My Sister, The Dark Horse And A Family Loyalty What If

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Some time back, after my father died, I mentioned my sister was interested in moving to the Isle of Wight, a small island off the south coast of England, very close and totally under British rule. Gets tourists in the summer, lots of picture postcard places, sandy beaches and a last bastion of Englishness.

Then Covid hit and the cheap prices there for houses started to creep up. My sister had a place in Slough to sell though to offset the cost.

So, I heard no more about it until a couple of days ago, she had moved there and sprung it on me. It is a Bungalow, two bedrooms knocked into one, about 1100 square feet, small garden and patio. All amenities within walking distance including supermarkets. The place is only 12 years old and the owner left behind a load of high end appliances. Perfect, pristine. Also, only a 6 minute walk to a picture postcard seafront with pier. To do a circuit of the island takes 2 hours by car. I am pleased for her and also a little envious.

So as a bit of fun, I sent some pictures to my ex work mate and said, what if I bought you a place like that on the island and provided a basic allowance, would you go. She lives in a rented large trailer, has a kid of 15 and an 18 year old. She works full time in a reasonably well paid job but has to fork out for the kids upkeep to some extent.

Now my friend has a very large and extended family here. Dotes on them. But, despite that, all of them would have gone in a heartbeat. and despite All the Americana appeal of life here, they would have been out of here. The mother and two kids alike.

Given that situation would you?
  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    No, Iam in my fifties now and just too "Americanized" to move away to a place like that.

    But sounds sweet. I wouldn't mind you offering it to me a couple of weeks out of the year to use. A great getaway
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    In a heartbeat! Now you have a great place to visit on holiday!
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    "It's going to be OK - here's a horse and two million dollars."
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    • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      In a heartbeat! Now you have a great place to visit on holiday!
      Really, all those horses to ride, no more?

      Hmmm, my sister may be a bit reluctant to let me stay at her place, she's quirky like that. Only one bedroom as well. I may find myself in a nearby hotel. Lol.

      Incidentally, another thing we talked about a while back about her getting a dog. She has reserved a Cockerpoo from a litter (a few more weeks yet). I doubt if they are cheap but that's what she wanted. Possibly a cat as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author Serene Carmen
    Sounds like an awesome adventure. Something I would consider when the kids leave home.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Really, all those horses to ride, no more?

    I do my homework


    https://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/t...entre-p1468551
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    Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
    ***
    Sometimes I just want someone to hug me and say...
    "It's going to be OK - here's a horse and two million dollars."
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  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

    So as a bit of fun, I sent some pictures to my ex work mate and said, what if I bought you a place like that on the island and provided a basic allowance, would you go. She lives in a rented large trailer, has a kid of 15 and an 18 year old. She works full time in a reasonably well paid job but has to fork out for the kids upkeep to some extent.

    Now my friend has a very large and extended family here. Dotes on them. But, despite that, all of them would have gone in a heartbeat. and despite All the Americana appeal of life here, they would have been out of here. The mother and two kids alike.

    Given that situation would you?
    Mulling it over a little bit more intensely, as long as there was a pub around the corner that supplied tasty pale ale beer with wings then I might bite.

    My gosh no mortgage and a monthly stipend is hard to turn down.

    Mark, you giving us hints on what you want to do with that inheritance ??
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    • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
      Originally Posted by discrat View Post

      Mulling it over a little bit more intensely, as long as there was a pub around the corner that supplied tasty pale ale beer with wings then I might bite.

      My gosh no mortgage and a monthly stipend is hard to turn down.

      Mark, you giving us hints on what you want to do with that inheritance ??
      It is tempting but sis is in a better position than me in that the flat that she owns up north a bit will cover most of the cost of what she bought. I do not have that luxury and it would seriously deplete what I have.

      She won't tell me how much she paid for some reason. It may be she paid more because of the location. But, even if she had, her Flat sale would cover most of it.

      Before Covid, prices there were dirt cheap compared to the rest of the country. For some reason they went up, but still not as much as the rest of the UK. Perhaps people saw it as a way to escape a bit. She used to have such a big choice but it plummeted. Places were snapped up. Thing is, I don't see much in the way of a population rise over the last year or so. Perhaps people are using them as vacation rentals.

      Plenty of Pubs with succulent cask ales to be had there no doubt. Now I want a British Beer, and some British food. Thanks. Not much in the way of Wings though but you can probably find them.

      The isle is a place to retire or go on to vacation too. Not a place to find jobs unless you are in the tourist trade. Not a problem for marketers I know.
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    ...very close and totally under British rule
    Lol. It's not India. When the tide's out you can almost walk there.

    Mark, as you know, I don't live far from where your sister is (just across the water). My only surprise is that your workmate's kids were so up for it. I understand a rented trailer may be no palace, but there wouldn't be too much in the way of entertainment for teenagers on the island.

    But the popularity of the properties there reflects the ongoing uncertainty about foreign travel. More and more people are seeing the attraction of having a holiday home in the same country.

    I hope your sister's settling in well.
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    • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
      Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

      Lol. It's not India. When the tide's out you can almost walk there.

      Mark, as you know, I don't live far from where your sister is (just across the water). My only surprise is that your workmate's kids were so up for it. I understand a rented trailer may be no palace, but there wouldn't be too much in the way of entertainment for teenagers on the island.

      But the popularity of the properties there reflects the ongoing uncertainty about foreign travel. More and more people are seeing the attraction of having a holiday home in the same country.

      I hope your sister's settling in well.
      Do you go there now and again. I only went once in the 60's as a kid for a family vacation, loved the place, stayed in Shanklin. Went by hovercraft. She seems to be doing OK so far. She is in Sandown, just up the road from there. Loves the sea air.

      I was surprised that her kids were all for it too. And, she did not tell her them for a minute that it was just a fantasy, they thought I was offering it for real.
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      • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
        Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

        Do you go there now and again. I only went once in the 60's as a kid for a family vacation, loved the place, stayed in Shanklin. Went by hovercraft. She seems to be doing OK so far. She is in Sandown, just up the road from there. Loves the sea air.
        Funnily enough, not once since we moved down here, but in the 1980s my cricket team used to tour the island for a week every year, so I got to know it pretty well. Alas, no more hovercrafts, as you know.
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