2003 a new beginning.
Saturday, January 5, 2013 @ 11:46 AM
Arghhh! M25 between M4 and Chertsey junction gridlock as usual on a cold Winter Thursday afternoon in 2002. Trying to get home and working since 6.00 am, meeting with clients in the City. As I sit there patiently staring at an Eddie Stobart lorry in front of me with the name Lucy (of all things), I stare up into the dark sky and watch a BA plane taking off from Heathrow perhaps going to Malaga, a place my wife and I love... Lovely warm weather in November I thought to myself. Few beers on the beach, nice bit of lunch with the sun on my face got me thinking...
"You look tired darling" as I walk into my house in woeful Woking greeted by my partner and soulmate. Kia my son runs up to me for a cuddle (he is 2 and a half and a real character!). I sit down with a glass of Rioja sourced via one of these wine clubs that are the rage in the UK. "Lets book a flight and go to Marbella" I said to the missus. "Lets get some sun on our faces for a week".
2 weeks later we arrive to warm, blue skies at Malaga airport and take the 45 minute drive down to our resort, the fabulous Marbella.
Our trip was intended to be a bit of R&R. Kia was being looked after by the Grandparents back in Blighty and the missus and I needed some "us" time. Alas, you can never keep a thoughtful mind away from his dreams!
Day 5 and we had found what we were looking for. A lovely 3 bedroom townhouse situated on the "Golden-Mile" of Marbella. 4 days of being shown rubbish by several very excitable real estate agents (so called), we found La Joya! A lot smaller than our home back in the UK, but it was spread over 3 levels with terraces on 3 including a huge roof terrace with views to La Concha mountain and the sea. A lovely pool just off our lower terrace. "I could see myself living here" I said to Alison. She looked at me with apprehension as well as that look that says well I want you to be happy. "How are we gonna afford it" she said. Not the question I wanted, hmmmm.
Our detached Victorian house in Woking sold in the spring of 2003, it sold very quickly, certainly a lot faster than we had both imagined. I had placed a deposit on La Joya in Marbella in January and now our house had sold it was all systems go!
June 2003, one-way flight to Malaga to set up the family home and create the foundation of our new family business. Property management, maintenance and holiday rentals for the huse amount of foreign owned property here. Alison and Kia were left back in the UK at her parents, the next time I would see her would be in July, at the church getting married!