CH28
It is now about one month later and is now late May:
Everyone is over at the Crystal house for dinner. It's a little late for the Crystal clan and a little early for the Douglas clan due to the time difference between the East Coast and the West Coast.
The guys go down to the game room since they had been banned from the kitchen again. Alexis and Amanda bring up the delicate subject with all the other women. "Mom asked us during our last vacation for us to think about where we wanted to live." Alexis starts. "Yeah, mom brought up that I have been paying for an apartment that I'm almost never at since I come here when I get off work every day." Amanda adds.
Natalie comes around and grabs Kate. "We'll be right back, you girls talk while we are gone." She drags Kate over to the front door.
"She called you mom. Start talking girlfriend before I go all Marine on your skinny ass." Natalie tells her.
"I just said something again, didn't I. I'm sorry sweetie I'm not doing it intentionally." She sees that 'I just thought of Lanie' look on Kate's face again.
"It's ok, I'm thinking that I like you so much because you do remind me of her, and it is so nice to have someone to talk with again. I'm sorry you never got to meet her. You two are a lot alike in some ways." Kate assures her.
"Good, now talk MOM!" Natalie tells her. Kate walks her thru everything that happened at the little church including the talk about her mother.
"Thank god! I was afraid that girl was never going to come around. Now let's get back upstairs and find these two someplace to live. I've never met anyone who needs each other as much as those two do." Natalie tells her and starts to leave.
"What?" Natalie asks seeing the look on Kate's face.
"You don't seem concerned that they are together." Kate remarks.
"You mean because they're having sex with each other and maybe will have a same sex marriage some day? Hopefully." Natalie gets a confirmation nod from Kate.
"Oh hell no. Who am I to tell someone whom they have to love? I'm not a bigot. Those two are happy, are perfect for each other, and found each other just when they needed the other the most. So hell no.
And just like any other marriage it takes work. If they are willing to put in the work then more power to them. Now let's go find them some place to stay." Natalie says as she and Kate head back upstairs.
"Hey girls, come to any conclusions?" Natalie asks after getting back.
"I think we have convinced them to find their own place but where that place is...?" Jenn tells her and Kate.
"Montreal?" Kate asks.
"We don't think so. It's just a small one bedroom apartment. It's nice and its central location is what makes it so expensive." Amanda tells them. "We just don't know where to go."
"Okay. Well speaking from experience with all the land and other places we own, I would suggest that you keep it and rent it out. Maybe even update it a little before you do." Kate advises.
"One of you works in Montreal and the other in New York. You are already using a transmat wall to get home, right?" Natalie directs her question mostly at Amanda. She gets a nod from Amanda.
"So if both of you are happy with doing that each day, live anywhere, literally." Natalie tells them.
"If Alexis has listened to us she has been saving her money since living here, so she should have a decent little nest egg. Plus there's the money that Lucile transferred from Ohio earlier. If we come up with a way for Amanda to do the same they could buy a place together and split the cost in say a year from now, someplace to their liking." Kate offers.
"Rent free pretty much leaves only a few choices mom." L counters.
"Not necessarily." Kate tells them. "We own two hotels and a bed and breakfast. Though living in either of those would be even smaller than your apartment in Montreal."
"That pretty much leaves the house in Montana and the Villa in the Caribbean." Jenn comments.
"Can we look at apartments in the Caribbean? The Villa is really big and I have the money." Alexis asks kind of intimidated living in something that big.
"Lucile?" Kate asks.
First: Luxury 1 & 2 Bedroom Ocean Front Holiday Villa Apartments set adjacent to a Pool and Jacuzzi.
Each villa apartment is equipped with Air Conditioning, Satellite TV, a full kitchen with granite counter tops and including oven, ceramic cook top, dishwasher, coffee maker and microwave. Daily Maid Service with fresh towels as required and clean linen once per week. Wi-Fi connections in all apartments.
Quiet residential setting specifically for the more mature and discerning guests. At Rosalie all guests will be greeted at the airport on arrival by our private transport and chauffeured to your Apartment.
Ideally situated for snorkeling, surfing, wind surfing and golf
Within close proximity of Rosalie is St Lawrence Gap, a popular tourist spot where you will find fine restaurants, night clubs, bars, shops and ATM's. The ever exciting Oistins Fish Fry is a five minute drive away with local entertainment and some of the finest Bajan cooking on the Island. For those who like Wind Surfing, Silver Sands has great facilities but if you prefer calmer waters Miami (Enterprise) Beach with its shady palms and picnic area is nearby. Barbados Golf Course and Rockley Golf are both nearby.
