This time next week I will have moved from London and will be living in a different house. No more breakfast on the balconies or watching a theatre production in the square. If I’m honest it’s not a move I want to make but it is a move I feel I have to make in order to fulfil a dream I have had for a number of years.
One of the things I’ve been able to do over the past few years is invest in property. I’ve always loved property and I truly believe there is no better place to invest your money but I kind of fell into the whole property investment and landlord business by accident.
Long story short, I became an estate agent a long time ago where I began to understand the local market and know what was a good or bad purchase. I met a wonderful lady at my local church who was in need of a place to stay and so I decided to purchase one of the properties which had just had a recent sale fall through for her to stay in.
I did this on a number of occasions and ended up buying 8 houses. I honestly never thought I would end up being a landlord but I do believe that when you see people in need you should do what you can to help them.
Obviously buying houses is a bit extreme and I’m not saying that everyone should do that but we are all given opportunities to help others in some small way and if you’re willing to go above and beyond for someone else you will always be rewarded in the long run.
Anyway, back to the reason why I’m moving. One of the houses I bought was an 8 bedroom house with a huge outbuilding attached to it. Over the years I rented this out but a few years ago I really felt that it should be used for something else and so I moved all the tenants out and decided to turn it into a women’s home.
I’ve chosen a women’s home because I remember when 17 years ago my life radically changed and I suffered a nervous breakdown and had anxiety and depression. I had to move out of London and back to my mother’s house to try to recuperate. Thankfully I had somewhere to go but not everyone does. Some women have no support, no-one to turn to and nowhere to go.
The problem I have with this property is that it needs totally refurbishing. Plastering, new flooring, kitchen, bathrooms, decorating, furniture – new everything! I honestly don’t know how I’m going to get it done and where the money is going to come from but I have to have faith and believe that it will get done – it has to for the sake of the women who need the help.
I’ve been trying to start this project whilst living in London but it’s just to difficult as the house is in Rugby so I have decided to move. Like I said, I really don’t want to. If you follow me on social media you will have seen some of the pictures of the property I live in in London. Oh how I’m going to miss that amazing view!
If I’m honest I have always struggled to find a place where I can really call home and because of this have moved so many times. I feel really lost sometimes but I have enjoyed living in Central London and being able to run around Hyde Park or walk to Oxford Street!
However, sometimes in life you have to make a sacrifice in order to do what you feel is right and for me I just feel this is the right thing to do at the right time. Living in a beautiful house in Central London is great and I am praying that we can return here at the end of the year as I love the area but right now there are women that need somewhere to call home and I know I have the solution to their problem.
My hope is that I can return here soon and finally buy a place that I can call home. A home to entertain friends. A home full of fresh flowers. A home where the sun streams through the windows on a bright Sunday morning and is peaceful in the dead of night. A home that makes me feel alive and inspired.
This is also my hope for my women’s home and everything that I want in a home I will create in theirs because I feel the two are intertwined. I want to create a space where they feel safe, comfortable and loved and where they can begin to dream of a life that is bold, brave and beautiful.
So for now goodbye London and as I spend my last few evenings enjoying all that you have to offer I know I will see you again soon!
