Interest

We had 6 lots of people through on Wednesday, 8 yesterday an 19 today. At least 2 families have been through twice and one brought their parents to have a look. They have been looking for a while and this is the first house she has fallen for. This is good as it means they are less likely to buy somewhere else before we go to auction. If they make an offer prior and it's good we will sell before auction.

If not then lets hope that we get at least one other family interested enough to bid on the day.

Now that we are no longer cleaning and fixing and generally stressing over the place we have started looking in earnest at floor coverings and furnishings. All very exciting and the best thing is that we have found furniture that we like that is less than we thought we would have to pay. So it's looking promising for new stuff in the new place.

It's been raining. Normally I would be ecstatic but it does mean that the house isn't being seen in its best colours. But it does mean that those people who came through were keen.

I had hoped to collect my new car (the Gherkin) this weekend but it has been delayed. We are rather disappointed with the salesman for his lack of customer service but with any luck I will have the Gherkin by the end of the week. He said it could be as early as Wednesday but I'll be happy if I get it by the end of the weekend. Phoebe will be going to Two this evening. I had promised it to him and he gets back from Perth this evening and can't manage without a car. Phoebe is more reliable and less thirsty than the car he was driving so I'm happy for him to take it. It will mean that I have to commute with Himself this week. I was thinking of getting personalised number plates " G3RK1N"!! What do you think?

With the rain has come cooler weather. We really don't get much warning that cooler weather is on the way and my wardrobe is lacking in warmer clothes. I shivered through the last few days of last week so went and bought 3 new long sleeved shirts for work and a pair of tracky pants and a hoody for exercising in cooler weather. There was a lovely suit but until I know what's happening with my job I don't want to buy clothes that won't get worn again if I go back into uniform.

The internet connection has just dropped out so I'll save this and post it later.

shoes and ships and sealing wax and cabbages and kings

• Happy Birthday, Stepson. He turns 35 today. His mother died from a melanoma nearly two years ago. He is a wonderful bloke and I've known him since he was 2. He is now a step-parent himself and a bloody good one. I wish I had been as good as he. And he has a great relationship with One, Two and Three.
  
• 
  
• We had our first open for inspection today. 6 lots of people came through which is pretty good for a Wednesday. The comments were very favourable. The house looked great.
• 
  
• I caught up with my parents and Dr. Teacher yesterday as Dad had to see a specialist. They are both very frail and I admire my brother for being so tolerant with them. He realises now, how much shit I have put up with over the years. I didn't mind that but it was bloody hard on my own. Is it just my parents, or do old people lie? My mother tells me one thing, my brothers another and the doctor something completely different.
• 
  
• The last two mornings I have gone for a good brisk walk followed by some ab work and some arm work. It feels good to be moving again.
  
• 
  
• The reason for this is that firstly, my feet are much better, but more urgently, it is obvious that the weight loss has reversed and I'm getting chubbier again. It's getting cooler and I have no clothes.
• 
  
• The new house is coming along really well. Sooo exciting.
• 
  
• Himself was due to have a cardiac stress test today but his gout has flared up which would have made walking on the treadmill excruciating. He is booked in for a chemical stress test next Monday. I think they inject something to make the heart work harder. Should be fun. Not.

Dinner is ready.

The heading for this post?

Guess! And I bet I know who will get it.

Scary times

The agent uploaded the ad for our house today. I have emailed some of you with the site but, for obvious reasons, I'm not going to just put it out here.

If you would like to see it, please leave a note in my comments and we'll see if I can work out how to send you the link. (That sentence was written many times as I realised that giving my email address here was rather silly, asking you for yours was also rather silly and then my brain exploded and I couldn't work out another way.)

The place looks good. We are very impressed and have periods of wondering why the hell we're selling. But then I'm reminded (thankyou, Suze) that we are moving to a place of equal ambiance. In fact the place we are moving to has a view (or two) so that's even better.

