Bitch
The fucking time-wasting, untrustworthy, nit-picking, indecisive, psycho bitch has offered on another property that has just come to market. Fucking bitch.
We now have to wait to see whether her -- low -- offer is accepted. If so, we'll be dropped like a hot potato, and Vic will go knocking on her door and kill her. If not, we might be still on.
[2 min later update]
I've just told Vic and I quote "I'm going to go round and firebomb her house".
Followed by tears.
Fucking bitch.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
The Doomsday Clock Tick Tick Tocks
The dread hands of human bone click silently on towards the midnight hour.
We're expecting a call any minute from our estate agents telling us whether or not we have lost our [house] buyer. On Friday she phoned up Lightfoots for "an update" -- things are progressing, we're addressing all your queries and £4,000 offer reduction* -- and finished the call by telling our agent that she would like to view some other houses. Probably a crude attempt to hurry things along and put some pressure on the chain. Oops. Big mistake lady, as by asking to view other properties you give our agent no option other than to tell us to put our house back on the market -- it has to work both ways our agent said (and he's right).
"Fine" was her response.
* Her offer was reduced in light of her survey that showed an area of damp in the hallway, and her concerns at the lack of guarantees on the damp-proof course. £4,000? When a new DPC costs £400 including the VAT?
"Why don't you go fuck yourself." is what I'd like to tell her. But instead we've offered a generous £1,000 discount off the original purchase price (which was too low anyway), with the tagline that it is a take-it or leave-it counter-offer.
Now we await her response. She's been thinking about it overnight. I guess she might make the call over lunch time.
The doomsday clock is ticking.
Fingers crossed it doesn't chime.
The dread hands of human bone click silently on towards the midnight hour.
We're expecting a call any minute from our estate agents telling us whether or not we have lost our [house] buyer. On Friday she phoned up Lightfoots for "an update" -- things are progressing, we're addressing all your queries and £4,000 offer reduction* -- and finished the call by telling our agent that she would like to view some other houses. Probably a crude attempt to hurry things along and put some pressure on the chain. Oops. Big mistake lady, as by asking to view other properties you give our agent no option other than to tell us to put our house back on the market -- it has to work both ways our agent said (and he's right).
"Fine" was her response.
* Her offer was reduced in light of her survey that showed an area of damp in the hallway, and her concerns at the lack of guarantees on the damp-proof course. £4,000? When a new DPC costs £400 including the VAT?
"Why don't you go fuck yourself." is what I'd like to tell her. But instead we've offered a generous £1,000 discount off the original purchase price (which was too low anyway), with the tagline that it is a take-it or leave-it counter-offer.
Now we await her response. She's been thinking about it overnight. I guess she might make the call over lunch time.
The doomsday clock is ticking.
Fingers crossed it doesn't chime.
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Waterlogged Pitch
Carlisle United's football ground is under 4ft of water. Irthington is on higher ground and far enough away from the River Eden to have escaped with just a soaking and a storm-battering. However, Ann and David are without power, heating or much food. David is planning to BBQ random meat out of their defrosting freezer indoors tonight -- he can't do it outdoors as the village is completely pitch-black. You might use the words "flood disaster zone" in normal circumstances.
The Daily Mail blames global warming.
When asked why she couldn't use her anti-terrorism stash of consumables and food-stuffs that she had been going on about for six months (at the same time telling us that we need one), Ann revealed that it has absolutely nothing in it. At least nothing that doesn't have to be cooked in the oven / on the hob. In fact their emergency provisions seem to consist of a slab of beers and a bottle of Chilean Chardonnay.
Carlisle United's football ground is under 4ft of water. Irthington is on higher ground and far enough away from the River Eden to have escaped with just a soaking and a storm-battering. However, Ann and David are without power, heating or much food. David is planning to BBQ random meat out of their defrosting freezer indoors tonight -- he can't do it outdoors as the village is completely pitch-black. You might use the words "flood disaster zone" in normal circumstances.
The Daily Mail blames global warming.
When asked why she couldn't use her anti-terrorism stash of consumables and food-stuffs that she had been going on about for six months (at the same time telling us that we need one), Ann revealed that it has absolutely nothing in it. At least nothing that doesn't have to be cooked in the oven / on the hob. In fact their emergency provisions seem to consist of a slab of beers and a bottle of Chilean Chardonnay.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
The Year of the Nobby
Welcome to 2005 people. I didn't post anything over the holiday period because we didn't do anything of interest over the holiday period. Which was great. India loved her plastic pirate ship -- she has already perfected a decent pirate "Ahaar!" -- and I got my classic King Kong movie poster*, so we were all happy.
