LET'S GET STARTED

Today I am going to sit down and make a list of what we need to do between now and moving.

Today I'm going to sort out the kid's clothes, and pack up my Britto.

That will probably take all day.

I also have to go down to Manurewa and get my latest prescriptions filled.  There's something else I NEED to do... but I'm damned if I can remember what it is!  

Grrrr, don't ya just hate that?  I'm sure I will remember at some point.

Hopefully Stew is working on getting our finances sorted/approved, so if our FIRST choice house goes to Auction this week we are in a position to bid.  STRESS ... STRESS... it never stops!

ONWARD...

Well it now looks like someone went mad in my house!  There's a bed in the family room, boxes and bubble wrap all over the lounge floor... crazy.
But... I'm getting heaps done today I must say.

The kids have been fairly helpful... though I think Griffin's temper is ramping up!  He's getting grumpy.

Too bad, I can't do it on my own.

ABOVE:  what a mess!  But, the kids and I have made a good dent in packing up a lot of china/ornaments/fabric and so on.

I'm knackered.  Dinner is going to be something quick and easy... Chicken steaks with Bubble 'n' Squeak patties and baked beans I reckon.  *smiles*

Can't believe how much the kids and I got done today!
We sure made a dent in some serious packing.  I think we did about 5 boxes!
So tired now though.
Stew and I both have colds, snot and sore throats.  Ikkk.

HOW ABOUT.....

We go look at houses again.... 

Yep, we are going back to Hamilton today to visit a few more houses.
Steve and Dante are coming with us... so Steve can cast his 'builder's eye' over some of them for us.

We are NEVER going to buy a 'plaster' house again.... but some of the houses I like are 'Plaster over Brick'.... which is quite OK.
But I still want Steve to check them out for us.

We don't have many on our list today as we looked at most of the top contenders yesterday.  But we still want to make sure we are making the right choice.

So... it's another 'Catch ya Later' days.  *smiles*

ONWARD...

5.41 pm:  Well another day done on our mission to find a new home.

Found it frustrating today as virtually all the houses we had on our list to look at today had contracts on them already, making it pointless looking at them.

We did manage to get inside one, and Steve had a poke around:

 Steve ended up head down, bum up, checking out various parts of a couple of houses... hard case.  
It was good having Steve with us today, he could point out lots of stuff we wouldn't have noticed.

I hope we can find something sizeable that we like in Hamilton.  It's looking a bit grim right now though... *sigh*

I think buying something might be as stressful as trying to sell!

I'm cooking a chicken/bacon pasta dish for dinner... and I better get on with it!

ABOVE:  Stew managed to get a photo of two brightly coloured parrots in a tree outside our house this morning, I just remembered to show you!

Dinner was nice, and now I'm about ready for bed.  It's been a long weekend.

I LIKE GREEN!

 ABOVE:  Don't you just LOVE that pretty green  SOLD sticker?  (That's Mary, the lovely lady who sold our house)

OUR HOUSE WENT ON THE MARKET ON THE 14TH OF JULY, 2015.  So it took exactly 9 months and 1 day to sell!  And we had 6 contracts in that time.  It was a nightmare.

But now it is over and we can finally go and find a new home down in Hamilton.  TODAY.
If we don't find one that we want to buy or bid on... we will keep looking till we do.

Most houses in Hamilton are sold via Auction, so it could take a little while till we have something signed and sealed.  But hopefully it won't take too long!

I am so ready to MOVE!!!

When we get home from Hamilton today I will show you the houses we looked at today.

We are meeting our Hamilton Estate Agent first thing this morning and looking at houses all day I hope!

Oh and THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for your comments yesterday!!!  I was amazed at the number of people who cared. ♥♥♥

ABOVE:  A very happy Granddad.  

ONWARD...

4.30 pm:  Home.  Exhausted.  We looked at 8 houses today, and have now got a short list of 3.

Here's some we looked at:

ABOVE:  a lovely older home, in an area we are very familiar with.  Needs new carpet, some tidying up etc, but a definite possibility.

ABOVE:  A lovely old character home, but not for us... even though it has an awesome pool!

