Clearing the Land .... and more ...

Here's the plot, after harvesting but before clearing. I have to say, it is lush and when I saw it in person it was full of wild fruit and berries... but we need to survey the land. Fear not, everything will grow back - Faial is like that - everything grows as if on steroids. So don't be too upset by the clearance!

And again, before clearing but after the crop harvest - but this time the photo is taken from bottom of land towards top. Loving the bullrushes near camera... but they had to be cleared. They will return. Everything just grows. Mentally fast.

So the land was bought. Actually I made a bit light of this earlier, so it's worth mentioning a couple of points here... You can't just go doing financial transactions in Portugal or the Azores without a few pre-requisites. You can't just buy land ... (or pretty much any capital item) ...

"It's a ruin, Jim, but not as we know it..." A ruin on the land is a good thing for planning. Yup. Building on a ruin is desirable for the local authorities. Sensible.

First, you need a financial number. Any significant purchase requires that you have a financial number. I'm not entirely sure how you would equate this in UK terms ... but it is, I suppose, a bit like having a national insurance number. But not.

Having this financial number lets you buy stuff. Basically. Now think about how brilliant this is. Essentially, it stops all that guffaw about money laundering and cash being spent from ill-gotten gains. It makes you accountable; money can not just suddenly appear from nowhere. Big Brother has it's eye on you for sure. Now I know this sounds a bit scary, but really it is quite a sensible policy and stops all sorts of fraud and corruption, theft and tax evasion.

My agent took me along to the financial office so I could obtain a financial number. Sorted.

Obviously, I needed to provide my passport, UK details and such. Painless, thanks to my translator and fixer! This also acted as a great reassurance, since the office staff knew my agent by name, and the nature of his business. Further more, some people in the office there to make official arrangements also came over and chatted. Brilliant.

These sort of reassurances are helpful for the faint of heart! Your contact is trusted and known in the community. You can relax a little.

Next job on the list was to open a local bank account. This can't be done without the fiscal number! Again, the checks are thorough. Account opened, small deposit made. Easy. As a side note, my UK bank charges me for having an in credit account. My Portuguese Bank charges nearly nothing. Nada. They're just happy to have a credit balance. See Rip off Britain.

Again, I was pleased that my agent was known and on friendly terms by the bank staff. Whilst I waited for the account to be created and paperwork issued, he went off to meet another client who he was helping to get broadband set up. This is all really important for the vibe: It is again reassuring.

Subsequently I am now FB friends with several people who have used my agent's services. All happy. All good.

So of course, the next step was the Solicitor and Architect. A great visit to both of them, who both spoke brilliant English. Everything was explained, including the limitations of building, legal requirements and such. Excellent.

Here's a picture of the top of the land, some clearing undertaken, but much to be disposed of. Note the slope of the site is quite steep - however the plans take this into account and elevate the property for good views over the coast. Still loving those trees.... Note the position of the ruin. This where the house will go.

Now to clearing the land. Before a full topographical survey, needed by the architect, could be conducted, a couple of things needed to happen:

• The crop needed harvesting. The land was sown to corn (yes, the corn on the cob type!).

• The undergrowth needed hacking back to reveal the ruin and scope of the land.

This provided a bit of delay, because the crop and silage could not be harvested until ready and dry - which didn't occur until late November 2016. Then the survey could be done.

Happy Hackers - two of the clearance crew asses their devastation. This must have been tough! Thanks guys. Their fee was reasonable. A lot of work to clear.

Up at the trees, a couple of the crew thin out the straggly saplings. The view from here looks out over Pedro Miguel, not far to walk for shops and a beer or coffee.

Elf & Safety: Chainsaw running, check. Unstable ground, check. Lack of safety gear, check. Fag on, check. Anti-gravity boots, check. All good then. Well done

Here's the drive :) ~ Thank the gods that there is no snow or ice (ever) in the Azores. This will be coated in volcanic gravel for a non-slip surface even when wet. It is steep. But lets face it, has a certain 'charm'. Suzi Quatro would like.

The entrance to the drive, retaining wall for the trees (to be changed). Ladder is not a permanent fixture. Gives a good idea of the elevation over the land. Imagine a picnic table under the trees - shade for a hot day... nice.

Cleared, picture from up at the tree level. I like. Better still when the edges are softened again by lush growth and re-cover that concrete wall. Otherwise the whitewash will have to come out. Just joking!

Meanwhile of course, we started ideas planning... but that's the next story - "Making Plans".