* King Kong is coming out of the jungle, surrounded by scantily-clad, screaming ladies. He is currently being framed up at Bob's gallery, ready for his hanging in our new Art Deco style bathroom, when we eventually move**. It'll scare the hebe-gebe's out of India.
** Our buyer is pissing us around again. She's worried about the lack of damp-proof course guarantees and has reduced her offer by £4,000. As I told our estate agent, she can shove that up her damp course. We've had an independent surveyor out yesterday to give us a realistic report and quote on it. I reckon £1,000 and we'll offer to split this 50-50 with her in the form of a £500 discount on the price. TBC on receipt of the report. Her messing is also pushing the exchange date back -- and she was the one who wanted to move asap too... Earliest moving date is probably going to be the 28th of January now.
Welcome to 2005 people. I didn't post anything over the holiday period because we didn't do anything of interest over the holiday period. Which was great. India loved her plastic pirate ship -- she has already perfected a decent pirate "Ahaar!" -- and I got my classic King Kong movie poster*, so we were all happy.
* King Kong is coming out of the jungle, surrounded by scantily-clad, screaming ladies. He is currently being framed up at Bob's gallery, ready for his hanging in our new Art Deco style bathroom, when we eventually move**. It'll scare the hebe-gebe's out of India.
** Our buyer is pissing us around again. She's worried about the lack of damp-proof course guarantees and has reduced her offer by £4,000. As I told our estate agent, she can shove that up her damp course. We've had an independent surveyor out yesterday to give us a realistic report and quote on it. I reckon £1,000 and we'll offer to split this 50-50 with her in the form of a £500 discount on the price. TBC on receipt of the report. Her messing is also pushing the exchange date back -- and she was the one who wanted to move asap too... Earliest moving date is probably going to be the 28th of January now.
Thursday, December 23, 2004
A Summary of Recent Life Changes:
1) I have cut my fizzy pop consumption down to one can a day for over 100 days now. I have therefore avoided almost 4 kilos of sugar. 4 kgs! No wonder I've lost weight.
2) I haven't worn a watch for four months. I am no longer ruled by time and don't get stressed when I'm running late. My time-keeping is actually better than it's ever been.
3) India is now longer a baby. She is a toddler.
4) The house move is progressing slowly, but is on course for the last week of January.
5) Last Christmas I had three grandparents, this year I have none.
Targets for Next Year:
1) New house.
2) New job, with a salary sufficient to pay the new mortgage.
3) Pass CIMA exams, if end of January's results are a disappointment.
4) Write a book -- this may well be the complete memoirs of my granddad.
5) Produce a brother/sister/tag-team wrestler for India.
Other Notes:
1) Friends seem to be producing babies all over the place.
2) We are starting to catch up with people we haven't seen in a while (due to the traumas of the last few months): Met Lazza and Cazza's Finlay and Sara and Stasher's Rory a fortnight ago. Saw Matt and Sam Jenkins -- who are pregnant -- for the first time in four (?) years. Saw Rachel and Robin's Daisy last night for the first time since April.
3) India hasn't pulled over the Christmas tree.
Best wishes to everyone for the holidays. Happy Christmas.
1) I have cut my fizzy pop consumption down to one can a day for over 100 days now. I have therefore avoided almost 4 kilos of sugar. 4 kgs! No wonder I've lost weight.
2) I haven't worn a watch for four months. I am no longer ruled by time and don't get stressed when I'm running late. My time-keeping is actually better than it's ever been.
3) India is now longer a baby. She is a toddler.
4) The house move is progressing slowly, but is on course for the last week of January.
5) Last Christmas I had three grandparents, this year I have none.
Targets for Next Year:
1) New house.
2) New job, with a salary sufficient to pay the new mortgage.
3) Pass CIMA exams, if end of January's results are a disappointment.
4) Write a book -- this may well be the complete memoirs of my granddad.
5) Produce a brother/sister/tag-team wrestler for India.
Other Notes:
1) Friends seem to be producing babies all over the place.
