"Naughty but nice"
1990 Plenty of spare time now i was working on my own again for a living. Carole was doing the same hours asc well, part time, this gave us plenty of time to use the V.W. Camper to the full. Trips to Dorset were quite frequent and we had established the area around Cogden Beach at Burton Bradstock as a favourite spot. Work was focussed on Video recorders that were steadily evoving into more sophisticated electronic control systems and the ever faithful "rubber belts" were being phased out. This meant that the quick and easy bucks were becoming a thing of the past , it was inevitable that this was the era that would see radical changes in electronics. Good thing really as we were about to embark on property development ideas at Maggs Hill buildings.
1991 Andrew was working at brother in law Paul's garage at Combe Down, getting stick from the lads about his girlfriend "Petunia" who was in fact Rachel Yelling who he had impressed with his boxing skills and his borrowing of our new Rover 213 car to impress her. Ian Yelling (Rach's dad) was runnig his own transport company at this time and he and his family lived in a detached house in the High Street Timsbury. Like all businesses at this time he was coming under pressure to cut costs and repay the banks what he had borrowed during the good years of the 80's. He was looking at selling and "downsizing" his home to repay creditors. It was a time when banks gave free advice , (which wasn't neccessarily accurate) and when events took a turn for the worse were the first ones to "pull the plug" on your assetts.
1992 We were looking at the new buildings in "Baker Parade" next to us in Maggs Hill, Timsbury and wondering what we could do now to improve our own as the area was improving dramatically. Plans were drawn up to maximise the space available to make two cottages again out of the old shop and studio. Steve Parson was at building cotrol for Wansdyke at this time and had bought the house next door, so we got plenty of free advice. The guy that was doing the groundwork for Austin Smith at Bakers parade next to us was also helpfull when it came to storing the stone we were taking off the old gable end to make it look tidy. Trying to borrow money from Nat West Home Loans was proving difficult, the Bank at Bedminster had already agreed to a £20,000 loan but we now had to go through this new company set up specifcally for properety loans...a nightmare was to begin unfolding for us.
1993 A decision was made as Andrew was now spending more and more time with his Fiance , Rachel ( Rach for short) at her parent's house in North Road. To rebuild our home as two cottages again and let Andrew and Rach have the smaller cottage to live in as they wanted to get married. Time had come to bite the bullet and borrow the money to re-develop our plot. We knew that we needed to fit a new roof, sewage system , electrics, bathrooms etc. So, somewhere to live whiile all this upheaval was going on was a must. Off to the Leeds Building Society to see what we could borrow. Not a lot as it happens, as I ( like most self-employed had) my accounts were minmal profit, not good for borrowing. We did manage in the end to borrow a maximum of £46,000 towards the £64,000 neede to buy the bungalow of our choice. Now to see what we could raise by remorgaging our Masggs Hill property. Weeks turned into months, phone calls and faxes flew between us. We made it to the solicitors at the same time as a cheque from Nat Wset for £26,000, the absolute max. they would lend us.
We stretched ourselves a bit to get what we really wanted, so now we were broke again and working full time. It took us 3 months to move completely, Andrew was still living at Maggs Hill (unitl we took the kitchen away !) , he gave in and eventually moved to 8 Somerset Folly with us. Bonus was more space to store cars.
1994 We had borrowed all we could from Bank & Building Society. This was turning out not to be enough, so Carole was able to take out a £2,500 personla loan. We sold off some of my workshop kit and begged the rest.. This new year started off well, we had licked the roof into shape at Maggs Hill, and were on track to complete one cotttage (the smaller onw 1A,). Money was now getting so tight so yet another loan was required from the "Bank of Doris" to finish the kitchen and Bathroom. We started to think about advertising for tenants as we were now down to about £400 in the bank. Made it by the skin of ur teeth. So, so stressfull, would not do it again. Th s was now August and a young couple from Bath , Lee Thomas ans Rachel Hudd were interested. They agreed no pets, no children ...perfect, money problems solved with their deposit and first months rent now putting is in credit again, just. We were so elated we spent £65 hiirng a cheap (and rank ) caravan for a well earned break. What a year !!.
