Thanks Franbern. Touch wood it's really safe here, to my knowledge no-one in the few houses near me have ever been burgled. I do lock my gates to stop any passing chancers stealing my dog, but never leave him in the garden unnattended. He's my little mate and I'd be lost without him.
The trains don't run all the time, and it's really private and quiet here with lots of wildlife. I'm not overlooked by anyone. I was really pleased to find a hedgehog on the platform the other night My neighbours in the attached porter's cottage are really quiet as they are both professionals, one of them is my solicitor. They bought at the same time as us, twenty years ago. The beach is only a ten minute drive away, as is the train station. The village with its castle and lovely river walks is a five minute drive. I'd not like to live in the village, so popular with visitors and day trippers from Newcastle/Gateshead, locals can't park.
I tended to mention my late husband too often when I did the viewings, and would prefer the EA to do them. One of the people doing the viewings is an acquaintance from the past and I know he is a very tidy man, I'll have to make an extra effort when he's doing the viewings! His wife joked once that she left some veg scattered on the worktop when she went to work, knowing that 'the mess' would irritate him .... when she returned he'd made a lovely stew!
Must get dressed and take my dog out, it's not getting any less rainy or light out there!