2) We are starting to catch up with people we haven't seen in a while (due to the traumas of the last few months): Met Lazza and Cazza's Finlay and Sara and Stasher's Rory a fortnight ago. Saw Matt and Sam Jenkins -- who are pregnant -- for the first time in four (?) years. Saw Rachel and Robin's Daisy last night for the first time since April.
3) India hasn't pulled over the Christmas tree.
Best wishes to everyone for the holidays. Happy Christmas.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Side Track
It took us ages to get into the city last night. It's nice to know that Americans have to suffer traffic queues like we do. By the time we got to Jen and Mike's it was 9:00. Boy Town was jammed and it took us 30 mins to park. We then discovered the restaurant had valet parking.
Yoshi's Cafe is Japanese-Western fusion. It's also a "proper" restaurant -- as are the prices. Jen and I had a grilled teriyaki salmon fillet on a bed of risotto cake and fresh asparagus. Rob and Mike went for the MEAT option.
Then we hit Side Track: wall-to-wall guys. Jen was the only lady in there for the first beer. The place was cool. Nothing freaky. Except for the total lack of ladies. Compare this to a gay village in the UK where there are plenty of straights out too. There weren't even any gay girls there! Only tough moment for me was the visit to the gents. Stood next to a MASSIVE black guy. I was worried for my cheeks. Then he started singing along to the Madonna video playing over the speakers in a Judy Garland / Wizard of Oz voice. Same thing with the big butch barman... a tiny squeaky voice.
By the time we checked the clock it was midnight. Back home for one. I was knackered anyhow, so when the alarm went off this morning I felt terrible.
Still don't feel right -- despite throwing up half my Berry Blast fruit smoothie mid-morning [oh yes]. My sinuses are congested too -- I guess from the smoke in the bar.
Last night tonight. It's going to be a quiet one.
It took us ages to get into the city last night. It's nice to know that Americans have to suffer traffic queues like we do. By the time we got to Jen and Mike's it was 9:00. Boy Town was jammed and it took us 30 mins to park. We then discovered the restaurant had valet parking.
Yoshi's Cafe is Japanese-Western fusion. It's also a "proper" restaurant -- as are the prices. Jen and I had a grilled teriyaki salmon fillet on a bed of risotto cake and fresh asparagus. Rob and Mike went for the MEAT option.
Then we hit Side Track: wall-to-wall guys. Jen was the only lady in there for the first beer. The place was cool. Nothing freaky. Except for the total lack of ladies. Compare this to a gay village in the UK where there are plenty of straights out too. There weren't even any gay girls there! Only tough moment for me was the visit to the gents. Stood next to a MASSIVE black guy. I was worried for my cheeks. Then he started singing along to the Madonna video playing over the speakers in a Judy Garland / Wizard of Oz voice. Same thing with the big butch barman... a tiny squeaky voice.
By the time we checked the clock it was midnight. Back home for one. I was knackered anyhow, so when the alarm went off this morning I felt terrible.
Still don't feel right -- despite throwing up half my Berry Blast fruit smoothie mid-morning [oh yes]. My sinuses are congested too -- I guess from the smoke in the bar.
Last night tonight. It's going to be a quiet one.
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Situation Update / Boy Town
1 inch of snow. Icy not soft.
Thai food from the Bangkok Cafe was excellent.
Exchanged sweater for India.
Naboo was destroyed by the Deathstar. The Force is with us!
Work has been better today (could it be any worse?). Got some things done and helped others to do the same. Chicken casaer salad for lunch was yummy. As were the Dunkin Donuts. A couple of the american ladies want me to stay here forever: they like my "easy going nature" and reckon I'd fit right in. [ooer]
Tonight Rob and I are going downtown into the city with Jen -- an asia colleague of Rob's who visited our house in the summer. We're going to "Boy Town". Look out fellas! Hopefully we'll have chance to do some lightning sightseeing and ride to the top of the Hancock Building [another Freudian?].
1 inch of snow. Icy not soft.
Thai food from the Bangkok Cafe was excellent.
Exchanged sweater for India.
Naboo was destroyed by the Deathstar. The Force is with us!
