Finally getting a foot on the property ladder Senior Reporter Faiza Afzaal has decided it's high-time she had a "home" of her own. With no shortage of mortgage deals aimed at helping first-time buyers get on to the property ladder, Faiza shares her experience of taking the plunge and buying her first
 
New Year New Promise

I MUST start by apologising for not updating my blog as regularly as I should.

This was supposed to have been a monthly blog, but I'm ashamed and amazed to see my last post was in August!!

Journalists are supposed to have the gift of the gab and really shouldn't have any problems writing too, so there is no excuse whatsoever for my blog not being updated as regularly as it should have been.

Talking of being busy, where has 2007 gone?

Christmas seems to get earlier every year and we are just days away from the New Year. I cannot believe how quickly time is passing me by. I remember as a child time went so slowly. Now it seems I'm living life in the fast lane (excuse the pun!).

The past three months have been particularly busy, both at work and home. But I am glad to say I have managed to take time out and meet up with friends that I haven't seen in years. Last month I enjoyed tea with friends I hadn't seen in four years. A few weeks later I went to see one of my friends from school and the other day while shopping I bumped into a friend who I lost contact with years ago. Again, it was very nice to see her after all these years and hear she is getting married at the end of the month. Why is it so hard to keep in touch with "old friends"? Although I have kept in touch with lots of friends from school, college, uni and former work colleagues, it seems I have lost touch with lots too. In the past decade, e-mails and instant messaging have become the norm of how we communicate to others. At the touch of a button and within a matter of seconds, we find ourselves communicating with friends across the globe. In today's fast-paced environment there is no excuse for not keeping in touch with family, friends and loved ones. Although I admit address books quickly become outdated and phone numbers seem to change every other month!
Unlike the majority, I have refused to make a New Year resolution. This is because the ones I have made in the past have always been broken before the end of January, so this year I have decided not to make one until now. I have now decided I am going to make just one New Resolution and try my level best not to break it. That is to stay in touch and better connected to my friends.

Until the next time you hear from me, a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

Published Date:
20/12/2007
Modified Date:
20/12/2007

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Brilliant Saturday television

SATURDAY night television is brilliant at the moment.

In fact, it is so gripping that until Christmas my Saturday evenings are going to be spent glued to the television set and it is all thanks to "The X-Factor".

Terrible voices, tears, smiles, tantrums, nervous looks and, of course, good auditions have returned to ITV for an even bigger and better fourth series.

The show's three infamous judges, Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh are back for another stint of talent spotting and to find the nation's next singing sensation - but this time with a new addition to the panel in the form of Dannii Minogue, while Dermot O'Leary takes the reins as the show's brand new host.

The X-Factor returned to the TV screens earlier this month and scored its best ever first night viewing figures with 10.7m. viewers. A record 150,000 hopefuls have entered the competition and over the next few months the judges must reduce those entrants down to just a handful for the live studio finals, which will be screened in November and throughout December. The winner will scoop a £1m. record contract, plus have a shot at the festive No 1 spot.

This may sound really sad, but I am a big fan of the X-Factor because it provides me with more laughs than any other television programme these days. And what makes the show so good is Simon Cowell. He's brilliant. Although he is sharp-tongued and famed for his withering put-downs, the X-Factor just wouldn't be the same without him. You've got to like him for his honesty.....he certainly tells it like it is!

Published Date:
30/08/2007
Modified Date:
30/08/2007

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Race for Life

SUNDAY, July 8th, 2007, was a very special and exciting day for me.

For it was a case of "lights, camera and action" for me and my colleague (Dom Collis) as we made our debut in presenting! Armed with microphones, we were given the task to cover Burnley's Race for Life. Rain failed to dampen our spirits and it certainly failed to dampen the enthusiasm shown by more than 1,500 women and girls who braved the downpours to run and walk the muddy 5km course around Towneley in aid of Cancer Research UK. Log onto www.burnleyexpress.net, click on to the "video special Race for Life" event and check out videos one and eight to see me in action!

Oh and well done to everyone who took part in the sponsored event and, of course, our photographer, Ben Parsons, for successfully capturing everything on video!

