Gathering of the Clan Part 2

Apparently we are having another Gathering of the Clan. This time it will be over easter , in York. Well, not York per se, that would be too easy, will be in a field somewhere near York. This time the hubbies will be coming as well. And even perhaps The Gorgeous Son, as Lovely Niece Sam is off to the land of Oz at easter time.

Am thinking The Hubby may be quite afraid to meet all the girl cousins who are just like his wife.

Hee hee.

All the clan is gathering as The Famous Brother is coming to be in London for a few months, SABC is sending him over.

Am not too sure how the poms do the easter thing being such a secular society and all. I am on permanent holiday so doesn't affect me. The Hubby is Irish, but not northern Irish, actually EU, so not sure how that works. We will see. Everyone did pancakes on shrove tuesdsay...so who knows??

While we are on the subject of holidays...yay yay yay we are going to Spain at the end of April.

Self Service

I love the fact that you can check out your own groceries without a teller. It is not as easy as it seems, especially for the stupid people (me).

Nonetheless, I am now almost an expert. Swipe the purchases, put them in the bag, pay with card...no mess , no fuss. What amazes me more than anything is that nobody tries to buck the system. All honest and above board.

Nobody takes advantage of the system by trying to take a whole trolley load of groceries through, you can use cash or a card, I love it! Bloody clever, these poms.

Good Housekeeping

I am becoming ever so efficient. This is what I can do.

Watch TV (Idols) While I watch, I iron. When the adverts come on, I put the ironing away. Then all the ironing done, and seeing as the kitchen is actually IN the lounge, I can pack the dishwasher and clean the whole kitchen while watching TV.

Seeing as the study, too, is in the lounge, I can write my blog while watching TV. In theory (if it's not raining) I can garden on the patio while watching TV. Seeing as the patio is almost in the lounge as well.

These small pom houses have their up side.

Grapefruit

I simply do not know how to explain how big this thing is, except to say that is a soup bowl it is in.

Crazy!

A day without signs...

Never happens! They are everywhere..these are the ones for Saturday.

Award winning or not, we did not go to the loo on the Embankment! Also did not run, and were not actually in any peril despite the missing lifebuoy thingie.

Coming home at night

Lovely , if somewhat overexposed pics.....

Reminds me why we live in this kak weather, it's for the sights like these on a lovely London evening.

Well, I say evening...it was about 6.30.

Like bloody midnight actually.

Saturday out

Seeing as it was a nice day, off we went on the river boat down the Thames to have a day in town.

We went to the Tate Modern and had supper in a pub on the embankment and came home on the boat again. Was quite lovely.

This is as we were leaving the 02 , the walkway goes down to where we catch the boat. The sculpture is called 'Quantum Cloud'

There was a guy painting this boat scene and doing an ok job of it. This photo is however, better than his painting.

Also, the 2 best pics of the day...Paul and St Paul's.

Desperately seeking.....

On the other hand, you do get more for your money living out in the sticks. The Hubby keeps reminding me that Cambridge is not exactly out in the sticks.

The Dear Wee Cottage is still on the back burner, but today online I saw a Dear not so wee Cottage that looks promising. So all is not lost.

When I was an agent my very very worst thing was when clients said "well, if it's not to be...."

As if these things are pre ordained,it drove me INSANE when they said that.

It's not a case of to be or not to be it is a case of it either gets fucked up or it doesn't. Not the same thing at all!

Back to the drawing board then.

Dear Wee Cottage update

Does not look like we will be buying the Dear Wee Cottage anytime soon seeing as The Hubby seems to have decided that we are going to live in Cambridge.

For better or for worse

For better or for worse

Feck

Day out in Portobello Road

With The Hubby working from home, it is nice to absent myself from the apartment and leave him to get on with it. Today was a lovely sunny day (not a weather report, just an observation)

So off I went to Portobello Road. It truly is a fascinating market, the antiques are amazing (and kak expensive)

I looked at all the stalls, bought some rather nice espresso cups, some turn of the century postcards from La Coruna for Cousin Janet , had a glass of Backsburg Chenin Blanc in a lovely pub called The Elgin (was in Kensington by this time) then decided to take the 23 bus back to Bond street. From Bond Street Tube Station it is a direct trip back to North Greenwich.

Lovely day indeed!

I did watch out for thieves and pickpockets but didn't see any.

Another mystifying sign

This is a road sign...no idea. Just as well I am not driving here.