 ABOVE:  This one is in Cambridge.  Really HUGE... has an awesome pool and 3/4 of an acre which could be subdivided.  I loved the layout of this one, there was plenty of room, masses of room in fact!  It was 358 square meters of house!

We are not so sure about being in Cambridge though.  Thinking about it. 

ABOVE:  This house is lovely, very open plan layout, but small living rooms.  Has an awesome pool ...  and fencing is great for kids/dogs.

ABOVE: I adore this one.  It's on River Road, is one of my favourites.  It's got 5 bedrooms, one would be my sewing room.  It's got a gully section on the other side of the house, with a stream running through it. 
I've always wanted a stream in my back yard!

So... we have quite a few to choose from... and might be making an offer on something mid-next week.

As they are ALL auctions we have to make sure of our finances before committing to making offers.

Stew will sort that out with the bank on Monday/Tuesday.

It's been a lovely day.  We had lunch in Hamilton East with our Estate Agent Lou, and we found some really lovely shops there, and I plan on checking them out again.

I'm going to sign off for the day now.  We are knackered.  It will be an early night for us tonight.

RE-RUN X's 6!

Today I'm going to go over to spend the morning with Bex and the boys. I am not going to be here, alone all day, sitting by the bloody phone.

Yesterday was the last straw.  So over waiting for things to go our way.

Stew is very confident today will go as planned, and the house will go unconditional.

So... I'm gunna have fun with the wee boys and try to not watch the clock!

I am so sorry everyone reading my blog has had to 'go through' the wait as well!
Let's all be positive... and sell this house today!

Catch ya later....

ONWARD...

So I spent a nice couple of hours with Bex and the boys, Archer did not walk for me.  Little shit.

I have a sinking feeling about the house sale.
I've not  heard anything about what's going on AT ALL.  
Something tells me it's going to fall down AGAIN.

Iv'e been crying on/off all afternoon thinking it was going to fall over again.

NOW???


SOLD ***  SOLD *** SOLD *** SOLD


OMG IT'S FRIGGIN SOLD!
OMG NOW I'M BAWLING ME EYES OUT FOR SURE.

BRING ON THE BUBBLES!!!!~!!!!!!!!!

5.12 PM: Now waiting for Stew to get home so we can celebrate.  Oh and the Estate Agent is coming over to put the SOLD sticker on our sign.  I WILL TAKE A PHOTO!!!

7.42 pm:
Mary, our Estate Agent arrived around 5 pm with Champange! I took a photo or two of her putting the SOLD sticker on the sign outside our house.  Then we shared a glass of wine or two.

Steve, Bex and the boys arrived for dinner.  Stew got home and after dinner we will be having a couple more wines.

I'm kinda already PISSED AS A CHOOK.... I've not eaten anything all day... too sick with nerves.

But... I will have to be careful... cos it's the first alcohol all year, and I'm a one glass wonder.  Probably have a hangover tomorrow if I'm not careful.

Can't tell you all how HAPPY and RELIEVED we are to have this part of the move to Hamilton over with.

There will be heaps to do in the next few weeks, but I will worry about that tomorrow.
Tonight is for celebrating.

THANK YOU Everyone for following this long, difficult, tortuous journey with me.  All the comments are heart warming and so lovely.

LAST DAY OF POTTERY CLASS

Can you believe it?
I got to the class 2 times the entire term.  And I made... NOTHING.

I am going this morning to pick up my last house from LAST term.  And for a yak.  And to while away some time.

TIME.

If I know anything, it's that today is going to drag on slowly.... our purchasers have till 5 pm to go UNCONDITIONAL.  And all signs are that it could happen.  MAYBE.  I'm too battle worn to TOTALLY believe that it will happen.

Time will tell.

So, after class I will probably come home and try to have a nap.  I am sure I can sleep an hour or so away!

Bex told me that Archer took 3 steps yesterday!  I hope I can see him doing that in the next day or two.

OH and the other thing that might happen today ... the viewers from yesterday might make an offer.  Ha!  Might be too late?  Ya never know though.

Right, I'm outta here ... be back later.

ONWARD...

Two nights ago Brylee woke us up at 4 am.  Her bottom lip was swollen and sore.  We figured she had a reaction to a mosquito bite... as it's happened before.

