I've just hung two original Steve Johnston prints, worth approximately £375 each, up on my living room wall. They look BEAUTIFUL!
I seriously can't stop looking at them.
(Strike a Pose and A Quick Getaway if you're interested!)
Showing posts with label the house. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the house. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Close call
Just a quickie to say thank you all for your support and kind words. I have been so stressed that I haven't even being on the pc!
Anyway, you will all be delighted (though not as much as me though!) to know that I FINALLY exchanged and completed on Tuesday, the last day of my mortgage offer!!!
Will be back to check in soon, I'm off to paint... :-)
Anyway, you will all be delighted (though not as much as me though!) to know that I FINALLY exchanged and completed on Tuesday, the last day of my mortgage offer!!!
Will be back to check in soon, I'm off to paint... :-)
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Maybe not
Well exchange didn't happen! Mortgage lenders suddenly came up with a shopping list of near impossible demands, and at this point (considering my mortgage offer runs out on Tues!) it looks like the whole thing is going Pete Tong.
I'm more than a little frustrated, and a few tears have been shed!
I'm more than a little frustrated, and a few tears have been shed!
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Twice lucky...?
For the second time this week I have been told exchange will be tomorrow! Fingers crossed...!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Signs
It suddenly occurred to me the other day that when the eternally lengthy move finally takes place, my postcode will go from...
*** *BJ (yes, I have had the comments!)
to...
*** *GF
A sign of changes to come...?
*** *BJ (yes, I have had the comments!)
to...
*** *GF
A sign of changes to come...?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Finished!
The house is being formally handed over from developers to housing association tomorrow!
It's finished! At last!!
It's finished! At last!!
See...!
The front!
The back! 
The garden!
Monday, May 05, 2008
Back up
So, it's been a while...
Jenn came, she saw, she survived! It was good to meet her, and we all had a great time in Blah as I know Vi and Jenn have described.
Since then, my work team won yet another regional award (health this time!), which meant a swanky night out in posh frocks and gorgeous new leopard print shoes, and we are now waiting to hear if we have been shortlisted nationally. Fingers crossed all.
The house now has grass in the back and flowers in the front. Yay!! So just the drive to do now I think. Roll on builders!
Not much else to tell I don't think! Well, I did spend Friday night out with The Bride and a whole bunch of lovely policemen... but nah, no gossip I'm afraid!
Jenn came, she saw, she survived! It was good to meet her, and we all had a great time in Blah as I know Vi and Jenn have described.
Since then, my work team won yet another regional award (health this time!), which meant a swanky night out in posh frocks and gorgeous new leopard print shoes, and we are now waiting to hear if we have been shortlisted nationally. Fingers crossed all.
The house now has grass in the back and flowers in the front. Yay!! So just the drive to do now I think. Roll on builders!
Not much else to tell I don't think! Well, I did spend Friday night out with The Bride and a whole bunch of lovely policemen... but nah, no gossip I'm afraid!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Moving
Have spent the whole day packing and moving boxes, and am now knackered!
Unfortunately, not to the house of my dreams but instead at work - in preparation for the premises move that occurs tomorrow. At least it will be out of the way before the home move!
Talking of house news, all is progressing. The house is getting there at last! Internally all appears to be done (from what I can see through the windows!), except the kitchen floor laying. Outside, which has been the hold up, the drive now has the first layer done, the fence has been erected, the path is laid, the mud is in! All it needs now is the pavements completing, the turf laying, plants planting and the drive getting its final tarmaccy layer.
Here it is yesterday (when fence wasn't quite finished!)
In other news, we have just been shortlisted for another award (the 3rd in the last 6 months!), a health one this time, and so myself and The Bride are off to a posh do next Wednesday evening to celebrate and find out if we've won. Time to get the posh frock out for that one! (If I can get into the damn thing!!)
