Wow!! What a time...

...It was crazy moving, the removal people arrived Thursday to pack, and supposedly half load the lorry..except the starter motor had gone on our particular lorry...so they packed, and then had to finish packing and load Friday, the day of the move, with me cleaning each room as they vanished from it with the last box. Hectic wasn't in it!! The solicitor side of all went through fine, and I came up to get the key at about 3:00, meeting everyone else back at the house...our new home. The removers left at just after 6:00....having worked their socks off for two days. Our lady of Norfolk had left bits everywhere...towels, tablets...pictures, anyway, that's all packed up now, and we're mostly done. The bedrooms are sorted, so's the kitchen(no AGA and so small....lol), and the main sitting room, the one with the beams...I'll take a photo and show...at some stage...the other sitting room is home to what's left of the boxes, which is fine as we've got to get a sofa bed and bits for there...and everything needs decorating! It'll get sorted slowly...along with some new window frames and a moving kitchen...

I did have an interesting conversation with her solicitor when I collected the key....she only wanted to back out that last Monday! She visited her solicitor in floods of tears saying she didn't want to do it, it was a mistake...she was told a few home truths, like how much it would cost her...and no judge would find in her favour, as she'd had over six months to change her mind, and six weeks since exchange, he'd tell her to move anyway. I also found out she had the house on the market for four years on and off, others wanted it, but then she'd back out....I guess it was just waiting for me...and my bloody mindedness!

So....I'm back!!! Yup...definitely here! That's another of this moves stories! How many twists can there be, I hear you say!? Well, we did have a land-line for the first weekend, and then dear old BT cut us off! It took them ten days to re-establish the line...with a new number, and then our provider made us wait until Monday to take our order...and today is the first day back...in fact about half an hour ago is our first time back! Oh and if you know Norfolk, you know it hasn't got the greatest mobile reception in the world...so all the time BT are leaving messages on my phone, I'm running up to the end of the village to listen to them...

Oh, and the chimney's swept...so a log fire tonight. I don't care if it's not cold enough!!

Now all I've got to do is catch up with everyone and everything....think I might have a bit of reading to do!

Confirmation...

....came in the form of a telephone call from our solicitor. Our lady of Norfolk is moving on Friday! She has signed the last of her papers, paid some fees she needed to...and friends and neighbours are helping her pack. So it seems we will have a home on Friday...

I'll be off to Fakenham to collect the key from her solicitor, whilst hubby waits for the removal lorry to appear...

We just need to take our key to our agents today, and then....our sons are coming to say goodbye to the house tomorrow evening. It's not where they were born, but they were twelve and ten when we moved here, it's where they met all the friends they have now, and if we hadn't moved here...I wouldn't have the two beautiful women in their lives...nor my two amazing grandsons.

My team play Huddersfield on Saturday, and after a bit of a stagnant time recently, three points gained would be good. It would take us top...as Leeds don't play until Monday, but will have two games in hand. We need to keep those nipping at our heels just there, behind us...so no giving free or easy points away...our support needs to be strong, the team need to know the supporters are with them, not picking holes in what's going on on the pitch...or decisions made. The game agains the Gills...Gillingham, will be interesting as there's no love lost...and we would like their front man to call our own, and they'd like one of ours. Unfortunately for different valuations...and they don't really want to lose theirs...though, if we're still strong at the January transfer window, that might swing the balance for the player...we'll see, we still have October, November and December to negotiate first...

Well, the computer gets dismantled tomorrow morning and with no access for awhile, I'll say adieu...wish everyone happiness, a lovely weekend...and may you all give me lots of reading to catch up with.

Take care
Love Su xx

PS...and the plans for Sunday...a walk on the beach.

She came...

...she measured, and we had tea...

Our buyer came on Friday with her tape, having ordered some furniture to be delivered next week (it fits). We went over where the stopcock is, and how to light the Aga (sob)...how the boiler timer works, and...to show her where the heating thermostat is (their surveyor told them we didn't have one). She's so excited, having been in rented accommodation for two and a half years, when they originally thought it'd be for six months...

But, that visit made it all very real. I think because it's been so long in coming and we'd had so many issues and setbacks, it had become just something that was in the future. Well, that future is this Friday...

Oh boy!!!

You know...

...when you titivate...just do what's necessary and not the whole. With the removal men coming on Thursday to pack most of the house into their lorry, we have a big clean planned for that evening, so my buyer is visiting today!

I could've said no...but that seemed a little churlish, so...anyone know where I left the vacuum!?