Second: 4 Unique Beachfront Apartments By The Caribbean Sea
The size of the apartments is approx. 85 m2 with one or two bedrooms, one bathroom, living room combined with a kitchen. There is common access to the 2 bedrooms.
The bedrooms have queen size beds. The apartments have wifi, cable TV, air condition in all rooms, a well equipped kitchen and swimming pool. From the garden it is direct access to the beach.
From the porch it is a stunning view out to the Caribbean and the breathtaking sunsets. In the garden among the tropical plants and flowers you can watch hummingbirds and other colorful birds, and you can walk out the gate from the garden and do snorkeling on the beach to look at colorful fishes.
All our guests will be met at the airport and transported down to the apartments, and we will make sure that the fridge is filled with food and drinks by arrival intended for the first day support.
After almost 20 years on Tobago, we have established an unique network that will benefit our guests.
Details for Hummingbird 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 5, 1 Bathroom
The apartment is given the name - Hummingbird - after one of the species found in our garden. This unit is situated on the ground floor and has a magnificent view from the porch out to the Caribbean Sea and the sunsets. You can walk from the porch just into the pool or take a few steps more to dive into the Caribbean Sea. The apartment has a well equipped kitchen, air conditioningin all rooms, and wifi.
Diving and snorkeling, birdwatching hummingbirds, pelicans, frigate birds and a great variety of sugar birds and watching the giant leather back turtles lying their eggs in the darkness on the beach just outside our yard in the period March - July.
Third:Sugar Hill Apartment Rental
2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 4, Private Roof Terrace/ Jacuzzi - Pools
Lumiere offers both elegant living and comfort in every way. Superb furnishings including Italian & French designer linens, King sized Bateau bed with Relyon mattress and Tempur topper and further luxury touches of goose down pillows. Both bedrooms have air conditioning with the addition of ceiling fans that are also in the sitting room and on the balcony.
Fully stocked kitchen including Kitchen Aid mixer, Dualit toaster, Le Creuset and Nigella Lawson cook ware, cook books, bone china crockery and the usual conveniences of coffee maker, dishwasher etc.
Guests at Lumiere have full use of an international phone system with FREE landline calls to UK, USA (mobiles inc), Canada (mobiles inc) and most of Europe along with free Island calls and the use of a local mobile phone.
TwoSony Flat Screen TVs, muti-regional DVD players and a library of 200 + DVDs. BoseiPod docking station and secure wifi. Washer, dryer and Maid service. Membership for the Royal Pavilion Beach Club is complimentary. Special rates Christmas and New Year.
The superb Beach Club at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion Hotel is situated less than a five minute driveaway, their pristine beach is probably the finest on the west coast. A designated area near to the water sports has been made available to certain owners at Sugar Hill
Fourth: Barolo
Barolo is a well appointed first floor apartment located on the beach in the centerof Holetown. The apartment is fitted and furnished to a very high standard and enjoys stunning views of the Caribbean Sea. It can be rented as 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms, accommodating groups from 2 to 6+.
Set in delightfully landscaped gardens with communal lagoon style pool, all the amenities of Holetown are right on the doorstep. These include fine restaurants, bistros, beach bars, water sports, grocery stores, duty free shopping and tennis courts. Barolo has a cook/housekeeper who works 6 days a week preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner, if desired.
There is a small private members gym available for use within the building.
Amenities: Bath and Beach towels are provided for all guests. The apartment block at Villas On The Beach has security at night and a receptionist during the day. There is a property / villa manager available 9-5 Monday to Friday with an emergency 24hr call-out number at all other times. There is a lift to all the floors. Property has a small brand new private members gym available for use.
Leisure Facilities: The island features a variety of leisure facilities, from relaxing by the pool to water-skiing, playing golf at Sandy Lane, Westmoreland and The Barbados Golf Clubs, sightseeing, shopping, eating out and attending various events that take place throughout the year, there issomething to appeal to everyone. Polois played at Holders Hill Polo Ground, Ape's Hill Polo Ground and various other Polo Grounds on the island.