Work has been better today (could it be any worse?). Got some things done and helped others to do the same. Chicken casaer salad for lunch was yummy. As were the Dunkin Donuts. A couple of the american ladies want me to stay here forever: they like my "easy going nature" and reckon I'd fit right in. [ooer]
Tonight Rob and I are going downtown into the city with Jen -- an asia colleague of Rob's who visited our house in the summer. We're going to "Boy Town". Look out fellas! Hopefully we'll have chance to do some lightning sightseeing and ride to the top of the Hancock Building [another Freudian?].
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Having Fun?
Yesterday was completely unproductive: Everything that could go wrong with my laptop and the other IT systems did so. I got home stressed that my Transatlantic trip was turning into a nightmarish waste of time.
Today started the same, just cranked-up a notch. Things got even better at lunch time, when out-of-the-blue over our Chicago deep-pan pizza, Amy (the Finance Mgr here) announced that she is quitting at the end of next week due to "personal reasons".
I wish I'd taken a camera to capture the picture of her seven direct reports faces. Stunned. White. Ghostly. Jaws dropped.
Nobody said a thing.
Amy burst into tears and left the table. As the most remote person there, I followed -- I like Amy and hate seeing people upset -- she was OK, just needed a breather. When she got back to the table, it was really weird: Still nobody said a thing, they just got on with lunch as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Back at the office, I have an email from the UK, asking me to call my managers home. He asks if I'd like to stay on for another week in Chicago to help support the remaining Finance Team and soften the blow of Amy's sudden departure.
Hello Graeme, I have my grandfather's funeral on Monday!
So not only have I done f-all work so far, I'm now the go between agent for Amy and my Director back in the UK. Caught in the crossfire. Fantastic! Best thing is they'll probably offer me the job for the end of January. Too late folks -- we're buying a new house!
[Sigh]
Last night's food & entertainment was:
California Pizza Kitchen pizza (1x pepperoni, 1x pear and blue cheese)
2nd Qtr of Green Bay v St Louis
2 hours of Star Wars Battefront on the PS2.
Tonight's food and entertainment is:
Food unknown
Shopping
More Star Wars probably
Yesterday was completely unproductive: Everything that could go wrong with my laptop and the other IT systems did so. I got home stressed that my Transatlantic trip was turning into a nightmarish waste of time.
Today started the same, just cranked-up a notch. Things got even better at lunch time, when out-of-the-blue over our Chicago deep-pan pizza, Amy (the Finance Mgr here) announced that she is quitting at the end of next week due to "personal reasons".
I wish I'd taken a camera to capture the picture of her seven direct reports faces. Stunned. White. Ghostly. Jaws dropped.
Nobody said a thing.
Amy burst into tears and left the table. As the most remote person there, I followed -- I like Amy and hate seeing people upset -- she was OK, just needed a breather. When she got back to the table, it was really weird: Still nobody said a thing, they just got on with lunch as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Back at the office, I have an email from the UK, asking me to call my managers home. He asks if I'd like to stay on for another week in Chicago to help support the remaining Finance Team and soften the blow of Amy's sudden departure.
Hello Graeme, I have my grandfather's funeral on Monday!
So not only have I done f-all work so far, I'm now the go between agent for Amy and my Director back in the UK. Caught in the crossfire. Fantastic! Best thing is they'll probably offer me the job for the end of January. Too late folks -- we're buying a new house!
[Sigh]
Last night's food & entertainment was:
California Pizza Kitchen pizza (1x pepperoni, 1x pear and blue cheese)
2nd Qtr of Green Bay v St Louis
2 hours of Star Wars Battefront on the PS2.
Tonight's food and entertainment is:
Food unknown
Shopping
More Star Wars probably
Monday, November 29, 2004
Like Any Other Grey Monday Morning
After a great weekend, my work here has begun.
Or rather it hasn't -- it's taken all morning to get the IT systems running.
It's already clear that my week is not going to be easy. The sales database is screwed and nothing seems to be working as it should be. I didn't think I was jetlagged, but it's just approaching lunch time and I'm dizzy, flushed and headachy. And tired. I'm looking forward to my chicken casear pitta sandwich with onion rings side order...
The office is like all small manufacturing facilities around the globe. Grey. Dull. It even has the standard sweater-wearing scientists and techies. Open Univeristy 1970's stylee. They live.
It feels like any other Monday morning.
After a great weekend, my work here has begun.
Or rather it hasn't -- it's taken all morning to get the IT systems running.
