You know you've...

...got issues, when you're greeted by two solicitors!

That's what happened to us yesterday. We had an appointment to talk over our impending predicament, and were greeted by two solicitors.

Best case scenario...we move on the 16th and no hassle, the worst...we will be homeless on the 16th...and no way of getting any money back off her. And we probably won't know until the day...

Ah well...best foot forward...as they say...the family are coming today to cook me dinner, and have a last gathering at this house. Have a good weekend...it's only my birthday...and it's a house move, not worse...

A busy weekend...another visit to Norfolk, and another tour around the outsides of houses. I thought I'd finished doing that last September...or I hoped I had!

We also had a party to go to. Our youngest son's girlfriends birthday. Gets complicated like that...but, she had a significant birthday...two bands played, one of which I've known since some of them were about ten...now that makes me feel kind of old! They were both very good, but I must show bias here, and say the local guys were better... They have produced their own CD...which I will get, and let you know the final verdict. Now the couple are off on the Eurostar to Paris for a few days...unfortunately no room in their suitcases for me!!

Then yesterday...which was the day of the significant birthday, was also our eldest son's same significant date, being born on the same day. That was more a family gathering...more food than you could wish for, and great fun too....their boys decided on the music, and we were bombarded from the eighties!

So happy birthday to both of them....I had a great weekend, I think they both did.

A week...

...in time.

It's been a bit of a busy week, but yet again not quite as planned. We made a quick visit to Norfolk on Monday morning to check a wayleaves issue, but it's as we thought, and not important...then across country to Coventry. Yes, we did go...and did see some doing the conga...whilst a few Coventry fans tried to get us to raise to the bait of taunting...but, after making fun of ourselves...there's nothing left for them to do, now is there?! And it was all fairly good natured anyway... We were home inside two hours...

We've heard that things with the move are getting along, though why the solicitor had to ask a question when he'd already been advised of the answer...I guess that's what you're paying extra for! Everything for us personally is now in place...we just await for everyone else...

Yesterday I spent the day with my sister, and nephew...he's eighteen tomorrow...Happy Birthday to you! We had a lovely lunch...did some young man shopping, and then some for his Mum...I was sooo good...and didn't succumb, but have several items stored away in the memory banks for after the move. It was also my wedding anniversay...and I won't say who forgot! Just I hadn't...but...you love someone everyday, not just on that one, now don't you!?

So, tomorrow is Blackpool at home...nope, not the beach in the back garden, but the next match...we will probably be relegated, not because we WILL lose, but other results will make it final. I am not going to voice my opinions...I have them, and they differ to others...but, why inflict them on you!

Now I know...

...my sister won't get here before we meet today. I wanted to show these...



I found them here... Betsy3

A simple but beautifully simple design, I couldn't resist. I've kept the white ones, and am giving the red ones as part of her birthday present.

Gosh...

...a new day, a new week, and a new month...(okay yesterday was the 1st...but you get my drift!)

Where did those two months go!?! And in just three weeks it's Spring...and my sisters birthday...and in four weeks we get lighter evenings. I can feel a smile trying to erupt! ;)

Anyway...the last day of February saw my team draw away to Swansea. A passing result, but unfortunately those around us did themselves more good, and won...so we're further adrift. Listening to the commentary we did battle after going behind, and were unlucky not to score a second, but that's how it goes when you have to rely on others, and we do now need to do that. We have to win, but that's not enough...we need those around us to lose. Tomorrow evening I'll be at the Valley to see if we can beat Doncaster...make a little more luck for ourselves. It's passing strange that we're trying to move to Norfolk and the team directly above Charlton in the league, with the potential of going down with us is Norwich...they lost at the weekend too.

Our perennial viewers came back on Saturday. I was nice! This morning I have some calls to make, and beads to make...and the post office to visit, some beads off to Georgia...oh, and Saturday I had some beads go to Hawaii...that was a first. :)

800 years...

...and counting!

The closest city to home is Cambridge, and this year the university celebrates it's 800th birthday. Founded when students were thrown out of Oxford in 1209. Seventy five years later in 1284, the first college, Peterhouse, was founded by the Bishop of Ely, for the safety and peace of his monks. It's still there. It's newest college is Robinson, founded in 1979, and though architecturally modern, still beautiful for that. It seems strange that so many things are touched by the university, without people realising. Felixstowe port, is on ground owned by Trinity, a little restaurant in Kings Lynn is in the vaults which once held wine owned by Caius. Along with the graduates who passed through it's collective portals. As diverse as Charles Darwin, William Wordsworth, Peter Cook and Sacha Baron Cohen

Tonight a light show starts as part of the celebrations, some of the artwork coming from Quentin Blake...who read English at Downing College, and a Ringing in the Year.

