For those who showed interest in our trials and tribulations over the past 16 months (to the day!) we are flying back to the Land Downunder on Saturday. As some of you know, we are mid- and late-60s. After 43 years in Australia we sold everything there and headed to the Emerald Isle hoping to find our retirement property , to have a base in Ireland and be able to travel to Europe once or twice year. Travelling from Australia is both expensive and an endurance test! We traversed the land seeking our retirement home (budget E300,000) but 5 offers, 4 building surveys later we found the Irish real estate system too difficult a road to tread. We were based mainly in beautiful Sheep's Head Peninsula and although stunningly beautiful found the weather 'difficult' to say the least. All we wanted was a proper summer with sunshine and temperatures between 18-24degC, a big ask in Ireland. People tell us that 2015 was the "worst year" in many years but the first four months of 2016 showed no improvement. After long and heartfelt discussions we decided that both the dysfunctional real estate system and the weather had defeated us so we commenced arrangements for our return to the land Downunder. We are returning to a completely different area of Australia and are starting from scratch so another 'adventure' starts, who knows where the road will lead? Ireland? It is a beautiful country. Unfortunately, it is plagued with ugly bungalows and dormers, a real estate system which is dysfunctional and weather that would test a saint! No regrets, only disappointment. We tried but unfortunately did not conquer. Good luck to all of you and follow your dreams. All one has at the end of life are memories better to have those than the question "What if.....?"