A plethera...

...of phone calls yesterday, had us accused of having had the lady in Norfolk's phone cut off!

Several calls later...dear BT agreed we couldn't have done, as we don't own the number...and heaven forfend they got things wrong.

It seems they have our ownership of the line starting the 16th(as advised by us)...and we will have a completely new number(as she's taking the old with her), so no hint of ownership of the old. They are saying it had to come from Norfolk...they wouldn't have done anything on the say so of someone not listed as owning the number, and would've written warning of the impending cancellation. Who knows what to believe!

In amongst these conversations we have been given some slightly (still to be confirmed) good news though. It seems our lady of Norfolk is now looking forward to moving on the right date...having been advised how much it would cost her not to.

Hopefully by next weeks Friday evening we'll know, and be happily emptying boxes...though my husband tells me we are eating out!

The continuing...

...saga....

A call from our solicitor, confirmed some thoughts. The guy at the top of the chain won't change...which we expected as he'd wanted the move in August, and had been quite verbal about things at the beginning, by all accounts, and...our lady is on holiday, travelling down a canal in France. She's due home later this week...after a fortnight away.

Strange how a fortnight rings a bell somehow!

That leaves us with neither of us agreeing to the delay, and not knowing how she'll react until she gets back.

My team are off to Colchester tonight, and again I won't be going to cheer them on...I'd love to be, but time is slipping by. It's a tough week for them, meeting Leeds(current league leaders) at Elland Road on Saturday...that game will be tense. Tonight I'll be watching the England v New Zealand cricket match...see if we can make it four in a row, with the Charlton commentary hooked into the ear-phones!

Yesterday I had a wonderful time...wandering around the V and A...one of my favourite museums, in and out all the fashions, and remembering some of them! Standing in awe at the delicacy and intense colour of the needlework, even after hundreds of years. One carpet, laid out, is over a thousand years old! It leaves you gasping... There were some items I could easily have sneaked out...except they're very securely behind glass... And if the textiles left me gasping, so did the ingenuity of some locks...secure locks, with little counting dials telling the owner if they'd been opened without his knowledge...now those sound useful, to me!

My visit was completed with a terrific meal in a Mexican restaurant...relaxed and fun...simple but good...and (I am told)...daiquiris to die for!

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...

Why should...

...I be surprised! We have another chapter to our extended house purchase saga. It's getting nearly as long as one of the northman sagas, and if it continues, it might have the added addition of blood too!

Now, we have been asked if we'll push back our move for two weeks. The lady from the house we're buying, or trying to...had a minor operation six weeks ago, and now appears (after exchanging over three weeks ago), to be requiring more time! My concern is how the people she's buying from will react, they didn't like the late date in October anyway, and wanted September! And our buyers started to let people know immediately on exchange, as some letters we've received warning of our accounts being closed already show. We started last week...the removal men are booked...etc.

We see our solicitor Friday to "chat" it through...

One...

...wardrobe down and the rest to follow.

All things became a reality this morning, as one piece of furniture was taken away. With no space for wardrobes in our new house, we had to find homes for the two we have, and this morning our youngest son came and collected the smaller one...hopefully he'll find a temporary home for the larger one...he has five weeks!

It feels strange to see items of furniture disappearing...though, I better get used to it! The house in Norfolk has completely different room space to our present one.

And brilliant Charlton news, Jonjo Shelvey has signed an extension to his contract. It keeps him at the Valley until 2012, at least. This is a terrific fillip before the game in...less than an hour, against Brentford...as rumours abounded during the summer of his imminent departure.

Phew...

...whatta day!! I'm exhausted....

But, we've EXCHANGED!!! It nearly didn't happen, as our Norfolk lady came back from her weekend away having second thoughts...again, but...we exchanged contracts late this morning. Now, we've just got to get through the next six weeks, and then we'll be in Norfolk, with all the excitement of sorting out a new home.

I see Charlton made some signings today too...an experienced forward in Leon McKenzie, a young winger Luke Holden...from Rhyl, on loan at present with a view to signing permanently in January, and an old face at the Valley...defender Sam Sodje, a freebie after Reading released him last season. Two went out on loan too...with Stuart Fleetwood returning to Exeter on a years loan and Moots going to Motherwell for six months. It's great to see those players being mentioned in papers as having "followers", are staying with us...for that I say thanks, and long may we continue together.

And the beads...all cleaned and sparkling...

See...

...I just knew I shouldn't have mentioned our house move!

