I bought an abandoned cottage… want a tour?
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- Опубликовано: 2 мар 2024
- #abandonedhouse #dreamlife
I bought an old abandoned cottage in Ireland. Come tour around my 1800s cottage before the renovations begin. This is the dream home I never thought would be mine and I'm still pinching myself daily that we made it happen! I'll share my plans to restore this stone farmhouse to a cosy sanctuary and show you some of the quirky, funny and down-right odd features of this old beauty.
Whatever you do or don't do, use lime, not cement, not gypsum plaster. You will forever have damp unless you use NHL lime - inside and out.
YES! Walls need to breathe or they hold onto damp and then you'll live with dangerous mold!!!!
Most Irish cottages of that age would have been a central living area with a large open fire for heating and cooking. In that space the family would have lived, cooked and ate.
Usually there would have been a bedroom on either side with a door directly into the living area. No bathroom/ toilet ... that was an outside job😂 Water would have been carried from a nearby well.
A lot of houses would have had a "jam wall" in the living area... to cut down on the draught from the only outside door and the fire/chimney.
The "byre" (cow shed), (pig craw" (pig pen) and/or barn was normally attached to the cottage (cut down on the number of walls to build and helped retain heat).
Traditional cottages would have been built "into the land" in sheltered areas with natural high banks or trees around for shelter. Walls were thick stone and small windows. Original roof would have been branches with rushes or sods for thatch. This was later replaced by wooden joists and tin or possibly slates.
By your walk around, the cottage has had rooms added above ... hence the abnormal wall (just a chimney breast built to be functional and not part of a living space) and strange layout of rooms upstairs.
The slope in the floor downstairs may well be where the dwelling was opened up to join an outhouse at some time.
When you are renovating... be very aware of allowing walls to breathe and the great potential for damp coming up, through or against the walls (with modern day living).
Enjoy the planning and the life that is opening up in front of you!! 😊
I feel it would be better to have that large vaulted ceiling room with the fireplace a kitchen...man that would be stunning...
Good luck with your journey. Looking forward to updates.
That lovely add-on in the living room would be perfect for the Christmas tree! That gorgeous stone wall with fireplace would be beautiful in the kitchen. I'd love to see if that kitchen fireplace was actually open to the opposite room.
Yes, that add on definitely doesn't fit with the rest of the house for sure. But it's really nice to have that light.
A down stairs bathroom is extremely useful, try and incorporate it in a utility room off your kitchen.
Great potential. This will make a lovely family home.
Welcome to Ireland!
You will undoubtedly find a close knit local community among your neighbours and would strongly recommend reaching out. The west especially thrives on its sense of community and will welcome you and your family. They will also be a very valuable source of practical and moral support. Good luck.
Just found you on You Tube, and it is so exciting to be with you at the start of your new journey on restoring this home in Ireland, to be your forever home. It is so lovely to hear a well spoken English person, and so full of fresh energy too. Blessings from West Devon, England, and Jilly & Madge the beautiful black rescue greyhound. xxx
Living my dream! My whole life has involved renovation. My parents renovated homes and I have renovated 5 homes of my own. I would love to live in a cottage in the countryside of Ireland. I can't wait to see how your dream home develops. I am excited for you. 🎉❤
Awww love when I hear of people who share this dream!! Funny enough, my daughter's whole life thus far has involved renovation. One of her first favourite non-kids tv shows was Grand Designs hahaha. So pleased to have you share in our excitement and along for the journey with us Jane!!
I would transform the "funny chimney thing" into a nice bookshelf/display area. But that's only my creative mind!😊❤
Set plants on it too
That's what I was thinking. Books, plants & the odd nice ornament & depending how wide the shelf area is towards the bottom of it, maybe put a cushion along to make a seat🤔🤷♀️
The upstairs windows are called pigeon windows very cute.
Oh I had no idea, thank you so much for letting me know that! I'm going to see if I can find out more now I have a name for them.
Chickens! That's my livestock guess. I see the odd chimney area with colorful seating pads and pillows for cozy book reading nooks. I would leave the triangle windows, because they bring in so much light. This cottage has many wonderful features. I can't wait to see you all transform it into the house of your dreams!
It's a good guess! Will be revealing on Sunday! Ooh I like the suggestions for the odd chimney. A coz book nook appeals to the bookworm in me for sure. So pleased to have you along for this journey!
