The Househunter

We’re going to the country this week because, well because look at that view. I’m not terribly good at the country myself; after years of living in London and 24 hour access to shops I am now literally incapable of going to a shop and buying bread and milk at the same time.

My short term memory is shot ( I should play the tray game to get back into shape) which means that I invariably forget at least one of the things I am supposed to be buying. Like the time my mother came for supper and I started to cook the chicken stew (having been to the shops to buy everything) and realised, after I had started sauteing the onions, that I had completely forgotten to buy the actual chicken.

So the thought of living somewhere where the shops actually shut is mildly terrifying to me. Not to mention the recent New Year in Cornwall where there is no phone signal if you are on O2 thing.

I asked in the shop where I might find a signal and was told – and I quote (I’m a trained journalist I can do that): “Orange is better round here but if you walk along the coast road to the second bench you should be all right. If you get to the third bench you’ve gone too far.”

Now I wouldn’t have necessarily minded the lack of signal except that I hadn’t warned Mother that I would be hors de contact for three days. And given that we had driven down there in Hurricane Frank, I wasn’t exactly gagging for a walk along the coast road to find the signal.

I caught up with her eventually. “Happy New Year,”  I said. “We’re in Port Isaac, terrible phone signal, sorry.”

There was a sniff and a pause. Then: “Well, Doc Martin never seems to have a problem.”

So, me and the country. I love to visit and I love to look at it but I’m not sure I’m ready for a permanent relationship. Mind you when I look at this house in Cumbria on the edge of that lake, I could be tempted. Well not for six million quid but you get the gist.

This lovely historic pile is on the market with Savills but never mind the actual money, let’s just go in and have a poke about shall we?

This house really is done in shades of grey isn’t it and it looks great. It has four reception rooms, four en suite bedrooms and a master suite, a cellar and wine room, a boat house and jetty and a three bedroom cottage. All with those magnificent views over Lake Windermere.

Or, if that doesn’t float your boat. What about this? Also on with Savills, it’s a converted barn in Chippenham, Wiltshire. Now I have to admit, I’m not usually a fan of the converted barn. It’s rare that the spaces work (for me at least) and sometimes they’re just too rustic and country.

But this is all wide open spaces and vaulted ceilings and I could definitely make an exception for this one. There are five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a large workshop and outbuilding. It’s on for £1,395,000.

What do you think? Are we all moving to the country? Will someone remind me to start making really detailed shopping lists?

What do you think? Are you town or country?