Thanks for the fleeting image this tweet has inspired but I can only dream ArchieluvsAnnie... Will I ever see the Yank's house lit up for Christmas? Ever fire lit, a big Christmas tree in the parlour window and the smell of Christmas baking coming from the basement kitchen. The truth is that the Yank's house sits in the dark and cold yet again this year.
Ireland is such a different place now compared to when we started this project. There was so much hope back then. Everyone could aspire to having something. I guess the Yank's house was our something. Ireland was prosperous and we all felt for the first time in our history that we were all entitled to share in this good fortune. But we were wrong.
Over night it seemed everything changed. For those of us lucky enough to keep our jobs, pay-cuts hit hard. The value of our assets halved while our depth became a burden to pay from shrinking resources. Yank's house was no exception.
But we have been the lucky ones - we are both still working and still able to meet the repayment on the Yank's house and so not worried it will have to be sold. But that little financial cushion we had during the boom is gone. And while we are so very close to finishing the house we will have to wait till the tide turns in our favour for that final push to completion.
We had hoped to sell our current home which would have freed up some of our assets to finish the job but after sitting on the market for two years and only achieving three viewings we decided to take it off the market for the time being. These are just the times we have in Ireland at the moment. We will try again in a few years time.
So for now Christmas in the Yank's house is on hold. But the dream remains and one day it will happen. For now - Christmas goes on. We have nine this year for dinner. Today is Christmas Eve. My favourite day of the year. So I have to end my rambling on and get to work if I am to be ready for tomorrow. Thank you all for following our story over the last few years. We wish you a very happy and holy Christmas and every good wish for 2014
14 years ago my twin sister and I visited Ireland for the first time. Riley, O'Connell, Kelly, McConnell, Browne and Crow coursing through our veins and the family tales of banshees, and intrigue prompted our adventure. My fathers dream of seeing his ancestors land never came true, but we brought him in spirit. 15 trips later and a dream still burning, a place of our own, is still to be achieved. My best friend lives in Co. Clare and I have looked at a small cottage at the top of a hill above her place. Rural, hauntingly familiar, this cottage now fills my dreams with renovation work and discovery. The price at this time is prohibitive though well under $100,000 and then there is the complication of living elsewhere. The dream still lives though and as I research and plan, maybe someday I will have what you already have. My friends in Clare seem to think that things are beginning to improve in Ireland, my hope for you is that your dream of a Christmas at the "Yanks House" comes true.
ReplyDeleteThanks you for your lovely comment. Never stop dreaming. Life would be so dull if we did
DeleteCatherine did you finish the Yank's house. Followed your blog avidly then it stopped when recession hit. Hope all is well with you and Ireland is back on its feet. Live in the UK and would love to know if you achieved your goal. Good Luck
ReplyDeleteThanks for you message and sorry it took me this long to reply. I have not been checking on the blog for ages. No we never finished it. We ran out of money and as we both work in public services were hit by pay cuts that left nothing over for the Yank in our lives. So it just sits there now as you last saw it. I haven't been to visit it in ages but we are going to call this weekend just to check it is still standing. I think we may have to sell it - wonder if there is another mad person out there like me that would finish it. I would be happy to pass it on to someone who would love it and carry on the story. Financially we will never get back what we have put into it but I still glad Pat and I had that time together working on it. It was a very happy time in my life.
DeleteCatherine
Hi Catherine.
ReplyDeleteI've spent the past hours reading your blog... I don't really know what to say to you but I think I know how you feel. Years of struggle always result in "the goodness being taken out of it". It's so hard to stay positive. I worked night and day on our house for 3+ years bought in 2006. I was getting home at 4 a.m from the house and travelling to work at 8 for 12 hour shifts. Now in 40% negative equity...BUT.. my 5 year old reminds me "it's not the end of the world ". Stay healthy and keep smiling.
Thank you for your lovely message. I love to hear that people are still finding the blog and reading it way after I stopped writing it. We are still on hold at the Yanks house. I loved all the followers we had when I was writing and we were working on the house. It was a great time in our lives. Now I think maybe it is time to pass the house on to a new owner -someone who can afford to finish it but Pat isn't ready yet to let the dream go. So we wait. But yes there is lots to smile about. Life is good. We are looking forward to our first grandchild this year. Cannot get much better than that. :-)
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ReplyDelete