On top of all that excitement, this weekend I will be attempting to entertain the lovely Jenn who is travelling from a land far, far away and stopping by to say hi to Vi and myself, (and Middy too I believe!) and will hopefully survive the excitement of Blah and the dullness of my little local area. So, if any of you happen to be passing our way this weekend, then please get in touch and join the international mini-blog meet!!
Finally, it would be completely remiss of me not to mention best friend JRTC's new family addition, their first Kiwi child, who is quite simply one of the most gorgeous creatures I've seen in a long time! Say hello to Derek ...
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Onwards
Well, Saturday was a pretty ropey day, but fortunately I had no kiddies so could indulge in a few tears, going back to bed all morning, reading all afternoon, some head clearing driving (and smoking) and then an evening with Lily before working from 11pm to 2am on outreach.
Sunday was another alone day, so I did pretty much the same again - without the tears or driving - and now it's back to normal service resumed. No point in continuing to dwell, however frustrating the whole thing is!
I am off work this week, thank goodness, so spent a lazy day with the kids (and a new Martina Cole novel) yesterday, with a trip to a local country park to get a bit of exercise and blow away the cobwebs in the afternoon, followed by a trip to a local farm centre this afternoon with X (Y declined!) to see some animals and end up on a 2 mile round walk!
In house news, I've now been told that it won't be completed until the end of May!!! For fuck's sake, though looking on the bright side it does give me 2 more paydays to save a bit of cash and pay for my carpets. The only problem being that my mortgage offer runs out the middle of June so they better get there fingers out or the whole thing will be off completely.
And that's about it at the moment! Oh, the excitement....!
Sunday was another alone day, so I did pretty much the same again - without the tears or driving - and now it's back to normal service resumed. No point in continuing to dwell, however frustrating the whole thing is!
I am off work this week, thank goodness, so spent a lazy day with the kids (and a new Martina Cole novel) yesterday, with a trip to a local country park to get a bit of exercise and blow away the cobwebs in the afternoon, followed by a trip to a local farm centre this afternoon with X (Y declined!) to see some animals and end up on a 2 mile round walk!
In house news, I've now been told that it won't be completed until the end of May!!! For fuck's sake, though looking on the bright side it does give me 2 more paydays to save a bit of cash and pay for my carpets. The only problem being that my mortgage offer runs out the middle of June so they better get there fingers out or the whole thing will be off completely.
And that's about it at the moment! Oh, the excitement....!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Stressed
Very, very, very stressed about the house thing at present!
Not least because I have just discovered I will have to pay stamp duty of £750, which I hadn't factored into my budgeting, not to mention the £750 mortgage fee I'd forgotten about!!!
Aaaarghhhh!!
Not least because I have just discovered I will have to pay stamp duty of £750, which I hadn't factored into my budgeting, not to mention the £750 mortgage fee I'd forgotten about!!!
Aaaarghhhh!!
Monday, March 03, 2008
Nothing much to say
I'm afraid life is fine, but very dull at the moment.
I am spending far too much time on ebay, looking at (and sometimes buying) things for my lovely new house - which, as far as I know is still on track, although I still haven't had the mortgage offer or a completion date! I am hoping that it will coincide with the kids school holidays this year, which are the second and third weeks of April, and that doesn't seem very far away now! Have to admit that there is also a bit of me that thinks that something will go wrong and I won't get it after all, but I am trying to quash those demons with spending!
Not been up to much on the social life front. Went to a Bon Jovi tribute night with Gerii, Lily, her sister and assorted mates, and her neighbours the weekend before last, which was a significant step up from jazz, although very disturbing as "Jon Bon Jovi" was only about 12 it seemed to me, and a little disconcerting as a sex god in leather pants (as the real one is of course!). Was a good night though, helped along by her two neighbours who were both completed wasted! One of them ended the night being sick in her drive and then falling in it apparently! Fortunately that was after I dropped them home!
This weekend CJ came round Saturday night and we drank copious amounts of wine (see, I do drink sometimes!) and chatted until 3am! That was fine until I was woken every half hour from 7am onwards by X, wanting to do her "mothers day party"!
Oh, the excitement may just kill me!