Published Date:
12/07/2007
Modified Date:
12/07/2007

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Becoming a home-owner at last!


I FINALLY got the keys to my new house and for the past few months have been spending my evenings and weekends, with a little help from my family and friends, doing it up. It’s beginning to look very nice now (if I can say so myself!). It’s amazing how a quick coat of a paint can do wonders to refresh the look and feel of a room, although choosing the right colour scheme was a bit of a tricky task so I decided to go for the safe option of using neutral colours like cream and beige.

I'm just relieved that I didn't have to strip layers of old paper off the walls. Painting seemed like the quickest and easiest option and thankfully it did not take very long with the use of a large roller. I must say I’m stunned by the change. Tired old rooms have been given a new lease of life. The house looks totally different.

In addition, the upstairs floors of the house have been carpeted and laminate flooring has been layed downstairs. The kitchen and bathroom floors have also been updated with new lino.

My next task is to furnish the house. And no, I'm not going to be able to afford to hire master carpenters to introduce modern furnishings or fabric experts to advise on extravagant curtains and upholstery. I'm simply going to furnish the house by browsing on the internet or trawling through copies of home magazines to find stylish, but affordable furniture to suit the house. However, before I embark on further decorating missions, I’ve decided to take a break and enjoy the summer months. It’s great to see that we are finally blessed with hot weather. The sun is shining, the blue skies greet us in the mornings and the evenings are light and warm.

It seems like yesterday when I was writing about people suffering from the winter blues! These past few months seemed to have flown by. Like millions of other people, I love summer. It's definitely the best of the four seasons. And one of the best things about the summer months is that after the blacks and greys of winter, I have been able to introduce some colour into my wardrobe!

So, to everyone out there who hates winter, grab the sunglasses, get the suncream out, embrace the heat and make the most of this sunshine-filled summer 2007. I know I'm going to.

WE are forever reading or hearing about frustrated first-time buyers struggling to get their foot on to the property ladder because of soaring property prices.
For the past decade or so, would-be homeowners have been faced with the tough task of working out how to take their first step.
Unfortunately, I fall into that category too. For some time I have faced a lot of difficulties trying to buy a house and I must admit that recently I have felt that securing my first home was becoming a race against time. The major stumbling block has been saving up for a deposit.
But I have finally decided to take the plunge and am now going ahead with buying a property that I think I can afford.
I began viewing suitable properties in and around my home town in Nelson at the end of last year. Some properties I went to see were in terrible shape – some had kitchens and bathrooms that needed renovating, many had crumbling walls and ceilings. After all, what could I expect when looking at homes in the region of £65,000 to £70,000.
But after months of searching, I finally found the house I wanted – a two-bedroom terrace.
Faiza

No, it’s not my dream home, but it’s a start and I’m just relieved that I have managed to get my toe on the bottom rung of the property ladder before house prices begin to rocket again. I must admit buying the house has been made possible with a little financial help from my sister and it needs a little interior and exterior refurbishment too.

Although prospects may appear ever more bleak for people struggling to get a foothold in the property market, my advice to those people is please do not lose hope and it’s not all doom and gloom. Don’t let high street interest rates put you off and seek advice from more than one mortgage company. I think buying a house is one of the best decisions I will have ever made and it would not have been possible without the help and support of my family and friends, especially my mother who encouraged me to go ahead with the decision.
The move, however, means I can now start looking forward to monthly mortgage repayments and all the bills associated with becoming a house-owner, such as electricity bills, council tax, home insurance, phone bills etc etc. This will mean me having to cut down on my shopping sprees!
Those who know me are aware that I love spending and have been shopping like crazy recently. My shopping trips normally kick-start with buying a top, then a pair of jeans, then bags and, of course, shoes. Let’s face it girls, you never can have too many shoes or bags!
There is nothing wrong with indulging in a little retail therapy now and again, but I seriously have to cut down on my spending and start saving a little. This, I am glad to say, I have already started with cutting down on the amount of time I spend talking to my friends on my mobile phone!

Published Date:
23/04/2007
Modified Date:
14/06/2007

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