Seeing it is now Monday 7th
March I figured I needed to do an update on my journal before I forget
what I've been doing.
I finally got my car on
Saturday 5th March. A Buick Regal LS, Year 2000, with 64,456k on the
clock. Rides well and so far am pleased with the purchase although you do
need a good half hours training course to learn all the instruments :-)
They couldn't find the spare key and so will be heading back there around
next weekend to get a new key from them together with an ashtray and cigar
lighter. Seems the last owner didn't smoke so removed those items.
![](canada/pics/car%20003_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/car%20001_small.jpg)
Should also note that today
Verity... Harold and Nola's daughter... gave birth to a brand new baby
girl and so many congratulations to Verity and Alex and that's a wee
sister for Ella :-)
Also made a decision to
purchase that house in Raleigh Street in Chatham so have emailed Austin,
the realtor, to put in a bid for it. Here are a big collection of
pictures of the house for you to see... if I'm fortunate in purchasing it
they will be a wee reminder to me how it looked at the time :-)
Of course if you have any
suggestions on how I might use the large basement and attic I'm all ears!
167 Raleigh St.
Chatham
Ontario
N7M 2W4
Canada
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20002_small.jpg)
This is the Dining room but it's actually
larger than the Living room so would intent to use it as the Living room.
Got some stained glass in the windows.
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20004_small.jpg)
Wee bit of a weird door which leads into what
I think will be the library
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20006_small.jpg)
There is a short hallway into the house from
outside
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20008_small.jpg)
From the hallway and foyer you have access to
all the rooms
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20010_small.jpg)
Room on right is the current living room which
I might make the Dining room
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20012_small.jpg)
Kitchen with 2 peace toilet on the left of the
fridge. Back door into garden to the right of the fridge
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20014_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20016_small.jpg)
Stairs leading up to first floor
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20019_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20021_small.jpg)
That's George Moulson the builder on the left
and Austin Hockin the realtor on the right. Kind of foyer leading into the
three bedrooms and bathroom and also to the attic.
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20023_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20025_small.jpg)
Master bedroom with built in wardrobe
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20027_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20029_small.jpg)
Bathroom with walk in shower
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20031_small.jpg)
And now leading stairs leading up to floored
attic
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20033_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20035_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20037_small.jpg)
Seems quite a large space... wonder what I can
do with this?
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20039_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20041_small.jpg)
First guest bedroom which I plan to make the
office
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20043_small.jpg)
And now down to the basement
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20045_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20047_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20049_small.jpg)
Again some good space down here... wonder if I
could fit in a pool table? :-)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20051_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20053_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20055_small.jpg)
And now up from the basement and a look at the
outside. Nice wee garden at the back.. wonder what the snow is covering?
Anyway.. not too much lawn to mow hopefully :-)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20057_small.jpg)
Siding looks ok... and a view of the
neighbours
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20059_small.jpg)
Nice wood floors
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20061_small.jpg)
Door from current living room takes you out to
the porch which is on two sides of the house
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20063_small.jpg)
Wee bit of work needing done to the porch
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20065_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20067_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20069_small.jpg)
More views of the neighbours
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20071_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20073_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20075_small.jpg)
![](canada/pics/raleigh%20076_small.jpg)
And that's the outside with a wee garage
alongside
Rough estimate is that I
would only need to spend around $5000 for a few bits that need fixed up
plus some decorating. It's also just a couple of blocks from
shopping and very near the centre of town with all the main shopping
malls. There is also a Wal-Mart in town along with a Sears department
store, No Frills, Solebys, Canadian Tyre, etc. It also has a main
railway station which gets me into Toronto. I believe it's also around 45
mins to the USA border and Detroit.
Chatham is in the
Municipality of
Chatham
Kent
![](canada/pics/chatham_map.jpg)
Map of the area
Stop Press: My offer of $75,000 was
accepted on 10th March 2005
Don't know if I mentioned
it before but here in Canada all prices are displayed ex-tax. I only
mention this as back in the UK prices are normally displayed including tax
and so if you are used to that arrangement you might get a fright when you
get your bill.
As I'm now a Director of
the Scottish Studies Society here in Toronto I have been designated to get
the invites and flyers organised and printed. A new responsibility
but at least I've managed to get an online order form organised. |