Having expected to exchange contracts this last week, what does our lady in Norfolk do? She vanishes...having left her solicitor a phone message over Thursday night, saying she's gone away for the weekend and will be back Tuesday to exchange! Her words. She knew everyone had it all set for Friday, after the messing about on Thursday, but...no, she couldn't tell or mention it then, she just went. If it doesn't happen Tuesday...that's it, the top pulls out...and no one moves. I won't tell you my reaction...

I noticed this morning that Wade Small, who Charlton had signed on a non-contract basis, has signed for Chesterfield on a years contract. We play against Tranmere Rovers this afternoon with an unchanged side.

My oh my...

...maybe my house sale and move is mirroring Charlton's takeover saga! Though I do think ours has been in negotiations longer!

Needless to say...this week's been as convoluted as all the others, with the top and bottom of our little chain arguing over a difference of eleven days! The top wanted to move on the 7th October...the bottom(our buyers)...wouldn't budge from the 18th...but that's a Sunday. Having suggested the 16th, which our solicitor thought a good idea, I finally got the phone call at 5:10 last night...everyone had agreed that date. Too late for the money to transfer...now I'm just waiting for the second confirmation call, saying we're all done and dusted....and we have exchange!

I tell you...after nearly twelve months from the first viewing and offer on the house we're buying...I can't believe we're within touching distance of the last hurdle...we won't cross the tape until October! Chickens and counting come to mind!

I see from other Charlton blogs, there's some anticipation that Charlton may have a done deal soon too...and not before time either! One of their youngsters Yado Mambo has been allowed to join Welling United on a work experience basis, which means he can still play for Charlton reserves...it's a good idea for him, with a lack of experience at his tender age...this will only help. But, by allowing it...we have no proper cover for central defence, we only have the ability to resuffle who (Youga and Semedo) we have already playing, and cover their regular positions! Maybe this means Parkinson will have the money to sign cover...

Aiming for...

...another win, our fourth consecutive one. We find ourselves entertaining Walsall this afternoon. We will be one player light, as Andy Gray has (at last) landed his transfer to Barnsley. The young man has had an unsettled stay at the Valley, when his wife became seriously ill, and he then had a pelvic injury. He is now heading back to where his heart and family are...north. I hope he does well...as although things didn't work out with his venture south, and we didn't see the best of him, there were things conspiring against that. He has signed initially on loan, with the permanent deal being signed next week.

Several years ago...more than I care to remember, I started writing out my family tree. At that time, before the days of the internet and television programmes about the hows, I just asked questions of those members of family that were closest. It really only consisted of family members of memory. Now, with access to numerous websites and books...family history societies, etc, you can dig backwards for several hundred years with relative success. About three or four years ago I signed up to one of these websites, and started piecing my tree together. With a maiden name of Smith...I have constraints. Anyway, my tree now consists of over a thousand names, as I've gradually widened the search with cousins families. Along side of my tree, I started my husbands...his tree hasn't too many of the more common names, but has other complications. One of which gave me, with my sister, a visit to the London Metropolitan Archives yesterday, and although I found the archived book/register...it didn't provide the answer I hoped. So now I have to visit the London Records Office and trawl through their records for 1860/61. We were also trying to check for one of our Mum's ancesters, who was a freeman of the City...we couldn't find that, but will return to the search armed with more information.

My husband works just down the road from the Archives, and meeting for lunch we went to The Peasant in Clerkenwell, and had a very nice lunch of roast cod... We can recommend it, it's away from the main areas of the City, and a busy, yet peaceful eatery. We walked back down towards the Clerkenwell Road, there are a few little shops, and as a lady who can't resist a "few little shops", I dragged my sister into one, you know the type...those little gift type shops, the type which through just at the end of the road my husband works, he doesn't know exists! In there...sweetness that she is, my sister bought me an early birthday pressie. A bracelet of lime seed beads, strands and strands of them...and I love it! My family are all reluctant to buy me jewellery items, because I make...but, who can't resist a gift. It's simple but beautiful. Thank you so much...I do love it!

We continued on our way, to complete our day's research in visiting the area in which our great grandfather was born...St Bartholomew the Great, at Smithfield (see photos below)...and then walking through to the Museum of London(under refurbishment). It's a great place to visit, though better when it's all open, which will be 2010. It's the museum which houses the Lord Mayors golden coach...has a whole section on the great fire of London.

