Nineteen
Sally stood back as she guided Essie down the path and pointed her towards the open barn doors. She was so glad she wasn’t driving Marvin although Essie had informed her that it was easier than she may think. She wasn’t getting off too lightly, however, as she’d need to learn some manoeuvring techniques in order to take him to the drains in the yard when his tanks required emptying. Thankfully, Essie had promised to come over and help her out with this next week saying it was easier to learn “on the job”.
She followed the motorhome into the barn and waited for Essie to put him into position. The barn doors at the back had been opened so Essie knew exactly where to place him and true to his word, Matt had already installed a run outside so she could allow Herbie to roam without worrying over his safety.
This wasn’t the only thing Matt had sorted out for her. The ink had barely dried on the sale contracts when he’d swooped into action and his friend, Freddie, had arrived on site the very next day to begin clearing the brambles and wooded areas within the immediate vicinity of the house. As soon as they knew the sale was going ahead, she’d arranged with Fiona at the estate agents to allow Matt to have the keys for the property so he could access it for assessment purposes. What she hadn’t realised, until she’d driven down today, was that he’d been popping over each night, after finishing his daytime appointments, to do some of the smaller jobs around the house. Such as repairing the upstairs window once Freddie had cut back the tree whose branches had invaded the house. He’d then removed all the damaged floorboards, cut out the wood which had rotted in the floor joists, replaced and sealed them and then put in new floorboards.
Sally was touched that he’d gone to this effort although she’d be telling him, when she saw him later, that she would be paying him for this work.
‘This place is a bit out of the way, is it not? Thank goodness for satnav!’
Essie came to stand beside her and handed over Marvin’s keys.
‘Yes, it is rather. I’ll need to look at getting a website sorted out which will provide clear directions on finding me, which means I will also need a logo designed and some sort of branding arranged. All stuff that I have got absolutely no idea on where to start.’
‘I can help there.’
‘You can?’
Essie laughed. ‘Not directly. The nearest I come to anything technical is sussing out how the microwave works! My niece, however, or rather, Craig’s niece, Flora, is a graphic designer and I think she’ll be able to help you with most of what you need.’
‘Flora? As in Matt’s daughter?’
‘Yes, that’s right. I’m surprised he didn’t mention this to you.’
‘Probably because I haven’t discussed the business side of things with him. We’ve been too busy focusing on the building work.’
‘Is there much to be done?’
‘In the house? Not as much as I’d initially expected, which was a pleasant surprise. We’ve been able to work with the current layout of the house which means being able to retain most of its character. It’s all the extra stuff out here that’s going to take the most time.’
‘May I be rude and ask what your exact plans are?’
‘How about I give you a tour and explain as I go along.’
‘Oh, yes please.’
They walked back to the front of the house and Sally, once she’d imparted the news of the B&B, began to talk Essie through her plans. She explained that the disabled accommodation would be on the ground floor and pointed out where the ramp up onto the veranda would be situated.
‘I’m going to make this spot the designated disabled parking space so the access leads directly to the ramp.’
When they walked in through the doors, Essie exclaimed at the size of the hallway.
‘Yes, it’s big but rather dark and unwelcoming right now. However, once the glass panels at the sides of the front door are cleaned up, and the dark wood has been painted pale cream, it’ll be considerably brighter and, hopefully, warmer.’
Essie agreed with her and gave heartening “oohs” and “ahhs” as they walked round and Sally brought her up to speed with her intentions for each room.
‘These two rooms,’ Sally opened the door for each, ‘are going to be incorporated into my new living quarters. Matt’s architect friend, Charlie Rowland, came over and suggested putting in a spiral staircase leading up to here. This room will be split in two with that side there, overlooking the courtyard, becoming an en suite bathroom and this area being a small hallway. The stairs will come up here, that door will stay there which will take me into the main part of the house and a door will be put there to allow access to the bedroom. The door currently in there, which leads out to the B&B hallway, will be removed.’
‘Exciting. How long is that all likely to take?’
‘Matt’s making my living quarters his top priority after fixing the roof. He doesn’t believe it’s been leaking but several joists need to be replaced and he’d prefer to get those done when it’s dry. Fingers crossed, my new apartment will be ready in about eight or ten weeks.’
‘Will you move in right away?’
Sally laughed as she replied, ‘It depends on how noisy the builders are! I won’t be giving you notice on Marvin right away though, I can tell you.’
‘Wise move!’
After showing Essie the kitchen and explaining how the layout was being configured between there and the dining room, the two women went up the stairs.
‘I’m going to keep these two rooms as they are for the use of family and friends when they come to visit. They’ll be freshly decorated and the bathroom at the end of the corridor will be fully renovated. This bedroom, after being stripped and painted, will have shelving put in to become my linen closet. And, last but not least, this will be my study or office. The desk will go in front of the window so I can look out over the courtyard and there’ll be shelves along the walls for my books. I have a chair which will fit perfectly in that corner.’
‘So, you anticipate spending a lot of time in here, do you, if you’re putting in a comfy chair?’
‘I’d prefer not to but when it comes to paying the bills and doing the accounting stuff, I’d like to be in a comfortable place as I pull my hair out.’
‘Would you consider getting an accountant, if numbers aren’t your thing?’
‘It has crossed my mind but with everything else going on right now, it doesn’t feel like a priority.’
‘My Craig’s an accountant. He used to be with one of the leading accountancy companies in Oxford but decided to take semi-retirement last year. He now looks after a handful of clients and offers a hands-on, bespoke service. If you’re interested, I could ask him to come over and discuss your requirements with you. Even if you don’t employ his services, he’ll be able to point you in the direction of the best software to use that’ll make it easier for you.’
‘Essie, I would love to meet him! Please, whenever he’s available, ask him to pop over.’
‘I will do.’
‘Now, I don’t suppose you happen to know any vets, do you?’
‘Not on a personal level, I don’t. Why?’
‘Well, in the space of a couple of hours, you’ve sorted out my website problem and my accounting problem… I was kinda hoping we could go for the hat-trick and get a vet in the bag too!’
Essie laughed as she replied, ‘Sorry, honey. Even I have my limits!’
‘No worries. In the words of the mighty, and much missed, Mr Meat Loaf, “Two out of three ain’t bad!” Now, how about we lock up here and head into the village where you can introduce me to the best pub and I can buy you a drink as a thank you?’
‘No need to say thank you, I’m happy to help, but I wouldn’t say no to a glass of wine.’
‘Then let’s go.’