Rather a good photo though...this was taken about half past 5, so it's getting lighter!

Flood Warning!!

I am now signed up with Flood Warnings Direct.

I will get an sms with a Flood Code

In the event of a Flood

When I signed up, Joe, my Flood Warning Consultant, told me there is a 1 in 200 chance of me being flooded

I am strangely disappointed.

Flood warning

I got a letter in the post informing me of the fact that Floods operate in my area.

I thought it was some kind of odd British Gang warfare , but no, is water.

I apparently need to Be Prepared, and have a plan ready in case Floods Strike.

First of all, I need to sign up for a Flood Warnings Service (no charge)

Then , I need to have a Flood Kit. This includes a wind up or battery radio. Strangely enough, I do have a wind up radio .

Warm waterproof clothing and blankets.....I have one blanket and a leather jacket

First aid kit and prescription medicine........I have ibuprofin, plasters and immodium

Bottled water and non perishable foods......I always have bottled water (10p for 2 liters) and soup

A mobile phone....check

Important contact numbers ....Noah is not listed

Baby food and baby care items...does not apply I hope

Torch with spare batteries...check. I need a torch to see the central heating unit panel in the cupboard.

Bring it on! I am ready.

Sweets

The Hubby bought sweets called Revels. I don't like them. In one packet you get all different kinds of sweets, maltesers, aero bubbles, minstrels, toffee chocolates, you never know what it is going to be. I do not like the element of surprise in sweets. Planets are the same, chocs with all different flavour fillings. Is psychologically damaging. Dr Lauren puts a whole lot in her mouth at once.

I like to know what I am eating. Not buying those again.

another day

Is dark. Close the blinds. Bath and bed. Another day in London.

Darling Simon

Just look at my wonderful son-in law!

How very very cool action man is he?

(I hope it is Actually Darling Simon and not Ever So Handsome Best Man Gareth...is hard to tell in the snow gear)

Signs Again

Although I am not going to report on the weather again, I cannot stop posting signs. They amuse me no end.There is a sign for everything here.

Never before have I needed safety instructions for pushing a trolley.

If you can't read it from the photo, this is what it says

"On the handle of each trolley there are guidelines for their safe use. If you need any help , please ask"

Love the arrow pointing to the handle!

Big Issue #2

My vulnerably housed Romanian friend, Daniella was as usual selling The Big Issue outside Sainsbury's.

He feels very sorry for me as I am always alone and he can see I have no friends. He did see me with The Hubby once which made him think that perhaps I am not a totally mad old bat who wears sunglasses and not a lot of winter clothing.

I have decided to do one Random Act Of Kindness a day.

Today my Random Act Of Kindness was to buy Daniella a cafe latte from Starbucks.

I also took his photo and have promised to print it out on A4 photographic paper for him.

I was very shocked to hear that he is only 22 , I thought he was at least 30 odd. He told me he left home and has been working since he was 14. In Spain, packing fruit, before he came here.

I bought the coffee despite the fact I saw him SPIT on the pavement.

Poor boy, perhaps he doesn't have a home to spit in.

This witticism made me laugh all the way home.

Last Weather Report

I have realised that I am starting to sound like a boring Sissy Baby Pom, talking about the weather all the time. So there will be no more weather reports from now on. I will report again when it is hot. Not when it is 10 or 15 degrees, but when it is actually hot.

Dr Lauren says that on the first hot day, it is the best day of the year. She says the people all come out in shorts and sun tan lotion, smile and wave, and say hello..., everyone goes to the parks and has a fabulous time lying in the sun and laughing and being happy.

So...until then...here is the very last weather report, in GREAT detail seeing as it is the last.

(Unless of course there is a tornado or a blizzard or some kind of catastrophic weather event.)

Today it is 4 degrees. The sun is shining. A wind, coming in from Russia is blowing, not hard, but enough to make you cold. There are a few poofy clouds in the blue blue sky . (I am wearing sunglasses, but then again I wear them all the time, so no real indication as , again, I am the only person wearing them)

I also am wearing jeans, a t shirt, another t shirt and the pick 'n pay black thin fleece that makes me look like Dawn French.

Dr Lauren says it is singularly unflattering.

Also, I am wearing an alarmingly large layer of fat which seems to keep me warm.

A light shower of snow is predicted for later on in the day.

This is the last weather report, maybe ever, but hopefully till May. Or June.