It's already clear that my week is not going to be easy. The sales database is screwed and nothing seems to be working as it should be. I didn't think I was jetlagged, but it's just approaching lunch time and I'm dizzy, flushed and headachy. And tired. I'm looking forward to my chicken casear pitta sandwich with onion rings side order...
The office is like all small manufacturing facilities around the globe. Grey. Dull. It even has the standard sweater-wearing scientists and techies. Open Univeristy 1970's stylee. They live.
It feels like any other Monday morning.
Saturday, November 27, 2004
My Kind of Town
Hello from Chicago!
I arrived yesterday afternoon, after an uneventful eight hour flight, to be picked up by Rob in his Soccer Mom-bile. A light dusting of snow covered the ground -- an exciting sight as we came into land. Unfortunately we had rain overnight and all the snowmen have been washed away.
A glass of champagne and a couple of beers also washed my jetlag away. Last night we ordered pizza in and played some boardgames with Mark, Dave and Kate. An easy first night. The guys were a little surprised to see me still up at ten -- it was a 23 hour for me -- but whereas in the past I might have been a mess, India has trained me to survive on a lot less sleep than before.
In flight movies were:
The Bourne Supremacy -- pretty good.
Dodgeball -- really funny.
After a good night's sleep -- I only woke up once at six (just like home!) -- I cooked breakfast and we headed out to Gameworks for some video game acton and then a movie; National Treasure -- it's mediocre and anti-British (as usual these days with Hollywood).
Tonight is Tapas in Arlington Heights -- the original plan had been La Baton (go search on google) or the KitKat Club but they were booked up (my Gay Night out will have to wait until midweek) -- followed by drinks at the local sports bar.
It's not a holiday though...
Other notes:
Rob's apartment is very cool. Lots of floorspace and nicely decorated. Certainly might steal an idea or two for our new home.
I'm missing my wife and baby already.
Big kisses from the Windy City.
Hello from Chicago!
I arrived yesterday afternoon, after an uneventful eight hour flight, to be picked up by Rob in his Soccer Mom-bile. A light dusting of snow covered the ground -- an exciting sight as we came into land. Unfortunately we had rain overnight and all the snowmen have been washed away.
A glass of champagne and a couple of beers also washed my jetlag away. Last night we ordered pizza in and played some boardgames with Mark, Dave and Kate. An easy first night. The guys were a little surprised to see me still up at ten -- it was a 23 hour for me -- but whereas in the past I might have been a mess, India has trained me to survive on a lot less sleep than before.
In flight movies were:
The Bourne Supremacy -- pretty good.
Dodgeball -- really funny.
After a good night's sleep -- I only woke up once at six (just like home!) -- I cooked breakfast and we headed out to Gameworks for some video game acton and then a movie; National Treasure -- it's mediocre and anti-British (as usual these days with Hollywood).
Tonight is Tapas in Arlington Heights -- the original plan had been La Baton (go search on google) or the KitKat Club but they were booked up (my Gay Night out will have to wait until midweek) -- followed by drinks at the local sports bar.
It's not a holiday though...
Other notes:
Rob's apartment is very cool. Lots of floorspace and nicely decorated. Certainly might steal an idea or two for our new home.
I'm missing my wife and baby already.
Big kisses from the Windy City.
Monday, November 22, 2004
House News
We've accepted an offer on our house -- £202,500, a little below our "minimum acceptable" -- but only because we have offered (and had accepted) an offer on a large four bed detached house on the modern part of Thame's estate. Our purchase is a bargain and will set us up for a long time: the house represents 2 steps up on the property ladder for us. We are excited, and it ticks all of our boxes and more.
Mum is helping us with the Stamp Duty and moving costs -- the only reason we can afford this leap up.
The ball is now rolling and if everything goes smoothly, then with luck we may well complete the sale mid January: the chain is our cash buyer, us, our vendor who is going into rented -- i.e. a good short chain.
Fingers crossed.
We've accepted an offer on our house -- £202,500, a little below our "minimum acceptable" -- but only because we have offered (and had accepted) an offer on a large four bed detached house on the modern part of Thame's estate. Our purchase is a bargain and will set us up for a long time: the house represents 2 steps up on the property ladder for us. We are excited, and it ticks all of our boxes and more.
Mum is helping us with the Stamp Duty and moving costs -- the only reason we can afford this leap up.
