Inspecting and Exploring

I have to say that the weather yesterday was awful. You wouldn't have thought it was February. It was cold. It was very windy. It rained on and off. You might say it was a perfect day to go out and look at potential new homes. Everything, pretty much, looks delightful in the sunshine.

Freyja wasn't available in the morning, so I wandered off on my own. Simon had drawn my attention to a flat just around the corner from my Weekend Home with a viewing in 40 minutes. I registered to have a look and wandered around. There were a couple of people also waiting to have a look. They rang the agent. I rang the agent. No one came to let us in.

So I went away.

My first two pre-planned flats were on The Other Side, in New Quay. The first one has been on my radar for quite some time. It has a fabulous view out over the harbour and even out to the bay. It was a bijou apartment but which could work for my furniture, cats and lifestyle. Plus, the full length windows looking across the water along the back wall made it seem bigger. It was light and bright even on a dull, gloomy day. Alas, it is right at the top of my budget and the mortgage advisor says lenders won't consider places under 50 m2 and this place was 49 m2 

I could live with this view from the balcony

I went for a wander through The District shopping complex before my next viewing, which was in a building where Freyja, Simon and I had tried to have a viewing once before, on a Sunday, but the inspection day and time was obviously a mistake and no one came. This time someone did come. The flat was a very low price and was in need of a lot of TLC. At the very least a coat of paint and new flooring. The balcony view wasn't particularly enticing but you could turn the flat into something quite nice with a bit of money, effort and imagination. And I wouldn't have needed a mortgage :D

The next couple of viewings were back on this side of the river and Freyja came with me. Both flats had tenants, both were fairly untidy. Both had beds in the living area. But the first one said "No" to me the moment I walked into the building, well before I got into the flat. The flat said "no" to me, not because there was a bed in the living area and nothing but junk in the bedroom. I just didn't like it and I couldn't really explain why. The second one I did like. I liked the building, which was built around a central atrium. I liked the design of the flat. I liked that there were unexpected little water glimpses from the balcony. I liked the quirky nature of the building and the flat.

Not that I am in a position to buy anything. My place isn't even on the market yet. But it was an interesting and useful exercise.

I had breakfast in my Weekend Apartment - coffee and a toasty from Billy Barista across the road. Freyja and I had lunch in a Vietnamese restaurant. We had afternoon tea in a cute cafe. We had dinner, with Simon, in an Asian restaurant which seemed to do Malaysian and Thai food.

I walked 15k steps and made use of the trams, which are in the free tram zone. We inspected the beautiful Library at the Dock, little gardens and parks. We found little cafes tucked away in odd corners. We found a local community garden. We walked along the water. 

Starting the day with a riverside stroll

Wandering around The District shopping complex

Inside a quirky cafe

Library at the Dock
There are armchairs along the windows
so you can sit and read while watching the river

Mixed berry mocktail

Malaysian style sizzling beef plate

My attention was first drawn to Docklands as a place to live when I read an article saying that it was a soulless, lifeless, underdeveloped place to live. I really don't agree. I know I have only been here for a long weekend but I think it's vibrant and lively and full of activity, cafes, coffee shops, restaurants and interesting shops (although no tourist tat shops; the tourists haven't really got here - yet).

I like it.

I am on my own today. Freyja and Simon have gone to Ballarat for the day. I shall do a bit more exploring and then probably will head into the city for a potter about. So once again, I need to get dressed and go in search of coffee.