Insulation is key in Ireland! (not to mention a sturdy roof and perfect gutters for all that lovely rainfall!)..Beautiful cottage.. yes lime wash and lime plaster to help walls breathe.. lime grout in the lovely stone walls x it will look amazing can’t wait to watch ❤
YES we've settled on lime plaster as we heard it is more breathable. I think we'll be able to uncover even more stone in some of the rooms. Good point on the gutters! We need to get to that pretty sharpish!
My advice (not that you asked🤗) would be to put the kitchen back in that back room to begin with. Even if you can’t afford to build on now and the kitchen will be small for awhile. Running all those water and waste pipes is not something you will want to do twice. Especially if you’re doing your own work. Also, you will destroy all that web in the concrete that heats the floor in the living room running the temporary pipes. Only to do it in another place later anyway….
That step pyramid of a fireplace is cool! If the fireplace is going downstairs, that room will be heated by those stones. You can use it to set things on I guess? Not sure how to decorate it, other than use it as shelving.❤️🤗🐝
So happy for you to be living your dream cant wait to see how you decorate your cottage. Good luck in your new home.
Love the cottage it has massive potential and with your imagination I cant wait to see the end result
It has just the right amount of quirky, lovely.
Goats? They are great for clearing land. Maybe chickens for eggs? Love the cottage and looking forward to watching the reno! ❤
It would be nice to keep a bedroom for guests for surly I am coming to visit you in Ireland. Love it and what fun to renovate.
Good point! Unless we put guests in the caravan?! 😂😉
I like the wood..we have it on walls of our cabin...and the triangle windows give it character
It is characterful isn't it??
It is really beautiful, best of luck with it ! We thought that had a lovely old fireplace hiding behind the plaster in our old cottage but it turned out that the fireplace and chimney had been removed and replaced with modern breeze blocks , hopefully you still have the original stone one. We had similar wooden ceilings, painting them white has really made a difference to them. We have a video on it if you want to see what if might look like.
Well, that glassed in gable, would be great for flowers and plants to take up residence there, in winter time. If it's not broken, leave it alone. Keep it.
Definitely good for growing your own food.
Your strange rubble under the carpet looks like maybe the builders started to make a channel for the radiator pipes that might have been planned for that room...the reason I say this is because when we renovated our Irish Cottage they did that in our house and I had to clean it up...
The best of luck on your journey. I quit the corporate life 8 years ago from Southampton and moved to the North West of Ireland, i enjoy the countryside and quiet life.
Ok so I'm basically living your life but just a few steps behind by the sounds of it?! We came over from Bournemouth so literally next door! And I quit the corporate life in 2017. Thank you for the encouragement!
The first thing I would do is to make contact with previous builder- developer and pick their brains in relation to previous work done, this could save a fortune in money and time.
Make priority list in order to moving in
Eg sanatory- bathroom,
Living aeria,
Heating system,
Electrical and certification from previously electrical contractor,
Plumbing system already fitted,
Time spent researching those services can be invaluable
Neighbours will know who to ask
Hope this might be of value going forward
kind regards Sean
THAT HOUSE IS GREAT AND LOVELY. I LOVE THE OUTSIDE IT IS SO QUAINT AND I LOVE IT. Looking so forward to see what you do with the place. You must be so excited.
We are very excited Barbara!! It is really quaint isn't it? That's what makes me love it the most!
might be worth getting an architect to come up with some plans. Programs like 'Room To Improve' show us no matter how good we are ourselves, an architect will give you greater insight into what is appropriate and possible (things you might never even consider until they are presented to you). Also, they can advise on grants re energy saving etc. PS I'm not an architect. Good luck!
I love all the quirky old features! My 1800s cottage had most of them ripped out by the last owners 😢
Hello. I’m in Ohio USA. I stumbled upon your video and am excited to see what you do with the homestead. My husband and each have built three homes. I love building but I love the restoration process too. Good luck to you. I’ll be watching and enjoying seeing your progress. Thank you for sharing 😁
The restoration process is sooo enjoyable isn't it?! Thank you for being here!
I am also following the irish homestead - they have a massive undertaking with those derelict stone buildings. Check it out if you want!
Just stumbled on your channel.