The ball is now rolling and if everything goes smoothly, then with luck we may well complete the sale mid January: the chain is our cash buyer, us, our vendor who is going into rented -- i.e. a good short chain.
Fingers crossed.
Black Friday
I was going to update this last Thursday, but thanks to a nasty little virus passed on by India (she was poorly for 2 weeks), I was off work again with ANOTHER chest infection. Hardly the best preparation for my exam tomorrow.
But it was to get worse on Friday.
We had been looking forward to receiving news of Sara and Stashers new arrival: Sara was booked in for a cesaer.
Instead I got news that my grandad had dropped dead.
Seven weeks after his wife had died, my gramp seems to have died of a broken heart. You hear of these things all the time when elderly people suddenly lose their life-long loves and partners, but having seen gramp doing so well over the last week -- he seemed to be back to his normal self according to my mum -- the fact he's gone is a real shock. I can't believe it really. No chance to say goodbye. No chance to help me get over gran's loss by talking things through with him. Quite simply a terrible blow.
We await the Coroner's post-mortem report tomorrow: As gramp hadn't seen a Doctor since gran's death, and his collapse was so sudden (he had spoken to his neighbour five minutes before he was found dead), a post-mortem is required.
Frankly, this year has been dreadful, with all three of my surviving grandparents dying. The only consolidation I can take from gramp's death is that he is now where he wanted to be.
The silver-lining of the day was the good news from Sara and Stasher that tempered our tragedy suffered:
Rory Edward Neville was born fit and healthy. 5 lbs, 12 oz
Congratulations Mum and Dad!
Edward was my gramps name...
I was going to update this last Thursday, but thanks to a nasty little virus passed on by India (she was poorly for 2 weeks), I was off work again with ANOTHER chest infection. Hardly the best preparation for my exam tomorrow.
But it was to get worse on Friday.
We had been looking forward to receiving news of Sara and Stashers new arrival: Sara was booked in for a cesaer.
Instead I got news that my grandad had dropped dead.
Seven weeks after his wife had died, my gramp seems to have died of a broken heart. You hear of these things all the time when elderly people suddenly lose their life-long loves and partners, but having seen gramp doing so well over the last week -- he seemed to be back to his normal self according to my mum -- the fact he's gone is a real shock. I can't believe it really. No chance to say goodbye. No chance to help me get over gran's loss by talking things through with him. Quite simply a terrible blow.
We await the Coroner's post-mortem report tomorrow: As gramp hadn't seen a Doctor since gran's death, and his collapse was so sudden (he had spoken to his neighbour five minutes before he was found dead), a post-mortem is required.
Frankly, this year has been dreadful, with all three of my surviving grandparents dying. The only consolidation I can take from gramp's death is that he is now where he wanted to be.
The silver-lining of the day was the good news from Sara and Stasher that tempered our tragedy suffered:
Rory Edward Neville was born fit and healthy. 5 lbs, 12 oz
Congratulations Mum and Dad!
Edward was my gramps name...
Monday, November 08, 2004
Confidence Evaporates
I had been confident that we'd be celebrating the sale of our house -- at it's full asking price -- within a matter of days. Unfortunately this hasn't happened. We had the one viewing on Saturday and the feedback was:
"He liked it... but thought that the living room was too small. He won't be putting in an offer."
WTF did he expect?! It's a Victorian Terrace house. ALL the reception rooms are small. If he's that worried, then knock the internal wall down... Nevermind.
And after speaking with our agent about the girl who put in the laughably low offers, it's clear she was taking a punt on things: Apparently she DOES have the money, as she's been looking at up to £225,000...
Going into this week we now have ZERO potential buyers lined up. Not good.
Of course we looked at 3 properties ourselves over the weekend.
Property 1 is good enough that we're going to offer on it tomorrow, despite the fact there are already 2 bids for it on the table and we haven't sold. Asking price is £249,950 and we'll have to offer that I think.
Property 2 was a 35 min round trip due to road works. The agent turned up 5 mins late... with the WRONG KEYS. F*ckwit. As the house is right next door to a pub with a kebab van in it, we won't be going back for another look.
Property 3 was OK, but outside our budget once you added on the fees and the work we'd want to do to it.
So property 1 it is then... It's not in Thame though, it's in Stone.
