Here we go again. House hunting.
We had been looking on the Internet for properties, and looked at several houses that might be what we wanted. Also contacted some estate agents as to  what they had to offer.
Some lovely houses we looked at where not ideal, the thought of us on a wet day with 3 dogs, no room for all of us. Others were too close to other houses. Could hear what next door neighbours were talking about. The big thing of course was cost, we were downsizing, but also in cost as well. Could not afford some of the 'reasonable' houses we were shown. Why do some people show you something above your limit!! And I mean way above! We might sound fussy, but we had to look at the practical side of things as well. It was trying to make our pensions last that we were selling in the first place. But what's a half million house to some people.Certainly not us!
The people buying our house wanted to move in fairly quickly, as they also had dogs and needed a place to live. Looks like we might have to rent while we looked around. Luckily an estate agent who I had contacted finally got back to us, showed us a couple of places, but no good. When I mentioned we could do some work on a place, he came up with a property he had wanted to buy for themselves, but due to a nasty accident, the project of doing it up themselves was out of the question.
We were brought to Drouseia, a village about 10mins down the road from Kathikas. We had driven through it once or twice and it had all the amenities. Turned out the shop was only 5 mins from the house, and the village had  a few nice places to eat.

             

The agent had warned us that the place was in need of some renovation, and a lot of loving care.
'If we could look passed the work needed' he explained to us, and the state of the whole place,  it might suit us.' We followed him to this smallish looking place, surrounded by trees, so could not see much as we walked down to the house. The house was right next to the cemetery, which to a lot of people is unlucky. Much easier for us, when the time comes we can be dropped over the wall !!

                                                                             

 We opened the door and stepped inside. 'Africa' came back to us. The large open plan dinning room, large enough to have a good size party, flowing into the lounge and beyond. We fell in love within 5 mins of walking inside.

This is just the sitting room

 The army could have had jungle training in this wild garden. In places we had to hack our way around.

                           

 It was spacious,and although there was mould on the ceiling, tree roots growing up under a patio door, birds nest and leaves lying around. We both loved it at first sight. 'It just needed tender loving care' and yes, a little more, but nothing Klaus could not do himself. 'Retirement' on hold for awhile I think, work to be done.The garden was so overgrown, it was like trying to get through a jungle, no views to be seen, except we knew there was a couple of fields around the property.

This house had been empty for several years and unsold due to being next to a cemetery. Unlucky for some and superstition still holds for many people.
Whilst negotiations were going on, and all the legal side being sorted out, we  had some of  the trees cut down, especially the ones overhanging across the roof. If things went wrong, the money we paid out for this was lost. Suddenly we had views, we could see the sea, the mountains, and the countryside around. It was rather difficult with the paperwork as the owner had moved to another country so everything was a little on the slower side. Patience is something that you need out here.
We rented the place so we could start doing it up, and repairing where needed, whilst waiting for the sale to be completed on our house. Very fraught times in case everything fell through, but we had to wait for the sale to be able to buy this house. The gods were with us this time, everything went through, and we were now the proud owners again of what was going to be a lovely home.
Before moving in properly, the plumbing had to be sorted out, drains checked, wiring looked at, and the central heating looked at as the old oil boiler looked like it was out of the ark. A great big rusty, dirty looking monster, with some skeletons of dead creatures lying around.
There was a gas hob in the kitchen, which I did not want to use as I don't like using gas.  When Klaus tried it out it blew  up in his face. No, I had not sabotaged it just to get my own way. Luckily he was not injured, and I was very thankful that we could now have an electric hob. The oven which was electric would have to do until we could afford to change it, just needed a good scrub as well as the tiles and work surface in the kitchen. What was there was adequate for the time being. More important things to be seen to first.
There was never any doubt in our minds that we would not end up with a lovely home.
There was still plenty more work to be done, but at least we now had a home, and I have to truthfully say, we love this house and its style better than our previous planned one. The garden is smaller, but large enough for the dogs, but easier for us to keep when we get that bit more creaky. Unlike our other house we do not have a pool here. We also found out with our previous pool in Kathikas that you can only use one for about 5 months of the year, unless you are lucky enough to have a heated one.Our one luxury was going to be  a swim spa instead. Can relax in the jacuzzi spa side or swim against the current at the other end. Will have the best of both worlds, and it can be used all year round.Also a lot less maintenance needed for it.

Join me next week for some work to be done. Who would tie a huge tree up to the house?

One of the dams

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Apologies to all my friends, since writing this earlier in the week have been laid up with the dreaded flu, so with all the coughing and spluttering have not been able to do any art.
Will be back to normal next week. so please come back and join me then.