Whilst walking to the museum, I had a phone call from Norfolk. It seems that all is now speeding along and we're seeing our solicitor this week. After all this delay, the people who our Norfolk lady is buying from are pushing, and wants things completed and all of us moved early October...we should get our answers this week...hence the visit to the solicitor. If she'd filled in forms months ago, we'd have been able to sign contracts a couple of weeks ago, and there'd be none of this pushing or panic from her. Maybe now we'll get to sign something relevant! And those little pink flying things might actually land...

Smithfield Market entrance

Archway to St Bartholomew's the Great

The old and the new. Part of the old priory.

Entrance to St Bartholomew's the Great - Smithfield.

I think...

...I want to hit my head on a brick wall, or rather...I don't want to, but that's how it's feeling!

The paperwork duly arrived with a later than normal post this morning(always the same when you're waiting), and eagerly I opened the envelope to discover the completed forms within.

Okay, read the covering letter, and checked the contents...that's the first thing that didn't tie up, some copy letters were missing! *sigh* Then, skating through the different forms...the first made sense...the second made some sense...the third, which rooms were which?! Dining room? What dining room? There isn't one! Anyway, whichever dining room is being talked about, the fitted carpet is seemingly going...which is fine, if we know what we're talking about...and the same with some of the curtains. Of course, all these forms weren't signed either. Now, these have gone through the hands of two sets of solicitors, and I find they're not signed! Though ours did mention he still hadn't got the answer to two questions asked at the end of April, but her solicitors have not been able to get the answers either. I contacted her estate agent, and they're now on the case. Frog-marching was mentioned!

A condition of her purchase is she acts and signs quickly...yeah, right!

I'm now going to drown myself with Ben and Jerry...

Keep your...

...fingers crossed, we know some post is coming from our solicitors, and we know some post arrived at theirs from Norfolk on Friday. So, you never know...we might just be a step closer, but then....we might not!

We might have...

...light at the end of this tunnel. I'm not talking about the closure of one of the Dartford bores today, but the fact that it seems our solicitor has received some paperwork at last from Norfolk, regarding our house purchase. It's only taken since the beginning of April, when the standard questions were sent north.

Now it all rests on how fast three sets of solicitors can work. The theory is we would be moving in October...now, we've just got to get that into practice.

On another front, it seems things at Charlton have been moving...the players swapping squad numbers, with the reallocation of some, and the disappearance of others. Plus, Nicky Bailey has been made captain...that tends to indicate he'll be sticking around for a while, despite some fans pessimism over his imminent departure, all summer. Who knows, he might change his mind...but, I'll keep the faith...as I have so far this close season.

A further light has been muttered in the SLP, with a further report regarding the takeover of Charlton...announcement next week, if they're right.

Oh boy!!

...please someone tell me we've come through that!

Where do I start? We went to look at a little house locally on Friday...as we just couldn't find anything else in Norfolk. Then went back on Saturday morning, decided to make an offer and then went to tell our agents...at which time we were told by them that they'd been in contact with the Norfolk agent and the lady there had found a house and made an offer. They didn't want to excite us and then have us disappointed again, so no one bothered to tell us. Later that afternoon we had a call from the new agents, if we raised our price slightly it'd be accepted...we did, as it was still below their asking price.

Today...I can't believe today!! I phoned Norfolk to tell the agent there, we were withdrawing our offer. I was then told their vendor had her offer on the table, and our situation had been explained, and she wasn't going to have the house surveyed and it was empty. I said I doubted it'd make a difference, that we were at the end of our tether....forty five minutes later we got another call, her offer was accepted, and she'd sign inside two weeks...we asked for time to think over what was being said... We talked over it, round it, through it...all the different scenarios, all the money differences...and came to the conclusion we'd kick ourselves if we didn't go to Norfolk...we can always come back, we'd never be able to afford to go back up in size of house...we can come down. So phone calls to Norfolk first...yes, we were back(he was off to see the vendor this afternoon to help her complete our documentation and then take it to her solicitor for her), then our agents to explain...our buyers go on holiday tomorrow for a week....then the other agent to say sorry(I hated doing that)...our solicitors to tell them... Then all the family to explain we were back to Norfolk...

Anyway, all that and not a strong drink in sight...other than my normal strength tea...standing spoon strength!

A good thing...I did pick up my new glasses this morning. Black and pink for normal wear, and black and pink with a hint of roses on the arms for sunglasses...I know, a lot of black and pink there! But, they're better in the flesh than they sound, I promise.

Been a bit...

