|
John's Article
|
Our Radio Suited Cottage
Sometimes, life’s biggest adventures start with a leap of faith—or in our case, a pin on a map. When I left a previous job, Samantha and I decided it was the right time to find a place where we could truly put down roots. For months, we scoured Rightmove, spinning the virtual map of the UK and imagining what life might be like in various corners of the country. The process was exciting, exhausting, and filled with a few legal hurdles. But in the end, it led us to something great.
Our search began in Tamworth, Staffordshire, where we had been living for many years, in fact Samantha had lived there all of her life. As we plotted our way across the map, our criteria became clear: we wanted a rural area with plenty of space, and a community that was a lot quieter. We wanted a quieter corner of the country, with no busy town centre to navigate, and the chirp of birds and the rustle of leaves would be a big bonus.
One day, while scrolling through listings, Samantha spotted an unusual character little property in North Shropshire, just outside the market town of Wem. It was located in a hamlet called Palms Hill, about 12 minutes from the Welsh border. The listing described a cottage that hadn’t been lived in for 20 years, and needing a LOT of work. It sounded like the perfect project for us!
When we first saw the property, it was clear it would be a labour of love. The cottage had seen better days, but its potential shone through the overgrown gardens, peeling paint and rotten woodwork. We took the plunge and bought it with no mortgage in 2023, ready to roll up our sleeves and bring it back to life.
For the first 6 or so months, we lived in our 1980's American motorhome parked on the property. The motorhome, a beloved companion on some road adventures, became our home base as we tackled the early stages of renovation. Living in it was cosy, but as winter approached, we quickly realised that single-glazed windows and small electric heaters weren’t going to cut it. Despite the cold and the challenges, we pressed on, motivated by the vision of what our cottage could become.
One of the biggest draws of Palms Hill was the rural setting. As a potential amateur radio enthusiast, I have always dreamed of having the space to set up antennae without worrying about upsetting the neighbours or causing electrical/radio interference. The open countryside and with the exception of one property, the lack of nearby residences meant I could finally think about the hobby without too many constraints. Here, I could enjoy the technical challenges of radio communication.
Our cottage is still very much a work in progress, but every step forward feels like a victory. Palms Hill has become our sanctuary, a place where we can build a future that reflects who we are and what we want from life.
If there’s one thing this journey has taught us, it is that sometimes, taking a chance—whether it’s pinning a location on a map or diving headfirst into an almost derelict building renovation with limited building skills—can lead to the most unexpected and fulfilling outcomes. For Samantha, Shelby our dog, and me, the cottage isn’t just a building project, it’s our planned forever home.
Our search began in Tamworth, Staffordshire, where we had been living for many years, in fact Samantha had lived there all of her life. As we plotted our way across the map, our criteria became clear: we wanted a rural area with plenty of space, and a community that was a lot quieter. We wanted a quieter corner of the country, with no busy town centre to navigate, and the chirp of birds and the rustle of leaves would be a big bonus.
One day, while scrolling through listings, Samantha spotted an unusual character little property in North Shropshire, just outside the market town of Wem. It was located in a hamlet called Palms Hill, about 12 minutes from the Welsh border. The listing described a cottage that hadn’t been lived in for 20 years, and needing a LOT of work. It sounded like the perfect project for us!
When we first saw the property, it was clear it would be a labour of love. The cottage had seen better days, but its potential shone through the overgrown gardens, peeling paint and rotten woodwork. We took the plunge and bought it with no mortgage in 2023, ready to roll up our sleeves and bring it back to life.
For the first 6 or so months, we lived in our 1980's American motorhome parked on the property. The motorhome, a beloved companion on some road adventures, became our home base as we tackled the early stages of renovation. Living in it was cosy, but as winter approached, we quickly realised that single-glazed windows and small electric heaters weren’t going to cut it. Despite the cold and the challenges, we pressed on, motivated by the vision of what our cottage could become.
One of the biggest draws of Palms Hill was the rural setting. As a potential amateur radio enthusiast, I have always dreamed of having the space to set up antennae without worrying about upsetting the neighbours or causing electrical/radio interference. The open countryside and with the exception of one property, the lack of nearby residences meant I could finally think about the hobby without too many constraints. Here, I could enjoy the technical challenges of radio communication.
Our cottage is still very much a work in progress, but every step forward feels like a victory. Palms Hill has become our sanctuary, a place where we can build a future that reflects who we are and what we want from life.
If there’s one thing this journey has taught us, it is that sometimes, taking a chance—whether it’s pinning a location on a map or diving headfirst into an almost derelict building renovation with limited building skills—can lead to the most unexpected and fulfilling outcomes. For Samantha, Shelby our dog, and me, the cottage isn’t just a building project, it’s our planned forever home.
|
|
{{comment.user.my_callsign.toUpperCase()}} {{comment.message}}
|
You must be signed in to leave comments.. create your free account using your callsign
Article - Elodie Mirza 2E0MZA
