gallery space.

All around me this afternoon is the outcome of our blood, sweat and tears. And money. Two loans, all our super, We have also borrowed money from both sets of our elderly parents. There is rather a lot of guilt associated with going cap in hand to your parents when we're middle-aged ourselves.

Then Michael had a lightbulb moment. Which he thought I'd hate. So he kept his idea under his hat for a couple of months before he summoned up the courage to seek my opinion. He had believed he would need to talk me around. I nearly blew his mind when I loved his idea on the spot...

The land on which the building stands has already been subdivided into two blocks. The building is on the front, much larger block. The rear block is slightly less than three hundred square metres. Still big enough for a small, comfortable house with a courtyard and a bit of lawn for the dogs...

The upshot is that we have decided to sell the House that Rocks.We have lived and loved our home for nearly five years. We have painted every wall and door, renovated the kitchen, laundry and bathroom, added flyscreens, polished floorboards, installed underfloor insulation and interned the tile fire. Our bedroom now has the luxury of its own reverse cycle air conditioner, so both ends of the house can be heated or cooled rapidly.The garden has been transformed from a dust bowl to a parkland paradise. Our property is fully fenced and the gardens are watered by an automatic reticulation system.

The house saved both of us by providing sanctuary when we really needed to be on our own. Now the Gallery and Michael's artwork are calling us closer to the centre of town. And we need a low maintenance garden. Much as we adore our garden, we have other priorities. If I am going to be the curator of the East End Gallery, I need to open five or more days a week. To be able to step out the door of our home, walk up the driveway and into the Gallery sounds like bliss.

So, we would like to fondly farewell the House that Rocks and build Station Cottage. We have lots of ideas and we are currently waiting to set up a meeting with our local architect. My dream is that Station Cottage will be at least to lock up stage by Michael's birthday next September. We shall have to wait and see...

The other benefits of downsizing include reducing debt, repaying my Mum and Dad, finishing the building and clearing credit. Which gives us hope for our financial future. And another project!

In the beginning...