We have a house!... We have a house!...

We have a house!... We have a house!... We have a house!... We have a house!... We have a house!... We have a house!... We have a house!... We have a house!... We have a house!... We have a house!... We have a house!... We have a house!... We have a house!... We have a house!... We have a house!... We have a house!... We have a house!...

(I'm just a little bit excited... can you tell?...)

This morning we paid the final invoice and took possession of the keys!!!!!

It wasn't without hiccups... our 10 minute settlement appointment became 2 hours... but it's done now.

We almost cancelled the settlement appointment this morning when we had our meeting with the SS at the house early this morning because there was still a lot to be done (and painting of all things!), and this was after the SS had spent nearly an hour at the house before we got there cleaning (we got there at 7.30am). After some heated words from me that included loosing my temper and being on the verge of tears, he somehow (I have no idea how) assured us that it would be done!?...

So in we went to our settlement appointment and OH explained the situation and asked if we could speak with a manager that would verify what the SS had told us and again was it possible to get something in writing... This started a flurry of phone calls from settlements back to our SS, CSO and the area CS Manager and the promise that everything would be done by 5pm along with a signed letter confirming this. (apparently they rang our CSO who told them they'd have the letter by the end of the day - she was promptly told by the settlements dept that this wasn't good enough and that it would be done immediately LOL!)

Soooo.... we signed the paperwork, collected our keys and accepted their 'gift' (salt and pepper grinders, a bottle opener and a coffee plunger with 2 cups - is there a theme here... we reckon you deserve a drink and a strong coffe to have survived this experience!!) and went on our way.

Unfortunately for us (and luckily for them!) we won't have a chance to get back to the house before 5 this afternoon anyway, but I hope it's done properly this time as I've promised a barrage of calls and an angry sit-in at the office if there's a problem. I've also reminded the SS that avoiding us will be difficult as we now live next door to one of his newest jobs...

Tomorrow the moving starts - best pack some things first though!!