Brum, Brum here we come

Back to school tomorrow and I've spent the whole half term considering my backlog of things to do...marking, letter writing, rota updates, planning Red Nose Day, staff meeting agendas, policy updates, lesson planning, scheduling, cover arrangements, classroom reorganisation, staff training, resource allocation etc. etc. And ended up mellowing in the West Midlands (yes, I do mean urban Birmingham) sight seeing and house hunting! We had an absolute ball. Admittedly, we were based at the Hilton (Bromsgrove!...our usual base at the Hilton Warwick was bursting with Valentine and castle lovers) with a free evening meal on our 1st night, baby listening facility and 18m swimming pool with jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. Tacky I know, but heaven nonetheless!!

Mitch and I spent our evenings alone together in the brightly lit 'designer' lounge/bar planning our next move. Quite literally. We had arranged to view various properties in the 'less urban' sectors of the city (with outstandingly decent state schools) within an arm's reach of affordable properties. Our business rendezvous with the vendors of the company that we are planning to buy was scuppered by the latest flu bug, so we planned to spend our time whizzing 'round local properties in Harborne and Moseley alongside entertaining the girls with the multitude of activities that are available for children to do locally. Property No. 1 was a typical Edwardian house - pleasant enough - but it had the misfortune of being neatly settled opposite the most monstrous 60s houses you ever did see. Not that I'm strictly opposed to modern houses (as I do have the misfortune of living in one) but the scorching tones of the garage door across the road would test the tolerance of the most enthusiatic of colourists. Also, at £50 short of £400,000 (i.e £100,000 a bedroom) with no scope for improvement or development, we were promptly out the door with the agent still munching the remains of his egg sandwich (breakfast we were told...at 10am?!). Now, Property No. 2 (same road, £50,000 less with an abundance of bedrooms, a patch of a garden and severely suffering from a crazed builder's pickaxe) made us swoon with nervous excitement. We were intoxicated within seconds of stepping across the threshold and the children skipped delightedly through the maze of reception rooms, bounded the numerous flights of stairs and confirmed that this house (with bright pink walls in one of the rooms) was an absolute must have. Even the pigeon poo littering the top floor (courtesy of an open skylight) and the fact that the house is allegedly built the wrong way round (I'm serious!) didn't put us off.

We were so taken with the house that we returned after dark and began introducing ourselves to the neighbours. I stepped out of the car with the girls in tow to find out who our neighbours might be. We were welcomed with opened arms - one dear soul practically invited us in for dinner - with sorrowful tales of the neglected nightmare that we are convinced will be our next home. We exchanged contact details so that one of the other neighbours (away for the night) could contact us about the local schools. As we raced back to London the following morning, my mobile rang. I assumed that it was one of the agents needing feedback for their client. But no, amazingly, it was the absent neighbour with a full history of 'the house' and great news about two of the excellent schools within walking distance of the house.

Now, about that second mortgage....