I am spending far too much time on ebay, looking at (and sometimes buying) things for my lovely new house - which, as far as I know is still on track, although I still haven't had the mortgage offer or a completion date! I am hoping that it will coincide with the kids school holidays this year, which are the second and third weeks of April, and that doesn't seem very far away now! Have to admit that there is also a bit of me that thinks that something will go wrong and I won't get it after all, but I am trying to quash those demons with spending!
Not been up to much on the social life front. Went to a Bon Jovi tribute night with Gerii, Lily, her sister and assorted mates, and her neighbours the weekend before last, which was a significant step up from jazz, although very disturbing as "Jon Bon Jovi" was only about 12 it seemed to me, and a little disconcerting as a sex god in leather pants (as the real one is of course!). Was a good night though, helped along by her two neighbours who were both completed wasted! One of them ended the night being sick in her drive and then falling in it apparently! Fortunately that was after I dropped them home!
This weekend CJ came round Saturday night and we drank copious amounts of wine (see, I do drink sometimes!) and chatted until 3am! That was fine until I was woken every half hour from 7am onwards by X, wanting to do her "mothers day party"!
Oh, the excitement may just kill me!
Monday, February 11, 2008
At last!
FINALLY, my offer letter came from the housing association on Saturday! Hoo bloody ray!
ALL I need to do now is sort out my mortgage, wait for them to build it, and then... find the bloody money. Aargh!
I'm seriously starting to panic about having enough money for solicitors fees, mortgage fees, first months mortgage, moving in costs, carpeting, furniture, and so on and so on! Perhaps I should put a little wish list on here for all you lovely bloggers to buy me a housewarming gift, lol!
In other news, I am generally much brighter in spirits now, after a dire week! I came down with a really awful cold Tuesday night, but literally had so much on that I couldn't miss work on Wednesday or Thursday so went in looking and feeling like crap. Did at least manage to get some major pieces of work off my desk though, so the juggling act is feeling slightly more manageable, and also stayed off work on Friday - which did me the world of good.
So, back to fighting fit, for now at least!
ALL I need to do now is sort out my mortgage, wait for them to build it, and then... find the bloody money. Aargh!
I'm seriously starting to panic about having enough money for solicitors fees, mortgage fees, first months mortgage, moving in costs, carpeting, furniture, and so on and so on! Perhaps I should put a little wish list on here for all you lovely bloggers to buy me a housewarming gift, lol!
In other news, I am generally much brighter in spirits now, after a dire week! I came down with a really awful cold Tuesday night, but literally had so much on that I couldn't miss work on Wednesday or Thursday so went in looking and feeling like crap. Did at least manage to get some major pieces of work off my desk though, so the juggling act is feeling slightly more manageable, and also stayed off work on Friday - which did me the world of good.
So, back to fighting fit, for now at least!
Monday, January 07, 2008
Mire
Buying a house is a nightmare I am sure, but it seems buying a shared ownership house is even more fucking maddening!!
When I approached my mortgage broker (recommended by reputable site moneysavingexpert.com) I initially wanted a promise of a mortgage, as at that point, there was no guarantee that I would be offered the house, but I needed to prove for my application that I could get a mortgage if I was offered the house.
They assured me this would be fine, and due to the fact this is a shared ownership property and that my credit rating is not what it should be, recommended a particular company. They sent me some costings based on my application etc, and their communications with the lender. However, that seems to not be enough, as I have not had any direct communication or confirmation from the lender themselves to say I would be approved for a mortgage if offered the house.
As it happens, the housing association selling have already informed me verbally that I am going to be offered the house, although I have not yet received an offer letter as they are still working out figures for the rent part. This should be, at this point, incidental for the mortgage company as I only want an okay that I will be accepted for a mortgage (subject to the house meeting the relevant cost criteria of course). However, the lender my mortgage broker has recommended is already insisting that a valuation be done by a surveyor, even though the house is currently only at dry-wall stage, before being able to approve my mortgage.