For anyone interested here are some of the links...

800 Year Celebrations
Cambridge Colleges
Events

On a personal note...I had a friend who gained a place at one of the colleges, but just before she was supposed to leave, her mother became very ill...so she stayed at home to nurse her. After her mother regained her health, she'd decided to become a nurse. She lived in South Wales, and this was the mid 1930's. So, she came to London and began her nursing studies at the Mile End Hospital...she met someone and they married, but she continued her nursing through the Blitz and the war...and anyone who knows that part of history knows how tough that was.

I didn't meet her until she was in her seventies, I'm sorry about that...she was one of the nicest, interesting and most intelligent people I've ever met. Totally selfishly, I'm kind of glad she didn't get to Cambridge...I wouldn't have met her then, and shared a brilliant friendship. Sometime I might tell some of her stories...like how she knew Cliff Richard...when he was Henry Webb...and knew Lord Steptoe when he was a boy.

And if you want a great day of shopping, or a few days visiting...it has enough to keep you occupied, from small independent boutique style shops to large retailers. Museums...art galleries...restaurants...in all, it's a beautiful city...just be cyclists aware! ;)

2009...

...celebrations.

During this year we have several special dates. My eldest grandson is ten on Sunday, my daughter in law is thirty a week later, a nephew is eighteen in April, my eldest son, and youngest son's partner are thirty on the same day in June(so the youngest is teasing them all!) and my Mum is eighty in November. To top that, my sister is fifty next year...and is already in panic mode!

We do miss any special wedding anniversaries, and I've not got any significant birthdays this year...yay!!

Of course, then we go into 2010, and it starts again!

My call...

...came on Monday. It seems my viewer decided they liked our house, couldn't say anything against it, location, house was all okay, but they'd decided it didn't have "faerie dust".

So what do you do? Do you do as is supposedly right, and take some of the personal accoutrements out, so they can "see" the house, or leave those touches in? Of course, I'm making the leap that's what they meant, that for them it didn't have that little extra...but, they're buying a house...not my faerie dust, they need to discover their own, their magic...their touch of genius, that makes a house their home. I hope somewhere they find their dust for their daughters...

Tuesday, my car had to go to the garage for an "adjustment", something minor could fail and could I bring it in. Duly it was delivered and I took the time to walk into the nearest town, Bishop's Stortford, something I don't do, as it's ten miles from my home. I looked at all the Christmas decorations filling shelves of the beautiful home shops the town has, and imagined where they'd go, but at present I feel as though I'm in limbo, not quite here or there...oh, I know I'll be here for Christmas now, but I want to be making another house my home...Don't get me wrong, I do love my present home...but, it's run its course, and having decided to move, I've been letting go emotionally to it, and am now set ready to go. When I left work, they made me a gift of some book tokens, and on visiting the local chain store, I found a beautifully illustrated and written childrens book, but I'd forgotten my tokens...I'll have to go back...I'd also forgotten to put my little notebook in my bag, so now I have no idea who the books author and illustrator is...but, I know exactly where on the shelf the copies were... And I really must walk around my village more...I used to...but, it's changed.

Wednesday...yesterday, it was Mum's birthday, and I went to visit. She lives on the edge of London, and Kent. A borough which is neither one thing or the other, and during the summer I'd told her of a Lavender Farm, and their open day, which my sister took her too, as I was in Northumberland. As I'd never been, we decided to go...I was a little disappointed, but did buy some Lavender shortbread...my, but they're strong! We found a local hostelry for lunch...and if you're ever in Ightham, then I can recommend the food and service in the George and Dragon. Both are excellent. While out, I had a call from our agents, they'd got someone who'd been let down with their purchase at the last moment, and were exchanging on their sale next week. They were moving from Sussex, to be closer to their daughter who had moved into town...Saffron Walden. They had seen our details and wanted very much to view...was I home that afternoon or Thursday morning. Being seventy odd miles from home, I said this morning would be best. Ten minutes later I had another call...the prospective viewer had looked on a map and we're not in the right place, being eight miles from "town". Now please work that out before I get all excited....my emotions can't take this up and down... I keep telling myself it's only a house move, and not a death or worse...but, as I've said...it's limbo... Oh! And I've picked the paint out to renew the kitchen...you do have to keep living.

Today...this morning...I'm mixing the Christmas puds...best go!!

Enjoy your days...