In this case, those things were changing the day job, moving house (back in Yorkshire - hurrah!), and becoming a Dr.
Anyway, things are settling down again and...
Let's start with Yorkshire, and this lovely property - top and below - sent to me by reader Paula. It's in Scarborough, on a pretty posh road, walking distance from the coast and overlooking the golf course. Hence the chunky price despite it's wreck-y state.
Paula, who wrote that the house had been empty for the seven years she'd lived in the town, said it was in pretty poor condition; broken windows and rotting woodwork, but was a really pretty house with "real kerb appeal" and the gardens had been looked after.
It's full of character and has been crying out for a family to make it into a lovely home.
Indeed. Lounge, dining room, study, sunroom, kitchen and utility room downstairs; three bedrooms, a lovely big landing, and a bathroom upstairs.
Outside is a long drive with plenty of parking space and gardens - the rear one backing onto the golf course.
On the market at offers over £295k via Colin Ellis. Informal tenders by June 17th. Details and more pictures here and here.
My next pick has rather less kerb appeal - but it makes up for that with quite stunning views.
Let's take a moment.
A three-bedroom detached property about a mile from the centre of Grange-Over-Sands, Cumbria. The views really are exceptional.
Despite that frontage, it isn't a bungalow. While most of the rooms (two bedrooms, large kitchen and lounge, bathroom, and a sun room) are all on the ground floor, there's an lower floor with another bedroom, utility room, a large undercroft and garage. Lots of workspace basically.
Some cute original features (I love this glass wall).
But also some rather less cute aspects - the estate agent's blurb mentions potential structural movement. Albeit that does seem to be a thing in pretty much every mid-range mortgage survey nowadays....
Loving the estate agent's walk through video too - nice idea:
