A CHANGE IS GONNA COME

One thing JT and I have never been afraid of is CHANGE. We have been married for nearly 20 years and together 22: in that time we have lived in thirteen different homes, owning eight of those. We have lived in Auckland, Brussels, London and Coolum Beach. So JT was only momentarily surprised when in early December I said, "How would you feel if we sold our Coolum apartment and rented for a year?". This not a day after JT had been telling me how happy she was in the apartment.

My reasoning was that we had too much cash tied up in property and not enough "cash on hand". Whilst both the Auckland and Coolum property markets were slow it was a bad time to sell our higher priced and beautiful Auckland apartment there was a better, but still remote, chance of selling in Coolum.

In her usual "let's do it" way JT said OK.

We were leaving soon for a three month stint in Auckland so immediately contacted a local real estate agent and got the process underway. After discussion we all agreed this Christmas holiday season was a good time to sell as lots of people would be visiting wonderful Coolum Beach area for their vacations and that going to auction would sniff out any potential buyers. We were leaving Coolum on December 16th but the estate agent had scheduled the first open home for the 14th.

On Saturday the 14th we tidied up the Coolum apartment and got out of the agents way as the open home time came around. To fill in time JT and I visited another open home: this one for a slick modern apartment in near by Point Arkwright that we had had our eye on for some time but could not afford to purchase until our Auckland property was sold. We loved this apartment with its beach and bush views. We inquired of the agent if the owner would consider renting it out for a year seeing as the real estate market was so slow at this price level. To our surprise he said they probably would and we agreed to keep in touch . We told him we would "make an "offer" if our apartment sold.

Yea right; my hair might go black again too!

IKON at PT. ARKWRIGHT

We arrive back at our Coolum apartment 15 minutes after our open home had finished to find our agent still there. "I'm glad you're back" Di says. "I think I have a cash buyer for your apartment".

Yea right again!

But she had and a week later the contract was unconditional. We of course are back in Auckland by then for our three month stint.

We contact the Point Arkwright agent and make an offer to rent our dream digs for a year. They accept and that agreement is now signed.

JT says "As we are committed to Coolum for at least another year shouldn't we rent out our Auckland apartment and make it work for us?." "Good thinking number 9" I say; "I will look into it".

THE PARC in AUCKLAND

Next day I'm coming home from the gym and pick up a mailer in our mail box. WE HAVE A CLIENT WHO WANTS TO RENT A THREE BEDROOM APARTMENT IN THIS BUILDING FOR A YEAR; PHONE US IF YOURS IS AVAILABLE.

I phone and the agent looks and likes. The client looks and loves. In three days the agreement is consummated.

Goodbye three months in Auckland. It is now back to Coolum on January 10th to move out of our Coolum apartment and to set up in the new one at Point Arkwright.

A CHANGE IS SURE GONNA COME.

IKON at PT. ARKWRIGHT

AN AUCKLAND CHRISTMAS

JT'S DAUGHTER LEIGH AND HUSBAND GREG PUT ON A WONDERFUL FEAST FOR CHRISTMAS LUNCH AND THE GRAND CHILDREN GAVE US MUCH DELIGHT AS THEY ENTHUSED OVER THEIR GIFTS. JT ABOVE WITH JAMIE, BEN AND ANDY. WE MISSED THE OTHER THREE THIS YEAR AS JAKE AND JOE WERE AT HOME IN WELLINGTON AND GEORGE ENJOYED CHRISTMAS AT PIHA BEACH.
AFTER AN INITIAL COLD SPELL WE ARE FINALLY ABLE TO ENJOY SOME SUMMER NIGHTS AND THE WONDERFUL EVENING VIEWS FROM OUR APARTMENT AT THE VIADUCT.