Byline: Laura Davidson
Most women want a cake or maybe a new handbag for their birthday but Linda Dunn made a wish for a new life in the sun.
The laundry business owner promised herself that by the time she turned 45, she would be leaving Scotland behind for a warmer climate.
Her big birthday is next week - and her plan is right on track.
Linda has bought a gorgeous three-bedroom home in Villamartin, near Torrevieja on Spain's Costa Blanca.
She picked up the keys for the villa in June and she's tying up her business in Scotland so she Stainless Steel Bangle can make a full-time move to Spain.
She said: "I'm so pleased it's all going according to plan. I knew it would be a tall order moving lock stock to Spain but now I have a house there, that's the main thing.
"I have a friend with a house in Villamartin and every time I went to visit I would find it harder and harder to come back to Scotland.
"I put down the deposit on my home last June when it was at the building stage and it was ready in June this year as promised.
"I've been over to furnish it and it's looking great. I really can't wait to move.
"Until I have everything tied up in Scotland, I'll be going there for holidays. But I can't wait for the day it becomes my proper home."
Linda reckons she'll be ready to move by next spring or summer. In the meantime, she has sold her laundry business in Cardonald, Glasgow, and she's selling her property in Scotland.
As well as putting her main house in Moscow, Ayrshire, up for sale, she has two rental flats in Glasgow. She plans to sell one and keep the other one to use as a base when she comes back to Scotland.
Linda hooked up with Scottishbased firm Properties Spain when she started house-hunting.
Owners Harry and Margaret Woolfries, previously featured in Right at Home, moved full-time to Spain a few years ago. Linda found the advice they gave based on personal experience to be invaluable.
She said: "It's always good to speak to people who've been in the same boat as you.
"Harry and Margaret knew exactly where I was coming from and what I was looking for.
"I wanted something bigger than just an apartment because it was going to be my main home.
"I've ended up with a great detached house in a fantastic little development.
"There are only 16 properties and we share a pool - the back door of each house opens on to the pool so it's lovely. The living accommodation is a good size.
"I have a lovely side garden and there's a massive terrace which opens off two of the bedrooms. It's exactly what I was looking for."
Linda paid 252,000 euros (pounds 199,000) for her house, putting down half the cost from savings and taking out a mortgage for the balance.
She plans to use the money from the sale of her business in Scotland to start a new laundry business in Spain.
led light tubesHer partner Dave Windsor, 46, an electrician, is making the move with her and is hoping to find work in Spain too.
Linda, who has three grown-up children, said: "We're excited about it and, now the house
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