Still with me? Trust me, I'm only just there! As a result, I cannot get my mortgage confirmed until the survey has been done, although the housing association are saying they are not happy with a survey being done as a) they havent taken ownership of the house yet, b) they haven't officially offered me the house yet!
Talk about going round in circles!!!
So, I have the housing association telling me that it isn't usual for them to have surveys done at this stage, or to fill in the form requested by the lender, and my broker telling me that it is usual, to ensure the plot exists, mortgage value is correct etc. And somewhere in the middle of all this is me, with no bloody clue as to what to do or when!
I am currently very tempted to approach a different lender independently, and see whether I can source what I originally wanted - an agreement to lend - without all this seemingly premature hassle from the mortgage company I'm currently applying to, as I'm just getting sick of it. That and a steady drip feed of documents to supply, which I could have done all in one go when I sent in my initial application form if I had been asked!! I understand the need to provide evidence, and get surveys, and all of that, but I don't really understand why it all has to be done now! Before I've even recieved an offical offer! The problem is that I may decide to do this myself and then just end up having to repeat the whole process entirely - not to mention the fact that I have already sent off a cheque for £190 valuation fee as requested.
Bloody house buying!!
When I approached my mortgage broker (recommended by reputable site moneysavingexpert.com) I initially wanted a promise of a mortgage, as at that point, there was no guarantee that I would be offered the house, but I needed to prove for my application that I could get a mortgage if I was offered the house.
They assured me this would be fine, and due to the fact this is a shared ownership property and that my credit rating is not what it should be, recommended a particular company. They sent me some costings based on my application etc, and their communications with the lender. However, that seems to not be enough, as I have not had any direct communication or confirmation from the lender themselves to say I would be approved for a mortgage if offered the house.
As it happens, the housing association selling have already informed me verbally that I am going to be offered the house, although I have not yet received an offer letter as they are still working out figures for the rent part. This should be, at this point, incidental for the mortgage company as I only want an okay that I will be accepted for a mortgage (subject to the house meeting the relevant cost criteria of course). However, the lender my mortgage broker has recommended is already insisting that a valuation be done by a surveyor, even though the house is currently only at dry-wall stage, before being able to approve my mortgage.
Still with me? Trust me, I'm only just there! As a result, I cannot get my mortgage confirmed until the survey has been done, although the housing association are saying they are not happy with a survey being done as a) they havent taken ownership of the house yet, b) they haven't officially offered me the house yet!
Talk about going round in circles!!!
So, I have the housing association telling me that it isn't usual for them to have surveys done at this stage, or to fill in the form requested by the lender, and my broker telling me that it is usual, to ensure the plot exists, mortgage value is correct etc. And somewhere in the middle of all this is me, with no bloody clue as to what to do or when!
I am currently very tempted to approach a different lender independently, and see whether I can source what I originally wanted - an agreement to lend - without all this seemingly premature hassle from the mortgage company I'm currently applying to, as I'm just getting sick of it. That and a steady drip feed of documents to supply, which I could have done all in one go when I sent in my initial application form if I had been asked!! I understand the need to provide evidence, and get surveys, and all of that, but I don't really understand why it all has to be done now! Before I've even recieved an offical offer! The problem is that I may decide to do this myself and then just end up having to repeat the whole process entirely - not to mention the fact that I have already sent off a cheque for £190 valuation fee as requested.
Bloody house buying!!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Spooked
I hate having a bath at night time! Or more particularly, I hate having a bath at night time when everybody else in the house is asleep! It properly freaks me out!!
That said, I am now clean, pink and shiny, all ready for our work trip to London for the Home Office award we won recently. Yippee do! Nothing like a free trip to London and a nice bit of nosh!
In house news... I have been accepted by the regional housing agency as being eligible for shared ownership. Woohoo! One step down and just two more to go!
Other than that, not much to report really! Saturday night was spent with the work colleagues having some fabulous Spanish tapas and other assorted culinary treats - resulting in us all being too stuffed to go dancing, and instead having to be rolled home! And that's about it, I'm afraid! Perhaps I should rename myself "Dull Girl" for the foreseeable future...!
