‘Well, it’s not as expensive as the others, as it’s not quite as sustainable or eco-friendly as the one you saw. In fact, it is nothing like the one you enquired about. This one is more traditional, shall I say.’
The mention of traditional intrigues me. I do like traditional things. I mean, I kept that cuckoo clock for years.
‘It needs some work, so it’s priced to be sold quickly. It will go tomorrow for sure, even if it’s just for the mooring.’
‘Well, how much is it?’
‘It’s a bargain price. That’s why I know it will go right away.’
‘Like how much of a bargain?’
‘Two hundred and fifty thousand euros.’
I would hardly call a quarter of a million euros a bargain. That amount of money is still a fortune. I mean, it is not exactly in the same league as that pair of black flares I bought in the sale the other week. It was obvious why those hideous things were a bargain. However, as an only child, with the sale of my mother’s house not long having gone through, I do have the finances available to go ahead. I wouldn’t need to arrange any loan that could halt the purchase. But still, it is a huge amount of money.
‘Many of the houseboats are 450,000 euros and above. This is a good price,’ says Gerrit.
I suppose if they usually go for that sort of amount then it is a bargain. In fact, it sounds as though the mooring alone could be an investment for retirement.
‘Can you send me some photos? I’m seriously interested. Please, this sounds absolutely perfect.’
‘I can send you photos, but you must remember that it needs some attention. Although, for peace of mind, we will get a survey report done for you if you wish. But we do believe that structurally everything is fine.’
‘Well, as long as the structural report is okay then I don’t mind having a project. This sounds like just what I need.’
I’m quite crafty, and love giving things a new lease of life. I am a dab hand with a paintbrush and my needle felting. The thought strikes that this will be a much bigger undertaking than making a felt dog or unicorn, but I push it aside.
‘I’ll send the photos over now then, yeah?’
‘Yes, Gerrit, please do send them over. Oh, and also, if you have any information like a structural report, recent sales prices of similar houseboats, whatever you have, can you send it all over to me?’
‘Right. Will do. It’s going to be a big file so it might take some time to upload, but call me back once you’ve seen them and let me know what you think. Just remember that it will be live on our website tomorrow at nine and I expect it to be gone within the hour.’
‘Okay. I’ll call you the moment I have them.’
‘Ah, I am just going through the file now and I think I have a video of the boat, so you can have a virtual walk around it. Shall I send that too?’
‘That’s brilliant. Yes, please and thank you so much. You’re so helpful.’
I rush to the kitchen and attempt to make a strong coffee, but I am almost shaking with delight as I spoon in the coffee granules. My head feels like a complete whirlwind of excitement. A horrible thought occurs: what if it is terrible? Manky and rotting? I am going to be so disappointed. But then again, what if it is exactly how I dream it could be? Even if I fall in love with it, it is a big risk buying something in another country without having actually seen it. There is so much money at stake if something goes wrong here.
I turn to look at the fridge magnet I picked up with the other souvenirs from when I went to Amsterdam on a girls’ weekend many years ago. Like the shade of blue on the dusty clogs, it was so long ago that the image of a red windmill has faded away with time. Perhaps it is the memory of that fun and carefree trip that is spurring me on right now. It was a fantastic city break. We were young, with the world at our feet. Nicky was my best friend in those days, and she and I shopped until we dropped and bought the wildest matching cowboy boots. Then we ate Dutch pancakes and waffles until we nearly burst.
The memory of the trip still means everything to me as Nicky died of breast cancer four years ago. She was only fifty-four and had been my best friend since we first worked together at the local council offices when I left school. We bonded from the start and when she went through her treatment, I really thought she’d be okay. I was there beside her every step of the way. I just couldn’t believe that with the advances in modern medicine she wouldn’t get better. I promised her that we’d go back to Amsterdam when she was clear of the cancer. But we never did. So, this is also for Nicky. She’d have loved the fact that I was spending the pension I paid into over all those years at the council to run off to live on a houseboat in the city we enjoyed so much. This would be just the kind of thing she’d have done if she’d had the opportunity. Life is so short, and thinking about how Nicky was far too young to get sick spurs me on. We only get one chance at life, and I have to take a brave leap; just as Nicky would have done if she was here. It’s sad to think she can’t enjoy any more adventures with me, but the thought of Nicky and our wonderful Amsterdam trip motivates me to find out more about this houseboat. I can already picture myself walking along the canals, bunch of tulips in one hand and a bottle of wine to sit back and relax on the boat with in the other. Right now, I have never wanted anything more.
As I walk back to the computer with my coffee, so that I can stare at the screen, willing the photos to arrive, I hear the ping of an email. I almost trip over the corner of my rug as I rush to the screen. If it is junk mail, the whole neighbourhood may hear me scream in frustration.
I am relieved when I see the email is from Gerrit with some specifications and the first few photos.
Okay… I must admit that it is a bit shabbier than I expected. It certainly doesn’t have the modern sleekness of the Nordic barge I fancied but it doesn’t deter me. It’s not hideous or anything, just a bit unloved. The red paint is peeling, the blue window frames are possibly a bit rotten, but if it was on one of those DIY programmes, I’m sure they would say that there isn’t anything too untoward. The damage all looks pretty superficial. Hopefully there isn’t a big hole hidden somewhere, but on the surface it appears as though I could get it back to its former glory with some TLC. Aside from all of that, the coveted mooring in central Amsterdam is enough to make me want to agree on the spot. However, I manage to wait long enough for the virtual show-around to download. I click on the link and watch closely as the door opens into an open-plan living area and kitchen. Just like on the outside, it all looks unloved and run-down, needing a new lick of paint, but nothing that I can’t resolve. It still looks so cute and dinky. I can just see myself living there.
I ring Gerrit back, who answers right away.
‘Hi, so what did you think?’
‘It’s beautiful. Well… umm, it needs work, as you said, but I can see past all of that. How fast can you do the survey on it?’
‘It just takes a couple of days. I can arrange it tomorrow and it will probably take the surveyor a few days to write it all up. So, by the end of the week it should be with you. You’ll need to pay a deposit first, I’m afraid.’