Those windows ( although quirky) were designed to bring in light. I can tell how dark those rooms would be otherwise.
Now the rubble under the carpets is a head scratcher. Your Oregon Viewer USA.
A real head scratcher, right?! So funny. And yes agree with the windows bringing in light. I think it could be too dark if we didn't keep them or replace them somehow
You are happy with it, I would be happy also much better then big fancy, you can make it classic and it will be wonderful! I am so happy for you, your life sounds wonderful! I am a 72 year old American. Lost my husband of 53 years a year and half ago. Enjoy your life sounds amazing.
Aw, sorry to read that. BIG VIRTUAL HUG & take good care of your lovely self.
Sending a big virtual hug too Joan. Pleased to have you here!!
If you have the money and the time, most anything's possible. I would be planning to learn to DIY , plan, and maybe hire an architect for ideas, especially structural . A house with as many changes & updates as you're considering, will require it Good luck.
Yes good suggestion on getting and architect for ideas, they often have insights and creativity that we just couldn't arrive at on our own. Fortunately we're pretty well versed on the DIY front so hoping that stands us in good stead. Thanks for the encouragement!
Wow, your journey is just like ours. We live in the mountains of Sligo in an old cottage full of surprises. ☺️
Ah hello there in Sligo! Old cottages full of surprises are the BEST aren't they?
It is an amazing space...love your vision for it. You have not bitten off more than you can chew you can do it . Good luck and I look forward to seeing you transform this cottage. My guess is CHICKENS...chickens are coming.
Thank you for the encouragement, I really appreciate it! And you guessed right with the chickens!!
Chickens! Love the wooden ceilings (though downstairs lighter would make the ceiling not feel so low), and those funky little triangular windows that match the larger triangular window arches are really fun! Look forward to seeing your progress!
Good guess... revealing on Sunday! I think the funky triangles are growing on me!
Thanks for the tour!! So much potential. ❤
Looking forward to watching you guys renovate and make it a nice cozy home. 💞🇨🇦
Well done Cori, your a breath of fresh air.
best of luck and many happy years in your new cottage!
You are so excited that your dream is coming to realisation. I'm so happy for you! I can't wait to see it get started. I hope the grant comes through.
This is my dream and my nightmare 😂 Looking forward to following your renovation. If it were me, I’d start small-like maybe some chickens?
Hahahahaha I mean I totally get that!! Yes... chickens!
I love it. Lots of potential❣️
❤ superb blank canvas.
Looks to be plenty of potential there. Look forward to seeing what you do with it. Thanks for the video. All the best 🇬🇧.
All the best! Congrats…
You certainly have a lot of work ahead of you. Good luck, can’t wait to see what you do with the cottage.
How awesome!! So excited for you all! What a beautiful home!!
Thank you Sonya!!
I bet that weird thing in that room is a big stone chimney that has been concreted over. I've seen then in other old houses. You may find in you block off those little windows it becomes very dark. It's lovely and so much potential.
Sounds wonderful! Your whole life! I am sure it will be beautiful, cozy and completely yours I wish you all good things in your and your families lives. Have fun and God bless!
You are the sweetest, thank you so much!
Cori, give some serious thought to replacing all the PVC with wood, doors and windows. It will be an additional expense you could be doing without but in time you'll be glad you did it. A lot of work to do so good luck in your endeavours. When it's finished it wiill be gorgeous.
Don’t buy a period home then. Buy a new house rather than ruining an old house. My house is 200 yrs old and has the original windows- will never replace with plastic
Omg I love your energy 😅wishing and your family the best of luck. Oh you’re getting chickens 🐓. Lots of love from Sunny Florida.
Thank you so much Grace!! 😍
You just popped up on my recommended videos. Looking forward to watching you bring that old cottage back to life. It’s most definitely a massive project and all I can say is, I hope you have lots of money in the pot! Maybe you could turn that room with the weird chimney thing into a sauna?! You could sit/drape yourself along those ledges. 😅
Beautiful house it has great potential
Its got huge potential , well done .
This looks so promising!! I love the thought of you overhauling it. It will be a treasure to you one day, with the way you already feel! Congratulations!!
It absolutely will be, I agree! Thank you!!
What a lot of fun work! We love renovating. You just can't let it get next to you. A good cleaning will give you more courage and paint forgives a lot. Love the wood and stone! The pink actually goes with the dark grey stone,lol but way too dark for sure. Best wishes!