That said, I am now clean, pink and shiny, all ready for our work trip to London for the Home Office award we won recently. Yippee do! Nothing like a free trip to London and a nice bit of nosh!
In house news... I have been accepted by the regional housing agency as being eligible for shared ownership. Woohoo! One step down and just two more to go!
Other than that, not much to report really! Saturday night was spent with the work colleagues having some fabulous Spanish tapas and other assorted culinary treats - resulting in us all being too stuffed to go dancing, and instead having to be rolled home! And that's about it, I'm afraid! Perhaps I should rename myself "Dull Girl" for the foreseeable future...!
Monday, December 03, 2007
Teenagers!
Y has got the arse, and is now being deliberately annoying by randomly wandering around the house doing nothing in particular, and saying "nothing" whenever I ask what he's doing. This may be due to me adding a password to the pc, which means he can't use it unless I'm here - as a result of some stupid emails he has been sending, not to mention the fact that I get fed up of getting home at 6pm every night to find him sat glued to the computer, where he's been since getting home at 4pm - sometimes without having even got up to put the light on! He's now, very intensely, reading the failed delivery card that came through the door from parcelforce!! He's usually a great kid, but when he's horrid, he's certainly horrid! Oh, and X is having one of those "I can't sleep Mummy" evenings. Give me strength...
Had a late start to work this morning, due mainly to a lack of motivation in getting my arse there - not helped by the fact that I've got several large pieces of work to do that I just cannot get in the mood for - so after an early bath with posh shampoo and conditioner, followed by Creme de la Mer face scrub and Estee Lauder face cream, I decided to go via the Beauty Salon and get a sunbed and an eyebrow wax at the same time. All good except for the fact that she bloody scalped me!!! I now have thinner eyebrows than Barbie! I was also going to get a new tattoo, but they were closed today for some reason. Damn inconsiderate I reckon!
In house news, I have now sent my completed mortgage application off, and got the number for a recommended solicitor - so nothing to do now but wait I guess. One good piece of news is that The Broker rang this evening to check I had posted everything and mentioned that my rate may end up being lower than I've been quoted for! Something to do with being eligible for some new scheme or other - no complaints here, anything less extortionate is fine by me!
Had a late start to work this morning, due mainly to a lack of motivation in getting my arse there - not helped by the fact that I've got several large pieces of work to do that I just cannot get in the mood for - so after an early bath with posh shampoo and conditioner, followed by Creme de la Mer face scrub and Estee Lauder face cream, I decided to go via the Beauty Salon and get a sunbed and an eyebrow wax at the same time. All good except for the fact that she bloody scalped me!!! I now have thinner eyebrows than Barbie! I was also going to get a new tattoo, but they were closed today for some reason. Damn inconsiderate I reckon!
In house news, I have now sent my completed mortgage application off, and got the number for a recommended solicitor - so nothing to do now but wait I guess. One good piece of news is that The Broker rang this evening to check I had posted everything and mentioned that my rate may end up being lower than I've been quoted for! Something to do with being eligible for some new scheme or other - no complaints here, anything less extortionate is fine by me!
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Rushing by
Well I'm officially a whole year older since the last time I posted!
Went out for all you can eat Chinese with X,Y, work colleagues and partners on Friday night, which was both delicious and muchly pleasant. Last night was spent bowling followed by drinks (with a bit of dancing thrown in) at the local dive, accompanied by my sister Lottie and friends Bea, Lily, her sister Daisy, Gerii, Disco and Joy. It was a really nice night, although my bowling skills left a lot to be desired, and great to catch up with folks.
I also had some great presents, including Thorntons chocolates and a cactus from X, a silver heart necklace from Y, 2 series of Charmed on dvd from my mum, £20 from my dad, expensive salon hair products from work, Garnier face products from Disco, a new silver watch from Bea, and a funky Roxy handbag all the way from New Zealand (via Australia!) from JRTC! Not to mention the Creme De La Mer facial scrub and Estee Lauder face cream I treated myself to!