Fortunately, although we have lived at this address for 20 years (*gulp*), we have only been in this house for just short of 9. So the attachment isn't quite the same. I don't have the memories of the kids as babies and all their childhood milestones. Pulling the old place down was harder than selling this one.

One has told friends, Two and GGF are planning on being here, we might invite people ... I think I might plan a big bbq for after the auction. So we can celebrate (or commiserate - but let's not have those thoughts) afterwards.

Other stuff ....

• feet are getting much better. I might get the widening arse out of bed earlier next week and start moving again.
• and whether I do or not, I need to get the eating and drinking back under control
• work is good
• Three got some nasty sores on his face. Was prescribed antibiotics. One developed the same and went to the doctor today. Doctor Mum had diagnosed a highly contagious staph/strep infection and ... was right!! Don't know where the initial infection came from but they have probably shared a towel and that was enough to spread it. I had to suggest that they let certain wimmin know. Almost as bad as an STD!! I said ALMOST!!

And on that note I'm going to suggest that they feed the parents for once.

I guess Himself and I will starve!

little green apples

When the declutterer came through on Wednesday she also gave us tips on decor. Which we dutifully followed.

One such tip was to get a long bowl and fill it with green apples and place it on the kitchen bench. Himself went to the supermarket on Friday afternoon just before the photographer was due to arrive. We had spent the morning searching for other decor items and I was busy filling vases with impressive arrays of floral bling and piling stones around soft mocha candles and rolling hand towels and ... well you get the picture. Granny Smith apples would have to be the one apple that you can get year in and year out.

On Friday there were none to be had in the supermarket. Himself found some in a greengrocer.

Yesterday and today we went to several auctions to get a feel for what's out there and what people are paying. Incidentally it was the biggest auction weekend on record with 1400 properties up for auction across Melbourne.

Every house we went into had a bowl of green apples on the kitchen bench!

we've been decluttered!

Himself stayed home this morning and worked with the declutterer.

The difference already is amazing. An already fairly big house (for this area) looks enormous! There are still several things we need to do to make the place look even more saleable which involve the purchase of things like candles and wicker and shiny stones and tall plants and the like. And the removal of 'personals' ... and the storehouse of toilet paper!!

The photographer is coming on Friday afternoon and most of this stuff needs to be done by then. I asked my boss if I could leave at lunch time on Friday and she told to me to take the day off.

So I am.

zoom zoom zoom

Himself got a really good bonus from work and this is his way of saying thankyou for all the shit we've put up from his work and all the time he's spent away from home over the past 3 years.

He has mentioned a new car for me for a while. He felt really guilty about trading in my Mitsubishi Mirage on the Subaru. He fought tooth and nail when I bought Phoebe (still don't know why). Lately he started talking about getting me a new car which I didn't take terribly seriously. Then he took me to see a Suzuki Swift on Saturday. Then he and Three went to the motor show yesterday and they both decided that this car would be perfect for me. We had a look at one today and I fell in love.

So.

Kermett, Francesca Frog or do you have a better suggestion?

The lease on his car expires next month. We had planned to pay out the balance but I think I have talked him into getting a Mazda 3 (or similar) on another lease and we will put enough away to be able to pay out that lease in 3-4 years.

The house is ready. Well, almost! One and Three need to get their rooms neat and tidy and I want to clear out the kitchen cupboards. There are a couple of spots that need painting (and I mean spots, not walls). But if someone came through tomorrow I wouldn't be too stressed. All the hard slog is done. And it looks bloody good!

We went to an auction on Saturday just up the road. It was passed in on a vendor's bid with, apparently, three interested parties. We expected it to be sold immediately post auction but still no SOLD sign. We are a bit concerned but think that people think their houses are worth more than they are. The market dictates what a property is worth. The boom from last year is over thanks to the interest rate hikes. And every area will reach a peak and I think ours has. But that doesn't mean that values will dive. It just means we have to be realistic which I hope we are.

