Man Flu....

'There's a lot of it about', says Mrs Jackson as she brings me another hot lemon and honey drink, with not a bun or cake in sight. That's not much consolation to me as I languish in my bed, with Copernicus my ever faithful hound curled up at my feet.

I've had this bad cold or 'man flu' as David at Moray Rentals calls it, for at least a week now. He brought me round his netbook and wirless card, so I could keep up to date on the Internet with the local property market and my blog of course.

Technology is marvellous, well it is to an old codger like me. From under my duck down duvet I managed to order Mrs Jackson a lovely bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolate truffles, (in the hope that she may share one or two with me).

I then took in the latest news, exchanged e-mails with my family in America. Viewed the live webcam at Bondi Beach, Australia and looked at an old Morgan 3 wheeler for sale. Don't ask me why - Just because I could I suppose.

I've not much news on property this week, only that I have new tenants in one of my apartments in Forres. This is one of the first times I've never met my tenants, everything was done for me on my behalf (And very well too, may I add - thanks Paul at MR's).

I suppose I'm still very much 'old school' in this respect, as I'm often reminded. Not for much longer though - I intend to get myself a netbook of my own. Think of all the cakes and pastries I could have delivered to my door. I'm going to look up 'man flu' remedies next, in the hope that I'll be up and about soon, to introduce myself to my new tenants.

Take care & Keep wrapped up out there, I wou;dn't want you to catch it !

Mr Jackson.

Park Life....

While I was away, there was a fascinating piece in the Telegraph about seven London lodges, all in the Royal Parks, which have been spruced up and are being made available to rent. They're not cheap, of course, but the perks, combined with the originality of the addresses, are impressive... and include Royal Parks gardeners tending your plot, detached living and parking in central London and acres of parkland on the doorstep.

At the "bargain" or cosy end of things as the estate agents might say , try West Lodge in Hyde Park: a double bedroom, off-street parking and garden near Knightsbridge and South Kensington, for £550 a week.

You could get your own stately home in Moray for that, aren't you glad you live 'up North' !

Though the way things are going at present it can be difficult to secure a property to rent, due to the exceptional demand. Paul at Moray Rentals has advised me that quality rental properties are being snapped up, quicker than they can be advertised.

'We don't have many properties left on our books at present, due to increased demand in December, which is unheard of. And of course there's the ever present 'annual separation' market in January - which can always be relied upon to swell the prospective tenant numbers'.

All makes for unhappy reading if you are currently a prospective tenant.

Take solace with a strong coffee and an 'elephant's foot' cream bun and call the agents to see what they have available, as many properties are offered out to a waiting list before they are advertised.

Bon Chance ! Mr Jackson.