...busy this week. I haven't even downloaded my photos from our break...so they are still to come.

This morning it's being reported that Alan Pardew, my teams old boss, is now the new manager of Southampton. We don't have to wait long before his return to the Valley, as we play them on 12 September...that should be interesting. Will it be the battle of the minus ten pointers? Now having played their "fitness" games, things should get more interesting...with the run in to the beginning of the season. And no I still haven't got a season ticket...it's a case of not knowing where I am, rather than not wanting to watch third tier football (I've done that before).

We had a lovely two days in East Sussex, and the bed and breakfast we stayed in was comfortable and friendly. It's Ranters Rest in Udimore, between Rye and Hastings, and not far from Winchelsea. The views from the bedrooms are beautiful, the rooms are comfortable, and the owners very friendly...and breakfast! Oh my! Cereals, juices, fresh fruit (out the garden), yoghurt, full English, scrambled egg and salmon...or any combination...and hot, homemade muffins... You were pleasantly rounded by the end! I do recommend the stay... There's a digital radio for those who need their fix, and tea and coffee in each room, of which there are two. A pub within reasonable distance, and we can recommend the food at The Plough, and several restaurants in Rye...we tried The Monastry Restaurant, and again...recommended. A proper post about Great Dixter House and Garden will follow, once I have those photos to hand.

Speaking about pubs and food, anyone within striking distance of Ightham in Kent, should try the George and Dragon...the food's great, the staff terrific...the atmosphere relaxed.

I went back to Norfolk on Wednesday, as it seems our lady hasn't seen anything she likes yet...and everyone is despairing of her ever finding anything! I actually went to look at another house, which was in a beautiful location, and very pretty...but there is a but...for the price, a no...all the windows needed replacing, as did the dormer window fascias...they and the windows had holes through, a working, and workable kitchen...a new shower (it had black mould, was dripping and made the whole house smell) and bathroom...the central heating replaced, and a new oil tank. It wasn't that large either, but that could've been dealt with, but everything? It'll make someone a nice little house, but not us. So, we're still here...still not moved, and no idea if or when...and still scanning the property pages, but hoping our lady will find something to excite her. She's impervious and totally oblivious to anyone else in this...

Anyway, we're boy sitting this weekend, as it's our son and daughter in laws anniversary today, and they're having a night out tomorrow...now what to do with those lads!?

Another week...

...another call.

The expected call came eventually on Thursday evening. Our buyers are getting twitchy, which you can hardly blame them for...we're getting twitchy! They're renting and have told their landlord they've found a house and he's finding people to take over. One went yesterday. By all accounts they've both been in the agent's office, and on the phone to them this week. So I made the call to Norfolk first...as I know our agent was going to anyway, to let them know.

I don't think anyone knows if our seller is going to move...she's had her house on the market for two years, was close to completion eighteen months ago and they walked away, meaning she lost the cottage she initially wanted. Now, she won't sign anything...changed her mind (after eleven weeks) about the last cottage she offered on, and has also, seemingly, changed her mind about moving in with her partner...

This leaves us where? Getting the Norfolk agent to talk to her about the realities of the situation and hoping she is serious about things., or looking for somewhere else...and starting again. We've been offered on her property since last September, she didn't accept until late March, until she found something. You would think that somewhere in all that time, she'd have known if she didn't want to sell...wouldn't you?

We're off to Norfolk today...house looking. It's not something I want to do, but we can't rely on a yes answer this week, so if we're serious about moving then...needs must... I still want the cottage we're offering on, it's unique...has more living space than sleeping space...a good sized garden, with room for that to develop(she doesn't like flowers)...it's not overlooked, but has neighbours(not just the churchyard opposite)...and is pretty.

Anyway, we want to be settled, know where we are...we've already been through losing a house, exactly two years ago, when my husband was on the high seas, on his way to Norway...then our buyers pulled out. We did have a break from trying to sell between then and now, but life appears in a limbo state...you keep things tidy, decorate what needs, but you don't do...it's a strange existence.

And this last week...is also the fourth anniversary of my Dad dying suddenly. As old as I am, I miss his hugs.

Having stopped...

...thought, slept, talked and thought more about it...I think we've come to the conclusion that...

a - we won't be bullied by our agents (who do they think is paying their bill and which banana boat do they think we sailed in on?)

b - we do want the house in Norfolk, but we won't hassle her.

What's the point of upsetting her...let her make her own decisions without anyone beating on her door. The only thing is, if she changes her mind about selling too...we shall see...