Today I shall be Mainly...

[Marilyn]

You smooth talker, Stanley...she will be chuffed to read she is too young to remember something! ( )

Did some sewing today...some beach pants and coordinating top...in keeping with our new location...( I have nothing to wear!)...but will have to wait for the weather to warm up to get any wear out of them at all.
Also made a pot of Soup in readiness for lunch guests tomorrow.
All in all, I've been quite domesticated today...

[Stanley]

To put her out of her misery... She is younger than me and it was Gerard Hoffnung in his address to the Oxford Union. The one that included 'The Bricklayer's lament. (LINK) Hilarious, have a look at it. Even better if you can find the sound track!

[Wendyf]

Heading back to Leeds yet again to do some more house clearing, just the hut and the loft to sort out now. We had a decent offer before the property was even advertised and are now just waiting for probate before the sale can go ahead.
Having mixed feelings about this phase of my life coming to an end. I won't miss the twice weekly 80 mile round trip, but I have realised over the last few weeks how strong my connections to the bungalow are....as a seventeen year old I was involved in it's design and watched it being built with huge excitement and pride before moving in on my 18th birthday, 46 years ago! I left home to go to college that September and only returned for visits and holidays after that, but it was still "home" till Col & I got married in 1975. I will find saying goodbye to it (and of course the memories of Mum & Dad) quite hard!
Here it is

[Marilyn]

If you feel that way, Wendy, why not rent it out for a couple of years?
Your life may change and you may want to live in it...
Even better if you rent it to someone you know because you will get to see it occasionally. It will give you time to work out what you really want to do.

[Wendyf]

I don't think so Maz....it needs to go. In fact I shall feel wonderfully free when it has gone!

[Stanley]

Swings and roundabouts Wendy, we move on. Your memories will not fade.Get two old donkeys and name them Mum and Dad,,,,

[David Whipp]

I think I understand the emotions, Wendy.

We went the other way; moving back into my childhood home when mum and dad died.

The fourth generation of Whipps are now living at Bank Edge (the family bought the land 100 years ago last March).

It's a burden that'll be left for our kids to deal with.

[Wendyf]

It has just surprised me to find that I have an attachment to the place. I certainly wouldn't want to live there...
Archive room this morning, we have had a query about the history of a house in Sough, so some delving into the archives to do.

[Sue]

Wish we could sell dads house! I have no attachment too it except sad memories. I never lived there apart from one summer. I still have the journey over every week or so to check all us well and weed the garden. We cannot understand why it won't sell, we don't even get viewings any more.

[Cathy]

Sue, what comments are you getting from the real-estate agent? Might just be something small.

[Sue]

None!
They can't understand it, it looks like a new house with an immaculate garden, no downstairs toilet is the only negative we have ever had, but there is room to add one if needed, also room to extend. Nice quiet cul de sac good bus routes etc. There are two new house building sites nearby and all sorts of offers for buyers. We think this us the big problem.

[Wendyf]

We have been very lucky Sue (fingers crossed, there's nothing in writing yet). Our buyer had lived on the same street but sold up to buy a building plot, that fell through and they were desperate to get back. So not only keen buyers but they have nothing to sell, which is why we accepted their offer quickly without hanging around for a better one.

[Stanley]

Sounds sensible Wendy but as you imply, house selling is a lottery and you can never be sure until the money is in the bank!
As for my activities.... in limbo really, it's taking me such a long time to do the site and anything else is almost out of the question if it involves close work as the double vision is bad. I could cure it by wearing my eye patch but I have an idea that it's better for my eyes and brain to let them have their little battle! I see the surgeon on Friday this week and I'm hoping he will agree to me going to the opticians for at least one replacement lens for the computer/reading glasses to fix the double vision. It doesn't bother me too much at distance outside without glasses. I am not complaining because I have enough evidence to know that the right eye is improving all the time and it looks as though the operation has been a success. Roll on Friday!!!

[Gloria]

Well done Wendy, sounds like it is going like clockwork.

[Marilyn]

We have a different system to selling houses here in Oz.
An " offer" is just an offer. We put little credence in it unless it is followed by a contract within hours ( at the very outside, a day or two). When we recently sold our home, the contract was signed by both seller and buyer within an hour of the offer. Both parties have a two day " cooling off" period after that. The contract may be voided by either buyer or seller in that time. Some contracts may also be subject to finance by the buyer, and after the two day cooling off they can only pull out if they cannot get finance within a time frame written into the contract ( which is usually two or three weeks). Deposit must be paid into a trust account at the end of the 48 hour cooling off period. If the buyer pulls out, the deposit may be claimed by the seller. After the cooling off period, the contract is binding. A seller can not take a higher offer. A buyer is committed.
I don't understand your system at all...
There must be people who string you along and tie you up with offers and yet have no intention of proceeding?

[Stanley]

Maz, very common in England. Suspicion is that solicitors/conveyancers have no incentive to move quickly, the slower the process and the more frequent the communications, the higher the charges they can make.

[Marilyn]

Our agents make a small percentage of the final sale price, so you know what you are up for up front. ( 2.5 ~3.5 %).
They like quick sales and turnover so they can make a fortune. And they are not allowed to be more than 10% out on their initial valuations...so they can't suck you in telling you your house is worth a fortune then talk you into giving it away for a song. The seller has the final say as to what price they will accept. Our house took 8 weeks to sell. We had several offers in that time which were unacceptable, but the right buyers came along and we had a very quick settlement -we moved out three weeks after signing and the money was in the bank. Job done!

[Sue]

We have agreed a fixed agents fee, and the asking price is much less than the valuation price. Our potential buyers have been unable to get mortgages or have made us stupid low offers...out for a silly buy we think.

[Big Kev]

My eldest has his house, in Barlick, at £8000 under the market value. It's been up for sale for 8 months without an offer.

[Sue]

Visited the Caen memorial today, everyone should go. It was very moving. Then a couple if the Normandy beaches. Tomorrow is the Bayeux tapestry ( we have been it before) then Omaha and Utah beach before we go back to our French house. A wet week is forecast.

[plaques]

A little bit late as a reply to Stanley's 'Bricklayer's Lament' here is the You Tube link Lament. This is the one I remember listening to in the days of old steam radio.

[Stanley]

I'm glad you found the Bricklayer P. My old mate John Pudney knew him and told me funny stories about a brilliant, witty man who died young.

[Nolic]

Cath's mum and dad's at Lanehead in Burnley house is almost sold after 10 months on the market. This is the last of 3 potential buyers. First could not get a mortgage, second agreed the asking price then tried to knock us down. Only 2 weeks ago agents phoned Cath as there was a fourth person offering more for the house. We kicked him into touch and stayed with the current purchaser. Nolic

[Stanley]

Best of luck with it Comrade and give Cath a hug for me. The sooner you both get this off your backs the better....

[Marilyn]

Yes, best of luck Nolic.
How is Cath doing? We rarely hear from you. You have been through some rough bits and just wonder if you are faring any better.