It's funny how quickly the world can change. So, I've (nearly) bought a new house, I've put mine on the market and I'm moving in with my very lovely man .... and his 17 yo daughter! Bet you didn't see that coming.
After the week in Cornwall, we went to Mallorca for 5 days. The 17 yo wanted to go away with us (and her boyfriend too). It seemed quite odd although as her mother booked a holiday to take the other two kids away without even telling her it was happening (she read on a siblings FB page) let alone even inviting her, I guess she wanted to feel wanted by her dad. Which was ok as far as it goes but she/they didn't really need us there. I don't lie in the sun, I like being away to see things and also to sit and relax (in the shade!) with a book. We could get a bus to Palma, which is a beautiful city and we strolled around and took lots of photos. But the resort was hideous - the worst of Brits abroad everywhere. I know I'm something of a snob and turn my nose up at the bare-chested men with a large collection of tattoos and I was expecting all that (we took the cheapest break we could because the kids were paying for themselves) but there were drunks falling down in the street in the mid afternoon and there was nowhere to eat that offered Spanish food. We found one bar run by Italians that was right on the beach and whilst the menu wasn't out of the ordinary, they put on specials each night based on what they had in that day. So we got seafood and salads and much more.
Anyway, before we went away, I'd noted that one of my neighbour's houses was for sale. We'd talked a little bit about moving in together after the divorce and to distract me from being annoyed about the ex being difficult at every turn, I thought I'd at least look around to see what there was. I live really near the station to commute to London which is really important because I don't want to add an additional bus or car journey to each end of what's already a long day. And we'd agreed years ago that he wouldn't move into my house because it has been my house for the best part of a decade before we got together so it wouldn't be fair on either of us. Anyhow, by the time we got back from holiday, the house price had been dropped a reasonable way. And when we talked about it, he said "well we could look" ......
How lethal is that! It was perfect. Near to the station, bedrooms for each of the kids (even the one who never visits - there'll be a sofa bed in that room!), open plan downstairs, which is what we wanted ...... So I did the sums and got the bank to agree finance even without selling mine, made an offer and it's mine (subject to the vendor's solicitors pulling their fingers out and doing things). My plans of slowly sorting through things I don't need here have become frantically quicker. Until I get quotes in from movers (why is it impossible to work out how much it costs - even ballpark), I can't work out whether I'm going to do it myself or pay someone else. If it's the former, I've got a lot of work to do just to get rid of things I really don't need and pack what I do have. It's a scary prospect.
On the D-word front, it's ticking away slowly. My lovely man is working away this week. He's sent her the final papers to sign so if she's done so, he can file for decree absolute fairly shortly. So we're keeping quiet about the house (as quiet as one can about a properly that's advertised in the paper). It doesn't mean she loses anything she's entitled to - indeed, in my humble opinion, she's already getting far more than she would be entitled to! - but we don't want to give her an excuse not to do things. She doesn't need any help with that at all.
So welcome to the madness of my world. I'm very much looking forward to it - but am quite scared too. Big steps!!
