Out of the mouthes of babes and Branwens.....

We took the kids to see the new house yesterday.

Reality has started to dawn.

Lots of children swarming over the house and much "this is my room"ing

A chance to look again at our proposals for the house and measure them against what is really there.

It is quite hard for them, my children have no recall of a morning where they did not wake with this house as home. We are known colectivly in the locality by the house name.

The girls were quiet. Taliesin was positively silent. There is no where to ride his motor bike drive his land rover or a green goddess.

Branwen, who we have always called wise old Branwen said:

"It does not really matter what we think dad, we will only be here for a few years and then we will be gone to university and work. Al that matters is that you and mummy like the place and will be happy here."

And I think she is right and we will.

R

Bored bored bored.

The mist has fallen on the hills and damp wetness bleeds from an ashen sky.

The wind tosses is everywhere and rattles the french doors causing nasty draughts to whirl and swirl around me as I sit at the computer.

I really should go and get some firewood.

I really should get up and light the fire.

I really should clean the table

I really should read the 8 application forms I brought home from University to short list for interview.

I really should go up the drive and see if the application pack for a governor post for the Care Council is there.

I really should....

The sky is grey the mist is grey my mood is grey.

I am bored bored bored.

R

Deal done

I am still in bed.

The bed we bought last year to replace one that was many years old.

The Velux I have laid at night and looked out of to see the stars roll by lets in the weak light from a cloudy sky.

It has resonated with rain, rattled with wind and poured in sunshine.

All those things I have seen through my special window.

Another is Gwions window, where as a baby he would look in wonder at the wonderful vista that is the view from here.

They say that location is all, and they are right.

This has been a very special house for us. The place where we have brought up our children. They are wonderful children and the wonder of this place has been part of them and will be forever.

My oak tree, the one I planted in 199,3 is growing and will stay here to be part of here for another century.

I will not. But this house will be a place of happy memory a bustling busy house for us and a bustling busy house for another family now.

I would hate for my children to visit me here when I am old and only feel the empty echo of their childhood.


R

Endings.

Today i did one of our annual rituals.

I lit the Aga.

Now unlike previous years I took the thing to bits and cleared everything rather than just light it and coat the house with soot.

But as I did that I was aware, old Wyn the plumber who came out here and did the job I did, and then told me that I knew how to to do it now and don't call him again to do that again.

But, I suspect, I will never pull the bell out of our lovely aga again.

Someone bought that, it was their pride and joy.

It was theirs in about 1930.

Now pause

When did you change your cooker last - quite.

Agas are cookers you buy, put in, and leave as part of you that is part of here.

Others decide if they are going to pick up the banner

People love them or hate them

We have sold this house

Today I serviced that aga for the last time.

I could of course take it with me but I will not.

This aga belongs to this house, just like the range she says we are buying belongs o our new home.



R

We probably agreed to pay too much.

There is the rub.

However, this whole process has left me in total meltdown.

At least it is sort of done now.

We know where we are headed.

I think I need to escape to Brittany with management very soon.

The mistress of all we may soon owe a hell of a lot less money on.

I hope.

R

Oh dear what have I done

So today things came to a head.

We did the deal.

What a game of poker!

Offer 250k

Reply 300

O 270

R 285 without polytunnel garden sauna and living van

"Fine by me I was going to have to pay to have the van taken away"

O 275

R 280 and leave the lot behind.

There we have it the deal is done.

We are armed with red paint and heading for town.

R

What morning

We awoke today to precipitation on the torrential side of torrent.

Management went to take youngest to skool and braved the swollen flooded roads and home to give me an impressive list of tasks all of which are on life in Noah's house hold.

For the third time in 15 years we have the spring in the living room in active mode.

She is on her knees with towels and buckets impersonating Canute and being nearly as successful.

Thank goodness the buyers surveyor is not popping in today.

R