Holetown, St James is situated in the middle of Barbados's famous West coast approximately 10 miles from Bridgetown. Barolo is located on the beach in Holetown within easy walking distance of all major shops, banks, restaurants (Tides, Zaccios, The Mews, Nishi, Ragamuffins and Angry Annie's to name a few) and various bars, the Piano Bar being one.
Fifth and final: 2 double bedroom apartment with pool only 300 meters from Mullins Beach
A large, cool and secure Apartment on the First Floor of a small Block of only 4 Units. Both Bedrooms are air-conditioned and all rooms have ceiling fans. There is a large Lounge/Dining Room which opens fully onto a Double Balcony with soft seating and Gas Barbeque, overlooking the Garden and Swimming Pool.
The Master Bedroom has an en-suite Bathroom - there is a second Bathroom in the Hallway. Electronic Safe. The Kitchen is equipped with Fridge/Freezer/Ice Maker, Microwave, Oven, Hob, Dishwasher and small Appliances. Direct TV, DVD, HDMI, CD and iPod Player. Private Car Park.
Gardener and Housekeeper. Service can be arranged to suit. Laundry Facilities with Dryer are in a separate Building.
Mullins Beach is a 4 minute walk down the road. Shopping Facilities in nearby Speightstown or Holetown.
Casablanca is not suitable for small children because the Pool is unattended and does not have a shallow end. Children should be 5 years or older and should be able to swim.
Picture Show and Full Description: A slide show with additional photographs of the Apartment, Pool and Garden and of the surrounding area are on a Web Album. We will send you a link to this when we receive your enquiry.
Facilities in the Apartment: Remote control air-conditioning in both bedrooms as well as vari-speed ceiling fans. Electronic Safe in Master Bedroom. Wireless Broadband, DECT Telephone with cordless handsets, which work around the pool. Fax Machine/Copier. Local telephone calls are free. Direct TV (incl BBC World) DVD Player, HDMI Socket (Cable provided), Radio, CD Player, iPod Player. Fins, Masks and Snorkels, Boogie Boards, Ice Box and Cool Bags, Fold able Beach Chairs and Mat, Yoga Mats. Two bathrooms with showers, ample power sockets (US Style 110 Volts)
The Apartment is secure - Balconies and Windows as well as the Front door are fitted with (reasonably attractive) wrought iron grilles.
Location: Mullins is on the beautiful West Coast in St Peter north of Holetown and just south of Speightstown.
The Apartment is in a small Development of only 4 Units, located approx. 300 meters from Mullins Beach in a quiet Cul-de-sac with mainly residential Houses. (You do NOT hear the Buses on the Coast Road!)
Mullins Beach is one of the nicest small Beaches on the West Coast and has a famous Beach Bar and Restaurant. It connects to Gibbs Beach, which is secluded and quieter than the other Beaches.
Restaurants, Supermarkets and Shopping can be found in nearby Speightstown or Holetown.
Golf Courses close by are Sandy Lane - Two 18 hole Courses and One 9 hole Course
The Barbados Golf Club - 18 holes par 72 - Royal Westmoreland - 18 holes par 72
In the end, with everyone's help, the girls Alexis and Amanda decide on the fifth and final option with a list price of $725,000 and a final all cash purchase price of $688,000. They used mostly Alexis' money to purchase the unit with, but it meant they were not renting. While it may mostly be Alexis' money, it was decided to put it under Amanda's last name. Rick and Kate hope this would help keep Alexis out of view of Ray and his father. Lucile sends in all the necessary information and arranges for an in-person interview and view the apartment in person as well as a date to sign all the paperwork. Kate offers to have Amanda's car shipped from Montreal to the new apartment so they don't have to sell it and buy a new one.
The girls also volunteer their men to help pack and move everything. Since the apartment comes furnished Kate and Natalie suggest that Amanda rent hers out furnished. She should just take what she can't live without. With the rental unit in Montreal they would be in better financial shape.
"Lucile can you help Jim and I with a home in Victoria, BC. We've saved up some money and we love the northwest, but we would prefer it be out of the United States. Someplace our getting larger family can all go to." Natalie asks.
First:ULTIMATE VICTORIA WATERFRONT
So close to the Pacific Ocean you are one with nature, admiring the passing whales and sea otters at your feet. So secluded yet only a 5 minute drive from beautiful downtown Victoria! This custom home was designed by Victoria designer James Grievs, offering the highest quality of craftsmanship and modern Westcoast Style. Be truly impressed with an unparalleled GREAT ROOM showcasing unobstructed water views open to the Kitchen of your dreams complete with Sub Zero fridge, Wincrest gas cook-top and wine fridge. Luxurious Master suite with vaulted ceilings feels like you are in the middle of the ocean! Spectacular en-suite, Ultimate Media Room, Totally Custom Office, Totally Private and High End Legal View Suite.
