Friday was a very busy day; we had to wait for Harriet to wake up before we could dismantle her wardrobes. They are mirror ones and very heavy and it wasn’t easy to take them apart. Harriet hadn’t really done very much in the way of packing and it took an hour and a half to get everything, well almost everything in 3 cars. Once at Caldecotte, Phil assembled the wardrobe and it was soon filled to the gunnels with Harriet’s clothes. This girl has no money, she wonders where her money goes, but I can tell you, it all goes on clothes, most of which I’ve never seen her wear! But hey, it’s her life and I guess I must have been the same about 25 ago.
We had to go back home to get an Alan key to dismantle the temporary clothes rail so we decided to leave Harriet’s car at Caldecotte, collect the last of Harriet’s possessions and go back to the flat in one car. By this time it was lunchtime so we first decided to go the pub in Walnut Tree for lunch. Harriet had never been there before and saw one of her colleagues from work. We had a nice lunch and to be honest it was just nice to sit down, Phil hadn’t had a good night’s sleep and neither had I and we were both absolutely knackered. No change there then. After the pub we took Harriet back to her flat, programmed her TV’s in and then went to DW for a Jacuzzi. We were almost dead on our feet at this point but unfortunately had to stop off at ASDA for a mini shop before heading home.
On Saturday morning I got up at 5am to prepare the vegetables to put in slow cooker. The recipe for my beef in red wine with onions needed 7-9 hours and I needed to get it cooking because Phil’s mum and dad were coming for lunch and like to eat at midday. By 6am it was all ready to throw in the crockpot; I was going to go back to bed to read but ended up doing domestics instead. I went over to Tesco at Kingston at 9 and then went to see Denise, at the nail and beauty salon at 9.30am. I don’t have waxing done very regularly these days, just now and then for a bit of a treat for holiday so I hadn’t seen Denise for a while. As always, she had a drama going down, on Saturday morning it was giving her dog away the night before; unfortunately for me she was more distracted and slapdash than ever. Waxing is not enjoyable at any time but a therapist who is ripping off strips of wax with one hand whilst talking on her mobile with the other is something else. I won’t be going back again. Time for me to find a new waxer.
I just got home just as Phil and his mum and dad were getting in the car to go and view the bungalow that we saw in Furzton last week. I kissed them hello and then said goodbye and went in and got on with the lunch. Lunch was easy, mash, cauliflower cheese and some fresh green beans from mum and dads garden. My timing was fairly spot on and I was just about ready to dish up when they came through the door.
Phil’s mum and dad really liked the bungalow at Furzton and after lunch we had a family discussion to decide on the way forward. It’s tricky (isn’t everything in our lives?) Earlier this week the bungalow received an offer for the full asking price. It’s not a perfect offer because it involves a long chain. The trouble is that Phil’s mum and dad’s house isn’t yet on the market and we don’t have a spare £190k in the bank to buy it outright. Of course, if our house sale goes through and I stress IF, then we will have most of the money to buy it for them but we will still be £30k short. This is an option and we would really like to be able to do something for them after all the financial help and support they’ve given us, but being away for a month means that we will not be here to make arrangements. Anyway, after much discussion around the table, we decided not to make an offer. If the said bungalow is still on the market when we got back and the chain hasn’t progressed and our sale goes through then maybe. There are a lot of ‘ifs’ in this equation. And as Phil’s mum concluded, if it’s meant to be then it’s meant to be. And so say I.
With discussions over and lunch dishes cleared away, Phil jumped in his dad’s car and drove mum and dad over to Overstone stopping off to pick up Georgina on the way so that he could show them our new caravan. Unfortunately the rains came down and they got a little wet but they all loved the caravan and the park. Time was cracking on and the rain hadn’t abated so mum and dad drove home and G dropped her dad back at home as she had to come to MK to work. Whilst Phil was out I had a chance to catch up with all my ironing which left Saturday night free. We didn’t do anything, watched a film, caught up with Homes under the Hammer followed by X-Factor and then Celebrity Big Brother in bed.
It seems a little strange not having Harriet thumping around the house. True, she spent most of the time in her room but even so, it feels a little weird. Her bedroom seems empty with the wardrobes gone and all of her stuff. I have hoovered and cleaned and feel I need to put some furniture back in the room to fill up the space. We found quite a large crack on the external wall which I know Phil wants to fill but I really can’t be arsed to paint. I did have some of the original paint in the shed but I checked and it has gone hard so I’ve had to throw it away. I think I shall just touch up the skirting board and put a cheap print so the crack isn’t so obvious. It will be a quick fix but it’s all I have time for.
Sunday was relaxed, a few jobs in the morning and then Harriet came round and we all went back over to Overstone Lakes Caravan Park. Sue was supposed to be coming with us but she phoned first thing to say her dad had had a serious fall and she’d been with him at MK General until 3am that morning. Poor Sue, it seems to be one problem after another.
We showed Harriet inside her caravan, she said it was bigger than her flat but it still dubious about the whole caravan idea. Whilst in the garden we got talking to our neighbours, Vikki & Dennis. They seemed nice enough, well kept garden and 2 yapping dogs. I explained that we were caravan virgins and Vikki very kindly said to feel free to ask her anything I liked. Umm, she may come to regret this! Phil wanted to have a drink at the club house, much to Harriet’s disdain. I think seeing so many ‘mature’ people whilst driving through the park and the lunchtime bingo session in the clubhouse didn’t really impress Harriet. I have to say, the bingo did freak me out at first, but hey, how lovely sitting outside in the sunshine watching people enjoying the outside heated pool with beautiful views of the lake and a chilled glass of chardonnay in hand. What more could a girl want?
We decided to have lunch at Overstone Manor, me and Phil had the carvery and Harriet went for the fish and chips. The pub was packed and we had to queue up but the food was very good plus we also managed to sit outside and eat our meals in the sun. After lunch we went to the sales office to pay our deposit. We’d already paid £200 to reserve but we paid another £1,000 on the old plastic which means that there is no going back. If we pull out then we lose all of our money. Now that the deposits paid, the park can carry out all the safety checks and connect up all the services. I know nothing about caravans and will need to read up; I feel that we have a lot to learn before we start our new gypsy life.
This brings me to Monday, the last day before we fly away. I have been so anxious these last couple of weeks and haven’t been in the tiniest bit excited about our next travel adventure, but today, with the ‘to do’ list almost empty, I am beginning to anticipate and look forward. I am sure we will have a great time and meet some interesting people and see some amazing sights. I am also certain that there will be a few bumps along the way but that’s just life, no one gets a truly smooth ride. This will probably be the last posting from me for a while. I shall quite happily hand over to Phil, who with all his excitement and enthusiasm, wilI have no doubt, provide you with more than enough entertainment for the next month. I will dip in here and there just to give you a girlie perspective but for now I’m signing off.
Byeeee !
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