Ups and downs and ups and down

Yesterday I was bouncy-bouncy jubilant as there were three pieces of good news to report:

a:    that I had booked my trip to New York and Washington
b:    that my decree nisi was due today
c:    that my offer on flat V had been accepted

Today I am a little closer to ground level because

a:    trip is still happening and even better, P is going to be there to play one night as well, but I'm relying on money from
b:    the settlement, which it now turns out is nowhere near my bank account.  I'm furious with XH and his frankly cretinous solicitors.  Mind you, they are all useless bastards.  Sorry, that's just been my experience to date.  They've sent back none of the paperwork which XH says was filed weeks ago and have not replied to chasers from my equally bloody useless representation
c:  there is now a potential problem with my mortgage lender, in that I can't prove last year's income because I haven't filed a tax return yet (it's due but not for another couple of months I think).  It's a bit more difficult to get a self-cert mortgage, plus it's ex-local authority in East London so a lot of lenders are sniffy.  I wish they would pull their heads out of their arses.  Just how many of them have tried to get on to the property ladder recently?  You're looking at £250k for a one bed that isn't ex-local, assuming you can get hold of one. It's incredibly infuriating.

So I'm now on the hunt for an accountant.  My dad would guarantee a mortgage but he's based in another country so that might not work either.  It's a lot to think about.  Please cross your fingers for me that this isn't going to be a stumbling block.  I feel that little flat is destined to be mine.  I just have to keep hoping that. 

And to take my mind off things, Dad's birthday socks are going well.

PS SWAP PEOPLE due to my present crapness, I did manage to buy my fabrics for my partners but I don't have them packaged up yet.  In the spirit of 'it's my party and I'll cry if I want to,' I'm extending all the deadlines by a week.  So get those packages in the post by the 22nd! 

Comments

[Lucy]

Oh goodness me, the valleys and mountains of life. I'm sure it will all sort out in the end but the sentiment about bastards is one my father has impressed on me and I find it very useful in all sorts of situations. Bank people are especially ghastly - I think they are bred somewhere dark and miserable and trained to inflict as much misery on ordinary folk. Keep grinning and don't let the bastards grind you down!

[JeanieB]

I often find that it's just when things seem so ludicrously complicated, that they start falling into place. We had our house on the market up North for 18 months and couldn't even give it away at auction - no one bid. From this lowest point we climed, with luck and synchronicity out of the impossible and now live in a fabby place down South. Hang on in there!
Socks look lovely :-)
x

[Thimbleanna]

Sending good thoughts your way -- hope things will all work out. Sounds like you have the same problems in the UK that we have in the US in regards to buying property. It's one of the things that gets me really grumpy. Gee. Guess I haven't been paying attention. Good thing you extended the date for mailing -- I thought we had until June 1st! Bad, Bad, Me. Oh, and thanks for the extension! Know what I'll be doing this weekend!

[Sarah]

Good luck with the flat!

Now I'm confused... wasn't the original mailing date the 20th?

[Sarah Jayne]

Hope all the flat stuff sorts itslef out. It's always a bit fraught.
I'm so glad you've extended the deadline for swaps - I'm off to Malvern on Sunday and may get a few extras there.

[Rebecca (living sustainably and felting in rural Ireland)]

How do solicitors get paid so MUCH for being SO inefficient? No seriously, thats a serious question. I actually do have a good solicitor at the moment, but previously, I had a string of useless ones. And if you are relying on two parties actually dealing with eachother via two solicitors, then forget it! They need walking hand in hand every step of the way to get the easiest task done. eg Hello A, are we there yet. A replies - no I'm waiting for x from B. Hello B, can you send A the x. B replies - I did 6 weeks ago. Hello A, B says they sent you x. A replies - well I haven't got it. Hello B, A hasn't got x, can you send x again now. Two weeks later; hello A have you got x. Erm, I think so, I'll have to check.
Two weeks later ; hello A have you found x yet? A replies - x, what x, I need z not x. etc etc etc.
I have also come to realise that when a solicitor says something will take 6 weeks, in real time, thats 2 years.

[Flibbertygibbet]

Yes Sarah, you're totally right, it was the 20th, now it's the 22nd... I am just being dippy.

[Jade]

I'm crossing my fingers for you....hopefully it all works out soon!

[claire]

Bollocks to crappy XH, his solicitors and stupid lenders!

Don't fret too much, I'm convinced that this flat is going to work out for you xx

[Helen]

Ah that all sounds like death by paperwork. Don't worry about the house - these things grind along incredibly slowly (in my v. limited experience) but they do seem to get there by some miracle in the end! Especially if you're determined to make it happen AND its meant to be!

[carol]

Being currently involved in a legal battle of sorts myself I can fully empathize with you. Right now all things lawyerly seem especially vile. But-I've found things usually work out okay. My bet is you will be sitting in your flat with a smile on your face before long...oh, and your NY trip sounds divine. Have fun!

[julie]

Hope the seesawing evens out some and everything comes together. It's defintely great that you've got the trip booked - sounds like it will be a fantastic one!