Last night.... she came out in hives:

So... clearly it wasn't a mozzie bite causing her lip to swell!
It must have been something she ate.  Only there's no point trying to work out what it was now.  
I just hope she recovers fast.  When I had hives from a medication years ago, it took a whole month before I stopped itching!

ABOVE:  Hee hee.... wonder what she's doing?  Checking for spots. 
(photos and content published with Brylee's permission).
!

Hmmm... hindsight.  I wonder if the cough liquid she's been taking caused it?  Or the Gees Linctus I gave her three night's ago?  Highly likely.

2.26 pm:  and no news yet.  I'm feeling very anxious and alone... waiting for the phone to ring... or an email or text.  It's horrible.

I did the grocery shopping this morning to while away some time.  But I've still got hours to wait.... *sigh*

There's been a small 'hitch' in the process.... but... but... by 5 pm today it looks like our house will go UNCONDITIONAL!  

I will let you all know just as soon as I have LEGAL confirmation.  OMG it really might happen TODAY!

NOT HAPPENING TODAY.

The purchaser's solicitor needs ONE MORE DAY.... he needs to talk to the purchasers himself to go Unconditional, and they are in England, sound asleep as it's 4 am there.  So... TOMORROW.

I'm feeling like... SHIT.  But Stew assures me it will happen tomorrow, so I will hang on to that.

ONE MORE SLEEP.

Proud of myself... I've not let the disappointment derail me.  I know it will happen tomorrow. It will.
Though I'm not looking forward to yet another wait by the phone tomorrow, that's for sure.

SHOPPING AGAIN

I'm heading out again today to get a couple more items of winter clothing.
One more pair of trousers/tights, and one more top.

I am sure we WILL be in Hamilton by winter, and it's a whole lot colder there, so I'm going to need more warm clothes.

Time to go through the kid's wardrobes and drawers and sort out their clothes too.  Brylee has been LIVING in the same jeans/top all summer!  Not that she doesn't have more to wear, she just wants to wear the same stuff EVERY SINGLE DAY!

She's ga-ga over 5 Seconds of Summer (a boy band), and has a t-shirt with them on it... so she wears it every day!  It gets washed, hung out to dry for 15 minutes then it's back on!  I kid you not!!

Recently she got two more 5SOS tops, and we got some long sleeve tops for her to wear under them, so I'm thinking she's set for winter, lol.

Griffin on the other hand... probably needs an entirely new wardrobe, he's growing so fast.  He is now wearing size 14 shoes and Mens size clothes. 

So, once they get home from school today that will be my mission.  Sort out their clothes, then what they don't fit/need, will be going to the  Hospice shop. 

Maybe only one more sleep till we find out the outcome of our latest house contract.... feel sick even thinking about it.  Just can't believe it will go through, knowing the bad luck we have had for months now.  

So... off shopping, keep my mind off it... if that's possible!

ONWARD...

LYNDA/PENNY:  thanks for answering that question for me.

I've been out and bought a couple more winter items.  Now to go through my clothes and toss out or pack up anything I don't need/want.

IT WOULD ONLY HAPPEN TO US:  would you believe that now the Purchaser's Bank wants an extension as they ONLY got the valuation today?  I'm like, hell no!  We will give them till Friday at 5pm... it doesn't take that long to read a valuation ffs.

AND.... the viewer who has postponed viewing twice already is now coming at 2 pm today!
So guess what I've been doing?

Yep.

I'm so completely and utterly CRABBY RIGHT NOW.  This nightmare just keeps on going, and going... 

3.11 pm:  And the viewer DID arrive.  He liked the house very much, and is coming back with his wife at 5 pm.
Maybe we will get ANOTHER BACK UP OFFER!!!

My stomach is doing flip flops, I'm that wound up right now.

5.44 pm:  Second viewing took 40 minutes, they both love the house... and have gone home to talk it over.  We MIGHT get a back up offer tomorrow.
Or ... we might even have the 6th contract go unconditional?

Just don't know what's what right now.  Too much going on.