Credit where it’s due, a much more relaxed and relatable vlog. Nice one! 😊
Gday Cori. Saw alot of you and not much of the house! Alot bigger than i expected though and seems in reasonable condition.
Love it ❤
Just found your channel, and I can't wait tp follow your renovations and adventures. New subscriber. Hello from Tipperary
Sheep 🐑?
I love the triangular windows and the wood. I wouldn’t want to change the heart of the house. Don’t be in a hurry deciding (Except for a bathroom 😅) how to bring it back to life. Look, Listen, and let the house and your heart tell you what to do. Trends come and go. I definitely can’t wait to see how it progresses.
Sheep is a good guess... but no not for our first foray into farm life. Revealing our new arrivals on Sunday! Good point on not being in a hurry, I am happy for it to evolve and also let us know what's best as we uncover and tend to the house along the way! Pleased to have you along for the journey!
I would be worried the wood panelling is hiding a multitude of sins,just be aware,there could be damp or some other damage and the panelling was a fix🤔,otherwise it is a very sweet little cottage❤
Chickens?? The cottage is open and bright, I can see why you love it. The triangle windows are whimsical, but I dont think original, either. I think the fireplace is beautiful. The rubble under the carpet...??!!What!!😳😳😳 I dont think you've taken on too much, this is very doable!! I think you should build a wall to block the wedding cake behind, maybe a door for storage and knock down the opposite wall. It sure is a shocker when you first see it!!! This is a lovely cottage, cant wait to see what you decide to do.
Cori why don’t turn the camera round to show us what you’re talking about . There is no need for us to see you all the time ! All your videos are the same , you talking .
That's why I unsubscribed after watching a few videos.
I'm unsubscribing for the same reason. It's all about me, me , me. Even this video title says 'I bought an abandoned cottage not we. Her poor husband will no doubt do as she says 90% of the work just incase poor Corrie breaks a nail or messes her hair up. God forbid.@@mrs.l1329
Voice gives me a headache 😮
Just found you, and subscribed, love love ❤️
A lot of work, but I think you are so lucky to have such a great place and property. It looks lovely outside as well. I would be very excited to have such a place. 😊.
We certainly feel very lucky Judy!!
That conundrum wall invites you to sit and read on the bench height shelf with cushions and little light on the wall. That is part of the uniqueness of the cottage not suited for a bathroom.
We did old barn into 3 bed 2 story only mistake I made was not putting triple glaze windows in .the cottage be lovely project make cosy home when all done ye be grand no problem to ye
Looks very promising, plenty of space.
I’d leave the conservatories as they add light. You can always change them later
As a new subscriber, I look forward to following your dream. Thank you for sharing your journey and inspiring us to follow our dreams too. My dream is to have my own garden 🌱🥬🌻
No fears you will do great!
Thank you for your encouragement!!
The green shelf over the fireplace is a ‘ clavy’ A vernacular feature and possibly original.
It looks fantastic! I would have the room you've earmarked as your bedroom as either a kitchen or lounge. It seems too amazing just for a bedroom! And the space at the end could be a utility room. Would definitely recommend using an architect who can help you with some ideas you may not have thought of.
Have just subscribed. I'm looking forward to seeing you transform this into a cosy home. A couple of things that you have probably already considered.... close in the stairs so all the heat doesn't disappear up them, create some sort of a porch/lobby so the wind doesn't whip into the sitting room. Future proof the house by creating a room downstairs, that could become a bedroom, with a shower and loo for when you are too ill to climb the stairs. Also wont you need a room for guests? Stunning views. The high quirky little windows may be difficult when you want the dark to sleep and how do you dress triangle windows? Perhaps you could have internal wooden blinds. Good luck it will be worth it.
It’s a lovely cottage
Thank you Rosalind!!
Lovely cottage and looks quite spacious Cori. Suggest you'll meet all the challenges along the way and overcome them. So no, I don't think you've taken on too much. In my humble opinion the concrete 'wedding cake' shenanigans in one of the upstairs rooms might just need to be all knocked out - it's an odd configuration right enough! I guess it's to what extent supportive structurally? Guessing that you'll be getting some chickens??? All best to you and family. Kx
Just found your channel! How exciting! Can’t wait to see more What a dream- lots of hard work but by the time it’s finished it will be amazing 🤩 I have subscribed for more 😊
Yay so pleased to have you along for the journey!!