Whatever ... we will know on April 19th.

The foot is getting better. Slowly but it's happening. I had hoped to be running or at least walking by now but that would be stupid. I see the podiatrist tomorrow and will hopefully get a better idea of when I can start to do some weight bearing exercise again.

I think I have been in a bit of a blue funk. After the conversation with my boss's boss last Thursday and with my boss on Friday I felt a lot more confident about my job. And I also realised that even though I'm not exercising at the moment and feel rather blobby, I'm not 93 kilos of total sloth.

Life is looking pretty good.

zoom zoom zoom :)

We have a timetable.

The agent came around this evening with the advertising schedule and timetable.

Next Wednesday the clutter nazi comes around (and I probably shouldn't have referred to her as such when discussing the process with my Jewish physio ... or am I being oversensitive and rather dumb? I had an "oh shit" moment as the words fell out of my mouth). On Friday the photographer will be around and the copywriter (WTF? she writes the flowery blurb that accompanies the board, adverts and the like) will be in touch to arrange a walk through. The agents come through on the 18th and the board will be up later that week. And the property will be on the internet. All before Easter. Which is in 3 weeks. The first open for inspection (OFI) will be on Wednesday 26th with OFIs occurring every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday until the final viewing at 11.30 on Saturday 19th April prior to auction at midday.

It's all happening, folks.

The exercising and healthy eating isn't. But I'll deal with that after this weekend as I am hoping the foot will be on the mend and the stress of getting the house up to scratch will over. Then it's a case of just living in the house and getting used to keeping it spic and span which is a habit we NEED to get into as the new house will be lived in as if it was on the market. As in neat, clean and tidy and free of dents and dings.

And I am looking forward to walking again and eating clean. The running will take a while.

And my bosses still want to keep me. How good is that.

Life is looking up after a week or three of being rather difficult.

One of THOSE days!

Himself had to go to Sydney again. True to form he arranged to be booked on an early flight which meant he had to get up at 5.00 and be out of the house by 5.30. Now I know this isn't early for some of you. Hells bells it's not been early for me. But I resent the fact that whenever he travels for work he always does the traveling on HIS time. But I digress.

He kissed me goodbye and off he went. I went back to sleep. I was in the middle of one of those disturbing dreams that can leave you quite disorientated when the phone rang. At 6.00. Once I realised that the phone ringing wasn't part of the dream I answered it silently cursing Himself for ringing me half an hour before he had a right to. He had left his suit jacket which contained his wallet, boarding pass etc draped over the back of his chair in the study. And he was almost at the airport for a 7.15 flight. After a bit of nonsensical conversation I threw some clothes on, grabbed my car keys and flew out of the front door. Only to realise that I had left the jacket still draped over the back of his chair in the study. And THEN I realised that the car keys I had grabbed didn't have a house key on them. I hobbled (sore foot, remember, worse in the mornings) around to the back of the house and banged on Three's window to get him to wake up and open the back door. At which point Himself rang me back to tell me where to meet him. I hopped through the house mumbling something to Three, grabbed the jacket and took off. I met Himself at the freeway exit, tossed the jacket to him (after checking that wallet etc was in there ... I'm not totally stupid!) and drove home. Himself made good time back to the airport but then got stuck in a traffic jam of cars trying to access the car park. He arrived at his gate just as they closed so he missed his flight after all. And had to purchase another one on his credit card. And the company had better reimburse him. And he has finally decided that these early morning flights are a thing of the past. Hallelujah.

A pretty quiet day at work but still a fair bit of walking around.

Supermarket on the way home to buy makings for macaroni cheese - special request from Three.

Came home. Started white sauce. Lumpy. Stirred and stirred. Still lumpy. Cooked pasta. Placed in oven dish. Too much pasta. Pasta on floor. Opened jar of tomato paste to add to lumpy white sauce. Spilled tomato paste all over bench top, stove top and me. Considered crying. Decided it was too much effort. Stirred lumpy, now pink sauce through pasta and topped with buttered bread crumbs. Cursed self for not making this in such a long time that I had forgotten how to do it on auto pilot.

