Flat out

I arrived at our old flat later on Wednesday afternoon after a lovely time in Brighton with Irene and her family. 

To say I was disappointed with the condition of the place is an understatement.  It was filthy and definitely in need of TLC. So I went straight to the local supermarket and bought some cleaning stuff and have it a quick lick and a spit.  In no time it was looking much better, but still needs a lot of work.

Strangely finding the flat in such a pre state of repair means I am happier to let go.  I was worried I would be over-emotional but so far so good.  There are loads of memories but they aren't in the flat they are fixed firmly in my head. 

This morning I walked round to Lewisham to do a bit of shopping.  Along with the many changes there are many things that have stayed the same.

Lewisham isn't the most amazing place on Earth but it had what I needed today.  And that included breakfast in the Weatherspoons pub. A veggie all day brunch which was pretty much closer to perfect.

This afternoon I have been entertained by some of my loveliest and most caring friends.  Caroline arrived first in the pouring rain and we laughed about how happy we'll both be to return to our Spainand how poor some of our English has become.

Next Rita arrived.  This was our first meeting. We are both researching our family trees and have a cousin connection somewhere along the line. We've chatted online many a time but now have finally meet.

Finally Freda and Adrian arrived laden down with food for our lunch.  We reminisced about all the wonderful parties we've had here and I have to admit to a lump in my throat and a tear close by especially when Xali's name came into the mix, but I handled it, and kept my composure.  

It's been a brilliant day all in all for which I can thank my wonderful friends.  And tomorrow I start again. ....

Change

SO.... Back from another Camino on Saturday afternoon,  a couple of days to sort things here and now in a couple of hours I'm off to the UK on another big project. We have decided it's time to sell our flat in Brockley, and I'm off to clear the place ready for the sale.

I am full of mixed emotions about letting go of our one time home. We lived there for twenty or so amazing years and the memories are super-strong. It was our first home together where we raised our first kids, and said goodbye to some of them. It may only be bricks and mortar at the end of the day, but I know as I start to throw out and clean up I will be feeling full of so much emotion as the memories pour through. 

After ten years of not having lived there I had thought that when the day came to let go it would be relatively easy, but those darned butterflies bouncing round in my tummy are a warning of what I am about to go through.  

I know I'll get through it okay, especially with so many friends popping in to help with the process, either with rubber gloves and dusters, or grub and Cava, but I know there'll be tears amid the smiles. 

Going away

For the next few days I will be 'out of the office' -if I haven't mentioned it before I am off on another Camino. 

So if you're interested in following what I'm up to for the next week or so pop on over to 

The Camino - My Way 

Kindness abounds

Aren't people kind?!

Selling our flat in London is proving to be as stressful as we thought it would be, but people are rallying round to help out where and when they can. If you read yesterday's post you'll know that i am kinda prone to worry. 

First of all our solicitor asked for proof of identification.  We needed to get copies of our passports certified by a lawyer. Ho hum, I thought (Stress level up a point) how to do this is Spain, as any documentation would be all in Spanish (of course).  I then remembered that one of our co-allotment friends is a Scottish Lawyer. I sent her a message asking if she could oblige, at normal rates of course. She has said of course, and at no charge as a Horta buddy (Horta is Catalan for allotment).

Then a few minutes ago I received an email from our tenant asking if I would like him to leave the phone and internet connected until after my visit, again no charge. He has been a model tenant, and good friend now, and is happy to help out even though we are kicking him out. 

And after my invitation for anyone around to drop in on the Saturday I am in London for a farewell to London party I have had many offers of help with the clearing, including an offer to bring round lunch one of the day I am there and another offer of picking me up and dropping me off around town as I need it. 

I am truly lucky to have such kind and thoughtful friends.  Thank you to you all. 

Que Sera sera ....

Today I have mostly been worrying (see my Camino Blog for more details) - I know it does no good, but it's the way I'm built. 

I know worrying serves no purpose and just takes time from the present, and I am constantly trying to modify this useless behaviour, but more often than not I slip back into 'worry mode'. 

I have a mantra which usually helps - 'What will be will be' - I know a bit 'Doris Day', but there's nothing wrong with that. Today that mantra has been repeated over and over, and I am now in a place where I can relax. Stroking Cuddy and the cats always helps too.

I think my worrying in general comes from a place of frustration, a place where I cannot control or even have any effect on what's going on. I am not a complete control freak, but really dislike it when something may happen that I cannot influence to the better. But for now I am giving it over to the universe to manage for me. after all 'What will be will be'!! 

The Good Life

This morning I spent over three hours digging, weeding and generally busying around, up the allotment. 

Whether it's the hard work of digging, and believe me it's tough as the soil is so dry and hard  in most parts, whether it's being in the peace and quiet of the allotment, or whether it's seeing things growing and hearing the bees and insects buzzing around on their daily chores, but I always feel buoyed up. This morning I was joined by Paul, Jen and the lads for while, as we all mucked in. 

Coming home I raided our tomato plants for a nutritious lunch. I also grabbed some of the basil that we've growing by the back door, and a couple of onions recently plundered from the allotment: 

Cream of Tomato & basil soup, with white beans.

Oh, it's the good life.... (remember Tom and Barbara?)

Moving on ...

It had been feeling like the sale of our flat in London is taking forever, especially as most of it is being done by internet, meaning we end up waiting for replies -why don't people treat e-mail like the immediate communication it is? 

First of all the landlord's agents (it's a leasehold property) didn't pass on an e-mail I'd sent, claiming I hadn't given the information, until I resent the original copy with date stamp clearly showing a month before with all the information they had requested.

So over the past couple of days I was a little extra-proactive and today e.mails bounced back in from all parties concerned - Result. 

First of fall one from our solicitor letting us know that he had at last heard from the landlord's solicitors re the lease extension and requesting money, which was duly transferred- gotta love the rapidity of the internet. So that's all moving on.

Then an e-mail arrived from our tenant in reply to mine about my arrival in the UK in July to clear the flat. all sorted, and hopefully we'll meet up in July for a drink. I have to admit to feeling a little sorry about asking him to move on, but he seems quite okay with it all. 

And finally one from our prospective buyer confirming he has his mortgage all ready and is simply waiting for us to be ready to exchange contracts as soon as we're ready. Moving along nicely then.  

Hopefully everything will now rush along over the next few weeks ... watch this space for more updates...