1995 We had a problem now ion the shape of Andrew & Rach wanting to get married and move into a place of their own in Paulton. We helped as much as we could, but Rach wanted to do her own thing and we left them to sort out their mortgage and we offered to stand guarantor if needed. We were needed, money we saved up for Andrew had been spebt on cars and we were under pressure to fund the weding and the move. Not easy when you're in the middle of a rebuild yourself. All stop onsite for 18 months until we had cash to start again. The familes rallied round and we made the chuch decorations and food ourselves, help came from the big circle of family and friends and we even managed a horse and trap for Rach..No expense was spared for that wedding, (or so the village thought). Even my mother managed to get transported from Bath. We booked the Conygre Hall for the day and Ian Yelling managed to get some cheap sparkling wine for the occasion...80 guests to the wedding reception was the limit for family and very close friends. 300 for the evening reception and party. Apart from a few gatecrashers it all went well, and we drunkenly made our way home. Left Andrew in the kitchen with his head in a bowl..blotto !!
1996 January saw Dave Reeves and Carole (his partner) wanted to move permanently to Timsbury having heard we were getting rid of our "Tenants from Hell" , RAchel Hudd & Lee Thomas now expecting their first child. Our tenants until she became pregnant in a 1 bedroom house and got herself at the top of the housing list at our expense. Devious couple. Still, the plus side was new tenants that were already friiends were a bonus. With money coming in from Carole now working full time and rent coming in we started building No.1 Maggs Hill to custom specifcation for Carol & Dave. The video machines were still making good money at this point, I spent days doing the building work and evenings doing video recorders. Life was not yet easy by any means. But then nothing that's worth it never is, is it ?. Dave Reeves was by now helping with the build as well as building up his own computer business. Giles Metherell, our trainee from Avon Video Services days came over from Weston Super Mare (where he now lived with his wife), good to see him again. Things were taking shape and computers were taking over in business again.
1997 Working in the shed at Somerset Folly, Rach and Andrew back home with us, Bernice (Niece and Andrews cousin) wanted to move out of Bristol and rented Rach & Andrew's house in Paulton so we could get her into local authority housing. Complicated or what ?. We are now well on the way to completeing 1 Maggs Hill and getting used to having "children & friends" in the house again. Sometimes a bit cramped, always more expensive than you think !. The time had come to shrink the video recorder repair businees to just "Stacey's" in Bath and stop all work in Bristol, repairs were becoming harder to make easy money with changing technology meaning it too much expense to repair. Time to look for alternative form of income. Dave Reeves suggested investing in selling computers as he had a range of suppliers for parts at competetive prices. But too many people were at it now and margins were getting tighter and tightter. Still, if you don't try !. I needed to ahve my own transport again for this new found work, so a car from Mike Gorham (Dave Gorhams brother) suggested by Andrew, was purchased by "selling" on paper our Metro car to Carole and using her money from some John Mowlem shares sale. Grey BMW 530i , very swish !
1998 Time to take a breather from Video recorders when we got back from American holiday with Rach & Andrew. Bernice had got a flat in Radstock , which meant the Paulton house could be sold and another brand new bought at "Underknowle" in Peasedown St John. I managed to get involved in a new circle of computer clients at this time, leading to more lucrative income. Other work in the form of security systems and lighting were now fillling my time. I was getting stiffer in the legs and back, why was I grunting when I made any effort?. This was something new to get used to at the age of 50, and why do my knees hurt so much? , god..I'm crackng up I think ! The summer was spent working outdoors in Carlingcott on Peter Boren's bungalow security system. i was forwarded by my son Andrew as someone "Technically competent" to help sort out a problem with a "installer" of security systems from Wales. I took it in my stride and proved my worth in the job, As a result I was Mr. Boren's right hand man who could do no wrong !!.
1999 "Computers r Us" this year and security systems at Carlingcott with Peter Boren at Mill Cottage and Ed Galixia at the Mill. Ian Grinstead was contacted for spares in Radstock and this was the birth of "Smart Computers" in London Road, Bath. Start of a good business relationship which would last many years. Opportunity to hone I.T. skills with the "Millenium Bug" hovering in the background providing opportunity to make the money honey, while the "Bug" was hot !!. It came, it went..the world did not stop, life carried on as normal. We formed "Munro I.T. Support Ltd" with David Oakenson at Trowbridge and all his accountantcy business clients. December was spent in "Camp Hobson" (a large departmenmt store) in Newbury ,Berkshire sorting out 32 computers and 22 POS tills in the various departments. A long job and very thoroughly done it was too. I was now unstoppable in I.T. support. I had made the neccessary impressionable contacts for a future enterprise. !
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