Dear Wee Cottage Purchase

I hate to say this, but the purchase of the Dear Wee Cottage is in jeopardy because of The Greedy Fuckers. Do they not know we are just out of a recession? Do they think millions of people are queueing up to buy their house?

I am not an estate agent for nothing...am standing firm (and shaking quietly).

I will be quite upset if we lose The Dear Wee Cottage, but am happy that we have found the area we want to live in.

I now no longer feel sorry that The Greedy Fuckers are splitting up.

Dear Wee Cottage

House and The Hubby on Pavement....

Nice garden

Nice stove

Dear Wee Cottage

Contracts

First off, a contract as I know it does not exist.

All contracts are verbal until everything is done and dusted...then it is a sale

So every sale is 'subject to contract'.

In theory anybody else can buy the house if they come with a better offer.

In practice I am going to tie this whole bloody thing up in knots to the best of my ability.

We are in negotiation. Have gone in low, they said 'no' , am waiting...will then go a bit higher, and if necessary will actually offer what I originally intended to offer anyway.

Lets hope nobody tries to get smart here.

I like the Dear Wee Cottage and I want it.

We have no furniture, nothing actually , apart from our paintings and rugs and books. The Hubby said he never ever wants to discuss paint colours ever again and can I please do it all when he is in Dublin.

Oh Yes!

Buying a house ..the English way

Still happy, agent still not fuckwit...house still looking good apart from a few minor points that are seen as advantages to the Poms and freak the Saffas out.

These are:

No burglar bars, no security whatsoever.

House on the pavement

House next to shops

House near transport

Pedestrian traffic

Then there are things that one just has to suck up as this is the way it is here

These are:

Teeny tiny houses

Teeny tiny gardens

Teeny tiny cupboards

Teeny tiny garages

There are, however , advantages

These are:

Smaller house...easier to clean

Smaller house...easier to heat

That's about it, actually.

another sign

These signs just crack me up!

Pavements again

This is chewing gum.

I told you it was everywhere.

Is disgusting

Oh happy day!

The sun is shining, it is not cold (6) (amazing how these things become relative!), spring must be arriving because a bird the size of an albatross crapped on the patio furniture...but best of all, yes, I have found a house!

The Dear Wee Cottage is indeed a Dear Wee Cottage and I love it.

The agent that took me to see it was actually not a Fuckwit Agent, had a real car with 4 doors, and although I did have to take a taxi from the station to the house (£5) he actually took me back to the station.

The photographs of the Dear Wee Cottage did not in fact do it justice, it was way better.

Tomorrow I am taking The Hubby to see it.

He will love it

I hope

The fact that this Dear Wee Cottage costs the same as a house at the very very top of Spanish Farm is something I am choosing to ignore, seeing as everything here costs the same as a house at the very very top of Spanish farm.

I was so excited I forgot to take photos, did not turn on the taps or look in the kitchen cupboards, in fact I was totally hopeless. One would think I had never been an agent. Have probably screwed up any chance of price negotiation by acting like a total sap.

Bugger.

Holiday

OK. Obviously February is the month to go away on holiday. Obviously not to SA as it is too hot in Feb.

Too cold here.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Kitty cat

Visiting kitty.

Quite sweet but does try to catch the dear little robins which is not very nice.

Maybe when I buy the Wee Cottage we maybe will get a cat. Not a dog. Much as I love dogs , can be reduced to tears at the sight of a Jack Russell, I do not think I can ever commit to a dog again.

I miss Shadow every day of my life, and will never ever be able to thank Marganne enough for taking him to live with her. One of the hardest things I have ever done was leaving Shadow. Is the worst thing I ever had to do.I cannot bear to think about it. I know he is happy. Me... not so much.

Oh I miss him.

Good thing about being all alone in London is that you can cry really loud and weep and wail all by yourself sometimes.

House hunting

I am v. v. excited now. Am going to see the Wee Cottage on Thursday. Agent does not sound like a total tit. Have to take a taxi from the station to the house, is fine, am used to that now. Did ask the agent 'Do you have a car' he said Yes. I said nothing. Am on best behaviour.

Wee Cottage is near Heathrow (good) near Hampton Court (good). 2 bathrooms (unbelievable)

102 square meters (about par for the course)

Maybe this could be The One!!

Agent has sent e mail with pics of 2 other properties that also look acceptable.

My day is made.

As soon as I have finished typing am going to do The Dance of Joy in the kitchen