I just want to go to bed and have tomorrow OVER WITH... or if it drags on till Friday?  I will just have to stay in bed for 48 hours!  AS IF.  *sigh*

There's been some very positive noises coming from the Purchasers with 6th Contract.  MAYBE tomorrow night it will be all over!

OMG... OMG... cross EVERYTHING.

I'm going to bed soon... my nerves are Shot.

RE-RUN OF YESTERDAY

Well... today we are getting a visit from a Valuer for our current purchasers.

Hopefully the house measures up (value wise) so the people can get their finance.  If not, the sale will fall over AGAIN.

If that happens I will just have to reign it in and move on ... no choice really.

As the valuer is due here at 11, I have plenty of time to get the house tidy.  

After that I think I will go and do a bit of shopping... probably just groceries though.  

IF we have a viewer coming tonight, I will put on a bacon and egg pie for dinner, and have it in the oven while he's looking at the house.
Nothing like an amazing aroma in the house during a viewing.

I wonder if he will turn up today?  He's postponed twice now.

ONWARD...

11.52 am:  well the valuer has been and gone.  He didn't even bother going outside!  He just walked around inside for 10 minutes, took some photos and then left!

AND our Estate Agent couldn't get here so she sent another lady as her Representative. She was a lovely lady, we had a good old chat.

NOW... I'm off to do some shopping.

1.50 pm:  and grocery shopping didn't appeal after all... so I bought a pair of winter tights and three tops! 
Rather demoralizing shopping for clothes, but... ya can't go around naked eh?

NO viewer tonight, so I can now relax.  Thanks goodness.  I'm already knackered and it's only early afternoon.

I made the bacon and egg pies for dinner, and they were delish!  Stew will be having more for his lunch tomorrow.

It's been a quiet evening... time for bed.

ANOTHER WEEK OF STRESS

Let's just kick this week off with...

- A Valuer coming around to value the house for the latest 'purchaser'.

- And then, at the end of the day, a private viewing for another potential purchaser.

We can't say there's not been any interest in the house of late can we?

But, it has/is stressful.


This is the last week before school holidays ( comprising of 2 weeks) starts.  So I am going to try and make the most of it.  Cos once they are home it's going to be less than peaceful around here.

Those two kids are really good at arguing over the slightest thing and it does my bloody head in.

Here's some happy photos from last night:

 ABOVE: Tallulah and Bex.  Tallulah was actually sheltering from Archer, cos Archer wanted to scrag her!  His idea of fun is to grab a big handful of hair and yank.  Neither dogs particularly likes that. *smiles*

ABOVE:  Steve decided he would bring cake for dessert last night.  At the cake shop they asked him if he'd like some words on his cake, for an extra $3, so of course he did!   Only he would put THAT on a cake though.  "Steve is Awesome"... yeah right.  lol

ABOVE:  Dante climbed on the toybox and then told me to take a photo!  So, being ever so obliging, I did.
Cheesy smile Dante.

 ABOVE: One of the two little boys, Archer's nose looks worse now that it's starting to scab over. It doesn't seem to be bothering him though.  Which is lucky, cos it has the potential to be mucky.

ABOVE:  Coco and Tallulah enjoying left over veges and gravy.  I reckon they would eat just about anything.

Right, that's all for now.  I have to get moving and AGAIN... make the house perfectly presentable.

ONWARD...

I could spit tacks! 

First I have no idea when the valuer is coming ... it might not even be today.

Second, the viewer who was coming at 6 pm today has postponed it.  MAYBE coming tomorrow night now.  I'm so angry.

I've spent 2 hours this morning making the beds, vacuming and so on... for NOTHING.

I could cry.  Well actually, I did.

Why is this happening all the damn time?  I feel like we are fucking cursed.

BAD LANGUAGE!!!!  Oh well... if you ain't used to me swearing by now, you never will be.  I ain't saying sorry.  I swear.  Lots.

Now, just heard from the Estate Agent, she's bringing the valuer through tomorrow morning.  So, I WILL be getting the house all pretty again ... I would not be seen dead with an untidy house when it's something this important!

I had ice cream for lunch.  With chocolate topping.  I am a dreadful emotional eater!!!

Can't wait for bed... I'm tired and grumpy.