I had been confident that we'd be celebrating the sale of our house -- at it's full asking price -- within a matter of days. Unfortunately this hasn't happened. We had the one viewing on Saturday and the feedback was:
"He liked it... but thought that the living room was too small. He won't be putting in an offer."
WTF did he expect?! It's a Victorian Terrace house. ALL the reception rooms are small. If he's that worried, then knock the internal wall down... Nevermind.
And after speaking with our agent about the girl who put in the laughably low offers, it's clear she was taking a punt on things: Apparently she DOES have the money, as she's been looking at up to £225,000...
Going into this week we now have ZERO potential buyers lined up. Not good.
Of course we looked at 3 properties ourselves over the weekend.
Property 1 is good enough that we're going to offer on it tomorrow, despite the fact there are already 2 bids for it on the table and we haven't sold. Asking price is £249,950 and we'll have to offer that I think.
Property 2 was a 35 min round trip due to road works. The agent turned up 5 mins late... with the WRONG KEYS. F*ckwit. As the house is right next door to a pub with a kebab van in it, we won't be going back for another look.
Property 3 was OK, but outside our budget once you added on the fees and the work we'd want to do to it.
So property 1 it is then... It's not in Thame though, it's in Stone.
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Inertia Creeps
She has just come back with an increased offer of £200,000.
I didn't need to say anything to our agent...
I'm half expecting her to now come back with £202,500 -- which will be her top offer and one that will still be instantly rejected.
I think we can safely write this first potential buyer off now.
She has just come back with an increased offer of £200,000.
I didn't need to say anything to our agent...
I'm half expecting her to now come back with £202,500 -- which will be her top offer and one that will still be instantly rejected.
I think we can safely write this first potential buyer off now.
Dream On
Tried to blog some of this yesterday, but Blogger was clearly crippled under the strain of millions of Americans voicing their dismay and fury at George W Bush getting in again...
We had a viewing on our house at lunch time yesterday and she was keen enough to book a second viewing. with her mum and dad, at half past five last night. According to the agent she's a first time buyer who has missed out on a house on our road before -- I'm guessing Ben and Sharyn's two doors down.
I've been waiting on an offer coming in all morning and have just received it: £195,000.
I actually laughed at the agent. What a joke. Dream on lady. I told the agent to tell her that if she was a serious buyer, and wanted to seal a deal before the house is advertising in the local papers, then she would be offering the asking price. After all, Ben and Sharyn's went for £193,000 and it has one less bedroom and isn't as nice.
I think she's watched too many of those property TV shows where peeps offer way below the asking price as their opening bid. Unfortunately for her, we're not desperate to move and the asking price is aggressive to realistic.
Now we'll wait to see her response: Vic doesn't think she's got the money for a much higher bid...
Tried to blog some of this yesterday, but Blogger was clearly crippled under the strain of millions of Americans voicing their dismay and fury at George W Bush getting in again...
We had a viewing on our house at lunch time yesterday and she was keen enough to book a second viewing. with her mum and dad, at half past five last night. According to the agent she's a first time buyer who has missed out on a house on our road before -- I'm guessing Ben and Sharyn's two doors down.
I've been waiting on an offer coming in all morning and have just received it: £195,000.
I actually laughed at the agent. What a joke. Dream on lady. I told the agent to tell her that if she was a serious buyer, and wanted to seal a deal before the house is advertising in the local papers, then she would be offering the asking price. After all, Ben and Sharyn's went for £193,000 and it has one less bedroom and isn't as nice.
I think she's watched too many of those property TV shows where peeps offer way below the asking price as their opening bid. Unfortunately for her, we're not desperate to move and the asking price is aggressive to realistic.
Now we'll wait to see her response: Vic doesn't think she's got the money for a much higher bid...
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Wiggle It Just a Little Bit
We've put our house on the market (yesterday). American readers may be a little surprised that the asking price for a Victoria terrace property in a provincial SE market town, with just 3 bedrooms and 2 reception rooms, is £207,500 -- that's a round $370,000. Frankly £207,500 is a bargain: we've looked at a host of local properties recevtly and you won't find a nicer home in Thame until you get to the £275,000 mark.
Of course, it what you DON'T get for £207,500 that's the key: no garage or off-street parking, and no escape from the next door neighbours attached on both sides. Seriously, we're looking at houses up to the £250,000 stamp duty threshold and we'll get less floor-space, a kitchen and bathroom that will need refitting, nasty sticky carpets, BUT a garage and a cloakroom for our extra £40 grand.