Hello from New York 🥰
Just found your channel and subscribed 😊
Hi cori that's irish weather for you
A chicken coop is my guess for your homestead! Good luck with whatever you choose! Thanks for sharing this adventure with us!!❤
You guessed it!! So pleased to have you along for the adventure!
Have you considered the yellow room being the kitchen?
It would make an outrageous kitchen.
It would indeed make an outrageous kitchen... you're right! Well we're hoping (if we get planning) to create a pretty epic kitchen in the extension... but if that doesn't pan out you could be onto something there!
I live over on the west coast of the United States, North America. Right there in the Pacific Northwest in the state of Oregon and right there in the Willamette Valley and it can be sun shining one moment and pouring down rain the next year around so I feel yeah. lol😜. But we love it don’t we and you are also living my dream😍. Congratulations I’m happy for you and I’m sure you’re earning every bit of it with your hard work. Dedication and passionate dreams.
You get it with the weather! Hello in the pacific northwest!! Thank you so much for your encouragement.
I am not sure what to call the fireplace funneling upstairs. But you could use it as a headboard or decoration for the headboard of your daughters bed. Set lanterns all around it...Battery operated of course. I have saw these in other older homes, I am not sure why they built those like that. Unless to them, they were trying to make it look more attractive. It would have been best, had they just used rocked wall. Who kows...Good luck!
What a wonderful cottage! Your “office” would be a fabulous art studio!
Oooh now you're talking, love that suggestion!
A cow for milk and scub control,,,,, chickens for eggs and bug control,,,,,,,, horse for rides and daughter control,,,,,,,,,, could go any way....,😂😂😊
Plan, plan, plan. Take the input from others, consider them, talk about them, and plan some more. It will be a long process, but I’m confident you will turn it into a spectacular home. Have some patience, and try not to lose your sense of humor.
Yessss. Wise words indeed. Patience and planning will be the key ingredients to loving this home back to life, right? And YES I try my best to keep my sense of humour in tact at all times ;)
Beautiful home , be a project but with hard work and time you can do it
yes, its so sad the preveious owner put in tthose windows ...it took the cottage out of the cottage....at leastt you willl maket your own....best wishes to you
Just found your channel. Very cute cottage. I would keep the white ceilings but make the cross beams natural or stained wood.
This will keep it light and airy.
I love the big wardrobe in the quirky room you were thinking of turning it into a bathroom. I would definitely keep it. Either in a bedroom for clothes or bathroom for towels, linens, cleaning supplies. The addition that has glass walls and a tall ceiling could be your dinning room. Someone mentioned to keep the living area, kitchen, and dining area together. And then put your bedroom where you were thinking of putting the kitchen. Just a few suggestions. Can’t wait to see what you do with the place! 👍🏻😉🥰🙏
LOVE these suggestions, thank you Kathy!! Yes the wardrobes are quite lovely actually. I too cannot wait to see what we do with the place 😂
Wonderful cottage, and exciting project to make your home in! It seems to have good 'bones' to develop. The fact that it's water-tight (and I assume no moldy/musty smells, though til you have heat in it for awhile it will be a bit musty smelling), is a big plus in an abandoned house. Please don't remove the window/atrium addition. Even though it seems modern for an old cottage, removing square footage is always a big NO! Footage is too valuable to throw away; I'm sure you're creative enough to decorate that space inside to have cottage charm, and outside you can add wide wood molding around the windows to 'cottage up' the addition. Lots of 'cottage looks' to google for inspiration.Kitchens and bathrooms (because of plumbing and wiring) are the MOST expensive rooms to remodel, so instead of remodeling and room placement for short term, then swapping around later is going to cost a lot of time and money. It would be more cost effective to install just essentials for a small working kitchen in the room you want to eventually expand into a big family kitchen. Moving the bathroom later to expand kitchen into the direction of the good view will cost you, but can work if you keep your bath remodel simple for now. It's hard not to spend NOW on a dream look, even if it's temporary. You have to be stalwart and have a 'now plan' and a 'long-term' plan that you stick with. Good luck, and I'm looking forward to following your adventure!