Alas, none of the following face products, phone or jewelry on my 'far too expensive to ever actually obtain' list were forthcoming, but one can but dream!
The housebuying is still on track - though still incredibly early days unfortunately, and as it stands right now...
- the application to the regional housing association to register for a property has been completed and sent off
- the application to the local housing association for that particular property has been completed and sent off
- a mortgage company have agreed a 2yr fixed (extortionate due to poor credit) rate mortgage that will skint me but is affordable
- my sister has agreed to lend me £2k, to be paid back when my Alliance yearly saver is up next January
I now need to complete the mortgage application form, get a mortgage guarantee certificate and send that in to the local housing association, and then wait to see if I'm eligible for shared ownership, and finally, if I'm then offered the house. Not too many hoops to jump then! The good thing about everything being brought forward is that they look at offering the houses around 8-12 weeks before they are built, which works out as the end December/beginning of January - so not too long to wait for either good or bad news.
Went out for all you can eat Chinese with X,Y, work colleagues and partners on Friday night, which was both delicious and muchly pleasant. Last night was spent bowling followed by drinks (with a bit of dancing thrown in) at the local dive, accompanied by my sister Lottie and friends Bea, Lily, her sister Daisy, Gerii, Disco and Joy. It was a really nice night, although my bowling skills left a lot to be desired, and great to catch up with folks.
I also had some great presents, including Thorntons chocolates and a cactus from X, a silver heart necklace from Y, 2 series of Charmed on dvd from my mum, £20 from my dad, expensive salon hair products from work, Garnier face products from Disco, a new silver watch from Bea, and a funky Roxy handbag all the way from New Zealand (via Australia!) from JRTC! Not to mention the Creme De La Mer facial scrub and Estee Lauder face cream I treated myself to!
Alas, none of the following face products, phone or jewelry on my 'far too expensive to ever actually obtain' list were forthcoming, but one can but dream!
The housebuying is still on track - though still incredibly early days unfortunately, and as it stands right now...
- the application to the regional housing association to register for a property has been completed and sent off
- the application to the local housing association for that particular property has been completed and sent off
- a mortgage company have agreed a 2yr fixed (extortionate due to poor credit) rate mortgage that will skint me but is affordable
- my sister has agreed to lend me £2k, to be paid back when my Alliance yearly saver is up next January
I now need to complete the mortgage application form, get a mortgage guarantee certificate and send that in to the local housing association, and then wait to see if I'm eligible for shared ownership, and finally, if I'm then offered the house. Not too many hoops to jump then! The good thing about everything being brought forward is that they look at offering the houses around 8-12 weeks before they are built, which works out as the end December/beginning of January - so not too long to wait for either good or bad news.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Virtuous
Still no mortgage quote yet.
The Broker rang yesterday evening to let me know that she was waiting on a decision from a lender, but as they close at 5pm she should get it today. Spoke to her again this evening, and apparently The Lender is currently inundated with applications so mine has not been processed yet. She has been assured it is 'near the top of the pile', and is hopeful it will be done tomorrow, and if not then she will continue to chase them for it.
Wish I just had the numbers, so I could at least see whether I can a) afford it, b) the housing scheme people think I can afford it, and c) I could just get my application sent off so I can then forget about it until after Christmas.
Ah well, I guess "patience is a virtue"...!
The Broker rang yesterday evening to let me know that she was waiting on a decision from a lender, but as they close at 5pm she should get it today. Spoke to her again this evening, and apparently The Lender is currently inundated with applications so mine has not been processed yet. She has been assured it is 'near the top of the pile', and is hopeful it will be done tomorrow, and if not then she will continue to chase them for it.
Wish I just had the numbers, so I could at least see whether I can a) afford it, b) the housing scheme people think I can afford it, and c) I could just get my application sent off so I can then forget about it until after Christmas.
Ah well, I guess "patience is a virtue"...!
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