Feel free to make us an offer, although Australian dollars will not be accepted.
Why are we moving? You'll know why from previous blog entries if you've kept a sharp eye on things and read between the lines. We just need to start afresh with a new project too. The possibility of relocating -- places like Kent and Chicago -- has cropped up in conversation, although Thame is still our current preferred location.
We actually put an offer in on a property just around the corner from us last week but it got rejected in favour of the cash buyer. Which is why we've bitten the bullet and put ours up for sale.
I'll blog what happens daily I think.
Today's House News:
No calls from the estate agent.
No viewings on our house.
No viewings made by us.
Viewings in the book:
None on our property.
We're looking at 1 on Friday and 1 on Saturday.
We've put our house on the market (yesterday). American readers may be a little surprised that the asking price for a Victoria terrace property in a provincial SE market town, with just 3 bedrooms and 2 reception rooms, is £207,500 -- that's a round $370,000. Frankly £207,500 is a bargain: we've looked at a host of local properties recevtly and you won't find a nicer home in Thame until you get to the £275,000 mark.
Of course, it what you DON'T get for £207,500 that's the key: no garage or off-street parking, and no escape from the next door neighbours attached on both sides. Seriously, we're looking at houses up to the £250,000 stamp duty threshold and we'll get less floor-space, a kitchen and bathroom that will need refitting, nasty sticky carpets, BUT a garage and a cloakroom for our extra £40 grand.
Feel free to make us an offer, although Australian dollars will not be accepted.
Why are we moving? You'll know why from previous blog entries if you've kept a sharp eye on things and read between the lines. We just need to start afresh with a new project too. The possibility of relocating -- places like Kent and Chicago -- has cropped up in conversation, although Thame is still our current preferred location.
We actually put an offer in on a property just around the corner from us last week but it got rejected in favour of the cash buyer. Which is why we've bitten the bullet and put ours up for sale.
I'll blog what happens daily I think.
Today's House News:
No calls from the estate agent.
No viewings on our house.
No viewings made by us.
Viewings in the book:
None on our property.
We're looking at 1 on Friday and 1 on Saturday.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Haiku
I'll tell you about my gran's funeral when I remember to take the reading I performed [I can't find the right word here -- I was going to write "read", but that sounds lame] during the service out of my jacket pocket.
Work is getting me down. It's just not any fun. During a net-trawl I stumbled on some really nice Haiku, and I've been filling my waiting-for-an-accounts-download-time with writing Haiku rather than doodling.
Classic Haiku poetry is about nature and strictly fits the rule of three lines, first line five syllables, second line seven syllables, third line five syllables. An example of one of mine would be:
Leaves press against glass;
Yearning to break the prison
and taste a new day.
"Houseplant" - Nobby (c) 2004
...which is about the Ikea plant I've got sat on the windowsill next to my desk.
Senryu poetry is in the same format, but can be about any subject. Most of my attempts are lame but give you an idea of how I'm feeling -- the words seem to form themselves.
Smothered by grey dregs,
a beating heart crushed under
the feet of dull drones.
Rising up through black
sodden earth, angry beetles
bite at my spirit.
Call me Nobbysan.
I'll tell you about my gran's funeral when I remember to take the reading I performed [I can't find the right word here -- I was going to write "read", but that sounds lame] during the service out of my jacket pocket.
Work is getting me down. It's just not any fun. During a net-trawl I stumbled on some really nice Haiku, and I've been filling my waiting-for-an-accounts-download-time with writing Haiku rather than doodling.
Classic Haiku poetry is about nature and strictly fits the rule of three lines, first line five syllables, second line seven syllables, third line five syllables. An example of one of mine would be:
Leaves press against glass;
Yearning to break the prison
and taste a new day.
"Houseplant" - Nobby (c) 2004
...which is about the Ikea plant I've got sat on the windowsill next to my desk.
Senryu poetry is in the same format, but can be about any subject. Most of my attempts are lame but give you an idea of how I'm feeling -- the words seem to form themselves.
Smothered by grey dregs,
a beating heart crushed under
the feet of dull drones.
Rising up through black
sodden earth, angry beetles
bite at my spirit.
Call me Nobbysan.