FEELING POSITIVE

I'm thinking today will be our last Open Home.
Power of Positive Thinking and all that... ya know?

We all have to get up early this morning, no Sunday lie in.
Poor Stew, he usually does get a bit of a lie in on a Sunday.

Our '6th Contract Buyers' are coming at 11 am for another viewing, so I have to get moving.

I made sure I did as much as I could before I went to bed last night, but there is still a few things to get done this morning.

We visited Steve, Bex and the boys yesterday afternoon.  I had bought a couple of new cushions for the house... and one for Bex too.

ABOVE: She loved it!  I got a giraffe one too...

ABOVE:  And a cow one. I won't be leaving them out during the Open Home though, I 'get' that the house has to look impersonal and uncluttered!

ONWARD...

Well the 'potential' purchasers came back at 11 for another viewing.
All going well... we might have something settled at the end of the week.

In the meantime, we had 5 groups through today, of which, 2 were viewing for the 2nd time, and there was talk of a back up offer.

AND we have another purchaser coming through tomorrow night.  *sigh*  Surely something will go right for us eventually?

Going to bed tonight with a massive headache.  
Just WISH this was over and we could move on.

DON'T RAIN TODAY

Stew's hoping it doesn't rain today as he wants to get the lawns mown before tomorrow's Open Home.

And yes ... *sigh*... we are having another Open Home.

There has been some good interest shown over the past week apparently, so best to have an Open.

We also have a viewer coming through for a private viewing on Monday night too.

Sure is a lot of interest lately!

Hopefully by Monday night we will have a back up offer again!

I shall devote today to getting the week's washing done, and a few other odd jobs around the house.

Pretty boring really... 

ONWARD...

11.15 AM:  Three bits of good news:

-  It's not raining, so Stew is mowing the lawns.

-  Just heard from the Real Estate Agent, things are progressing VERY WELL with our current purchasers.

-  We have Feijoas for the first time from our new trees!  

ABOVE:  Woo hoo! One of my most favourite fruits ever, and we grew them ourselves.  How cool is that?

OK, OK, I know that sounds pathetic, but I usually kill fruit trees with love.  Or the kids do.

There were feijoa trees here when we moved in, but Brylee and Griffin used tennis ratchets to hit all the baby fruit off, and in the process killed the trees!

Now they are older, so the fruit trees are safe again.  *smiles*

I am shaking.... so anxious that everything goes smoothly tomorrow.  Our purchasers are coming for a 2nd viewing in the morning, before the Open Home.  

OH, and we have another private viewing, for another very interested purchaser, on Monday night!  

It's been a nice day today... and tomorrow it's going to be really busy with a private viewing in the morning, and an Open Home in the afternoon.... so I'm going to bed early.

ON THE HUNT

I'm going to have a look in The Warehouse this morning for a cheap single bed, topper pad.
I only thought of it as a possible inner for Russell's window seat squab yesterday, so maybe I will be making his window seat squab yet.

I also plan on popping by and visiting Bex and the boys, it's 5 DAYS since I saw them!  We are so used to seeing them every few days, I have withdrawal pangs!  Gotta have me cuddles and kisses from the wee boys.

Hopefully they are home so I can visit!  What ya doing today Bex???  lol

Oh I'm so much happier these days, getting a full night's sleep is wonderful!  Having hope of a house sale sure helps too.  One week or so till we find out if the latest contract will go unconditional.  7 sleeps....

ONWARD...

11.44 am:  Well I haven't found a foam topper yet.  But I did get to visit with the little boys and Bex at Playcentre.
I got a bit of a fright when I first saw Archer:

ABOVE: Poor wee man had just taken a tumble onto concrete face first!  I'm sure he will be just fine though, little kids always seem to be getting bumps and bruises.

After indulging in some morning tea with the kids I came home.  It's sure cooling down now!
I ALMOST feel cold!

ABOVE:  Someone else wanted his photo sent to Grandma!  Little cutie.

Well it's been a really quiet evening.  Missed Coronation Street cos I was watching The Voice.  Bummer, it wasn't recording it either, so I'll have to watch it ON DEMAND. Thank goodness for that feature!