PROGRESS REPORT

Just thought I'd bring you up to date on the previous posting as some things have happened!

I) The gorgeous Gerry turned up without warning the same day bls and bbil were having their new kitchen installed. Panic ensued because he would be blocking the drive for them to get away. Thankfully it was dry enough for the kitchen van to go onto the field behind the house and exit at the end ogf the drive. So we've now got tarmac and they have a super-duper new kitchen.

2) On the electrical front they have the kitchen, but no electrics, and we have the external lights but no armoured cabling. Still waiting for the even more gorgeous Tony to come back - so no change there.

3) No sign of the not so gorgeous Barry for the chimney......

4) Yesterday was a red-letter day. After months of waiting Our Father, bbil, bls + no 4 and I went to meet the glamorous Kathryn and, wait for it, Our Father and I are now property owners again. Mind you, bbil and bls are still waiting for their money. There are yet more forms and information needed to conclude their side of the sale. What a business. (Thinking of moving to Finland where things are done in a sensible manner)

5) Have appointment with Paddy for car and keep your fingers crossed for next Wed's NCT.

6) Got new Windscreen, but that's another saga. Took car on Wed to Ballincollig and had to wait for 2 and half hours. Went into M.D. O'Sheas (big store with everything for DIY and home stuff). Looked at outside lights and then went browsing. Saw black leather sofa bed. Now some of you know that I have been hankering after a corner unit like the one in Eva's summer house and that our Father had other ideas (making something?). Any way I got this sofa bed made back into a sofa and thought it looked very neat and would probably be a better bet than other things being suggested. Called Our Father who arranged to come at midday to see it. (The shop were selling at €1000 instead of €1500 as it was a one off) Our Father liked it too, but discovered that there was a fault with one leg which he could repair. Shop reduced price to €900 plus brand new bedding they'd displayed with it, plus leather 4 in 1 cleaning stuff. We decided we needed to know it would fit into alcove and as bls was not at home to measure, we jumped into Moggie and did a quick run to Beeston. Measurements are fine. Back to shop, bought the sofa, plus outdoor lamp standards for garden (also reduced for us for some reason) and then as it was already about 1.30, Our Father rushed home to have lunch before choir practise and I went to collect Rover.

Imagine my horror when the mechanic told me he was unable to fit the new screen because that one had a big crack in it and I had waited for nothing! And our Father was out of reach for a spin and I was going to have to go through the waiting bit all over again.

Thankfully, yesterday we combined the car in Ballincollig with bls going in and out of solicitors and giving me lifts back and forward. So no more exciting finds in DIY shops!

Its taken me ages to write all this. I wonder if anyone has enough time to read it.

Good luck to TOCO and Mrs TOCO in their new home. Hope you are very happy there.