Room with a view (for now)

Well, finally it looks like I have somewhere to live in Henley. Turns out in the town most associated with rowing, landlords don't like rowers. Think they'll have lots of parties and trash the house. I explained that Tom is 16 and doing A levels living with his mum. The other young man who will live with us (and look after Tom when I'm away) was also under suspicion. He's training for Rio, I explained, 'but he might have parties' they say. Really? Really? An athlete training for the top sporting competition in the world and competing with five others to get one of four places in an Olympic boat will not do a thing to jeopardize his chances. He wants early nights, not disturbances, good healthy food.... 

So I sent off biographies of us all and news clippings of Joel's recent successes, and we were allowed to view a house. Then the owners wanted to meet us in person before they would decide. And I just heard that we passed.

Then I failed the credit check. Apparently my annual salary must be 30x the monthly rent and I work for a charity that rightly does not pay high salaries. Finally I managed to persuade them to include the rental income from lodgers and we passed. If it is this hard for a home owner with a good permanent job to rent a house, how hard is it for those less fortunate? No wonder we have a housing crisis!

Anyway, I love this view over my garden and will miss it, but I miss my children more so am doing all I can to move to Henley and be able to give Tom the family home and stability he needs until he's ready to go off to University.