Don't be afraid to get out of the frame when you're climbing stairs dear. 😊
Hi there! I just found your channel today. I absolutely love this cottage. What a wonderful project this will be. The building is so unique and quirky, so much character and charm. I really like the triangle little windows, I think you should keep each of them. The huge room in the front, you mentioned a bedroom, I think would be a really nice Living Room and the other front room a kitchen & dining room. Bedroom could be in the back. There's so many possibilities.
The upstairs, I like the lower ceilings, makes if feel very cozy and I also like all the wood. It will be fun to watch you transform this cottage into your dream home. P.S. I'm in the US-Florida, so of course this building is just super amazing to me.
Yay so glad you found my channel Linda! Yeah I'm very excited for this project!! I agree, so quirky. Interesting suggestions on the downstairs layout, thank you!
I guess chickens or goats good luck ❤
Cori, the cottage will be gorgeous, I can’t wait to follow your progress, how exciting! Do you still have your business and would love to know what you do. Wondered how old your daughter is and did she transition well into local school. I’m a Yorkshire girl but have lived in Ohio for 24 years, what you are doing sound like a lovely dream ❤️❤️❤️
I do still have my business yes. I am a success coach (I specialise in helping mothers with online business to make more profit and work fewer hours); have been doing it for 6+ years now and wouldn't do anything else at this point!! Daughter is 11 and she has settled in even better than we could have hoped for. So grateful! Oh wow a Yorkshire lass in Ohio, eh?! So happy to have you along for the ride
I would keep it as your office.
PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT LOSE THOSE WINDOW ROOMS OR THE TRIANGULAR ONES ON TOP. THE WINDOWS ROOMS CAN BE TURNED INTO GROW ROOMS, FOR SEED STARTING, AND PLANTS THAT CAN'T HANDLE THE HARSH WINTERS. THEY'RE LIKE LARGE Terrariums. YOU SAID YOU'RE GOING TO START ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT YOU CAN START SEEDS NOW AND PUT THEM IN THERE. YOU SAID YOU HAVE ELECTRIC IN SOME PARTS, YOU CAN ADD A PORTABLE HEATER TO KEEP THEM WARM (OR WARMING TRAYS) I WOULD DIE FOR WINDOW ROOMS LIKE THAT.
KEEP ALL THE WINDOWS it's helping to keep the house lit up.
Thank you for the suggestions Jackie!! Good idea on turning the window rooms into grow areas!!
I'd suggest 'before' floor plans for both the ground floor & the upstairs rooms (as per the Never Too Small YT channel). Once you changed things the final plans (for comparison) will be useful for your audience's understanding of the decisions you made. Please also indicate the directions and concepts like 'the view'. Good luck! It looks like a fabulous challenge.
My daughter has a stepped chimney breast like yours. They call it the wedding cake room.
Also a pluviophile luckily as I’m in the west of Ireland 😅
Chickens 🐔???Loving your channel ❤
thank you so much! it's a good guess... revealing all on Sunday 😍
Looks like it was last renovated 25 years ago
I'm wondering if under the downstairs wooden ceiling there might be beams which would add to the cottage style. The room you said would be your bedroom, I'd have as a kitchen & the little room off it use as a pantry/utility. The stepped chimney breast I would put cushions on the lower shelf/step & books, plants & the odd ornament on the rest & use it as a study. If you haven't got a porch/boot room, I'd add one. You will need it if you are going to work the land & have livestock, plus it keeps the cold out. I'd be tempted to see whats under all that wood too. You'd only have to remove a small section but it could be hiding some lovely features.I think you are probably getting chickens, ducks or geese. (Geese can be good at guarding off predators & raising the alarm) Sounds like you have a lot of plans & hard work ahead. Good luck🍀
Yeah I had hoped there could be beams but we've peeled back a few boards and doesn't look like anything particularly exciting. But maybe when we pull it all down we'll find something inspiring! I think the previous owners had the same idea as you about where to put the kitchen given where they've put things. Love your suggestions, thank you! Especially the porch/boot room, YES! We'll def need one of those. Good guess on them being winged creatures... stay tuned for Sunday ;)
@@CoriLivestheDreamLife Aw it's an exciting journey you are all on, with so much potential. Thanks for replying. Can't wait to see how it develops. Good luck 🍀