Year built 2005, 4 BR, 4 full BA, Appox. Lot size 10,113 Sq. Ft., 3,860 Sq. Ft., Central Vacuum, Dishwasher, Disposal, Microwave, Range/Oven, Refrigerator, Trash Compactor, Washer/Dryer, Alarm system and 3 Fireplaces.
Second: The Penthouse at Dockside Green
Located just steps from the inner harbor and all that downtown Victoria has to offer, this lavish Penthouse suite offers over 2000 sq. ft. of true luxury living and features 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, stunning panoramic views of the water, city and mountains in the distance, Meile & Subzero appliances, marble floors, built-in Espresso maker, Montigo double sided fire place, 2 secure parking spaces, custom built-ins & lighting throughout. On the roof top you will enjoy a private 2000 sq. ft. terrace where you can entertain while enjoying the dramatic city, ocean & mountain views. All this located in the Leeds Platinum, environmentally conscious Dockside Green that features on-site fitness facility, 100% sewage treatment, water conservation & reclamation. The Penthouse at Dockside Green, an exceptional offering that should not be missed.
Third: Jesse Island
Privacy, exclusivity, peace, safety and tranquility, Jesse Island is a 9 acre fully serviced private island, just off Vancouver Island, offers this unique quality of living and it includes excellent boating, fishing, swimming and snorkelling right from your own shores and deep water moorage. Location! Location! Location!...Unlike many private islands, this west coast BC island is sheltered in Departure Bay close to Nanaimo. The large bay provides warm waters in the summer and protection from open ocean storms, plus the views are outstanding! In the sheltered waters watch dolphins, seals and seabirds. Jesse Island is home to a bald eagle family which nest in the trees overhead. Ferry boats, kayakers and sailboats add to the scenery. To the east are the snow capped coastal mountains and to the west, the beautiful night lights of Nanaimo. Easy accessibility to shopping and amenities, ferry transportation to Vancouver and an International airport are a plus. Valuable infrastructures such as city water, city power and telephone have already been brought to the island. The topography offers several sandy coves and a fairly level land mass assessable via groomed trails meandering to grassy view points and through original growth pine, cedar, arbutus and oak trees as well as native blackberries and wildflowers. The location and the current and potential development of this island make this an excellent offering, like no other.
Fourth and final: Dan Boot Designed Oceanfront Residence
Emily Carr was impressed & inspired to paint this magical property & you will be too! Outstanding 2009 Dan Boot designed quality oceanfront residence with sweeping 200ft panoramic views of Cordova Bay, Salish Sea, Gulf/San Juan Islands & Mt. Baker. West Coast Contemporary, 3,076 sqft 5 bed/5 bath home nestled amongst natural forest & well positioned from main road. Gourmet Kitchen opens to spacious Dining/Living & the perfect backdrop for entertaining on the 800 sq. ft. view patio. Flexible plan allows option for Master on main w/ 3 beds & office up & addt'l nanny/studio suite with sep. entry. Your private, low bank sandy beachfront is only steps away.
Jim and Natalie decide on the fourth and final option. They just couldn't pass up the beauty of it and the seclusion. At $2,195,000, it is a little more than they had planned on spending however they can afford it.
Kate talks them into finding a property that would help them make money instead of spending it on a vacation home. Lucile found them a restaurant that was in the area of their new home. It would likely not make as much money for them since they would not be owner/operator; they would need to hire a chef to cook and someone to manage the restaurant. Still it looks like a good deal. Lucile has access to the financial records since it opened and is able to check out the financial records for the property.
Shawnigan Lake
Steeples in Shanwigan, Very Profitable and Well Established 13 years Gourmet Restaurant with casual dining. Consistent six figure income to owner/operator. Quiet family community and seasonal recreational area with easy access to Victoria. Converted historic heritage church on double lot 0.32 acre. Option to lease or purchase land and building with seller financing assistance. Opportunity to expand open days/hours, wedding/event business, garden service, catering and potential for living quarters in building also. Seller retiring, please do not approach staff.
Final purchase price of $149,000 with seller assist of $10,000 in closing costs.