Three came home and was so excited about macaroni cheese for dinner. I hope it lives up to his expectation.

One went to a concert on Friday with Three and a whole lot of mates. On Saturday he was in a lot of pain and said his left nut was blue but he couldn't remember getting hit or kicked in said nut which I would have thought he would remember. Anyway, we didn't see much of him over the weekend but Three informed me that he (One) was worried about his nut. I received an email from him asking for the phone number of our doctor. I spoke with him and suggested he come down to the ED at work so he could have it ultrasounded if needs be but he has made an appointment with the GP tomorrow. And now he's home and stressing about what could be wrong. Kids!!

I had plans to attack the laundry or a bathroom or the kitchen but a cold chardonnay was more appealing. And an early night.

Next weekend, maybe next weekend.

Every Friday night we plan our attack on the house convinced that by Sunday evening it will be spick and span and ready to sell.

Every Sunday night we think that maybe it will all be done by NEXT weekend.

The carpets haven't come up as well as we would have liked but I have placed furniture in strategic spots and that will have to do. This weekend I have washed every fucking wall in the house. Three times. Once with sugar soap, then a wet rag to rinse and then dried with a towel. I cannot believe the difference it has made. The place look so clean and fresh. Himself painted the front doors. The step was worn and needed painting so he gave the doors a coat as well and I can't believe the difference THAT has made. I think it is so important to have the front of your house looking as good a possible. First impressions and all that. By the time the prospective purchaser gets to the back of the house they will have decided whether or not they are interested.

I need to get into the laundry and tidy that up, clean the shower recesses and make sure the bathrooms are sparkling. The kitchen cupboards need washing down and I might tidy them in case anyone takes a peek inside. But I can do that anytime until Easter.

So this time next weekend I might be sitting in a house that just needs to be regularly dusted and vacuumed. Once the open for inspections start (the week after Easter) and we start to get some feedback as to what price people are prepared to pay Himself and I can start realistically planning what we can afford to replace.

Yesterday we went down to Bonbeach and caught up with Neil and Suze. Although I communicate with Suze on a regular basis (email is a wonderful thing) we haven't seen each other face to face for some weeks. We sat on their balcony and had a drink or two watching the birdlife on the lake and golf course. Then we wondered along the path on the levee and had a look at what's been happening with our house. Every other place in the stage has some degree of framework up. They haven't even poured our slab!! We aren't concerned as they are moving along at a great pace.

Today Other Brother and Mrs Other came over as they are down from Canberra for a couple of days. I took them down and showed them the place and we slowly strolled down to the beach and back (very slowly as Mrs Other is getting over 'flu). It was a perfect day. Blue skies and sunshine but not too hot. Lots of people out and about on the bike path, the river and the bay. Just glorious. I think Mrs Other is a bit envious (she would love to move back to Melbourne) and both she and Other Brother approve of our move. I was able to take them through the house-prepared-earlier so they could get an idea of what ours will be like.

The feet have been a bit iffy this weekend. I think new orthotics will do the trick eventually but I have been in quite a bit of pain. Icing and stretching seems to help. I am so looking forward to exercising again. Mind you, I have done a fair bit of cardio work washing those damned walls. Worked up quite a sweat, I did.

We went to a couple of auctions yesterday and were encouraged by the results. They were conducted by the agents we have signed with and were also very impressed with the auctioneer. He really knows the area and sells it and the properties well.

Back to work tomorrow. A 5 day week and then three 4 day weeks (labour day and Easter). In April I will have two 4 day weeks (an ADO and Anzac day) and then I will be doing a course that runs over 3 days on two consecutive weeks so that will be an interesting break. And then we will be well into May.

Have a great week.