Removal Woes

This morning started badly. We had a call from the removal company to say their sole vehicle was stuck in Italy in bad snowbound conditions. The roads are impassable. He says he will hire a vehicle to collect our belongings on Saturday and Sunday, hold them in storage, and deliver as soon as he can. The most important priority is for all items to be removed by Sunday evening, as we are departing very early on Monday morning. It doesn't matter too much about the delay, as we stayed in the house there for months in its empty condition. We have the critical items, like beds, anyway. So, what a palaver.
Also, the FSA stopped removal companies from arranging insurance policies in the name of the customer, and charging premiums. So, to get round that, the removal companies have a block policy in their own name, and subsume the premium in the cost of removal. This means i don't have a direct relationship with the broker or insurance company, have no policy, and have to rely on the integrity of the removal company in presenting a claim fairly. And that is because the FSA wants to provide protection to the consumer. A crazy world, eh?

The car is sold

I took the Seat Arosa to a Seat dealer, and sold it for £1,900. I was grateful to let it go, as time is pressing - we couldn't take it to France as we already have another car each.

A sale at last

Finally, after waiting for 18 months, we have sold our house. We had 8 estate agents commissioned to sell it, and it was on 2 different house selling websites. And I had a dedicated website just for the house with pix galore, dimensions, full descriptions and location maps. Even the planning permission recently obtained to attract buyers was fully shown, with architects drawings and perspectives. And still it didn't sell. We must have have had 50 separate visits by prospects in the 18 months, but we just couldn't drag an offer out of anyone. So we had to lower and lower the price, until a buyer finally bit, and the deed was done.

We are now able to up sticks, and move to France.

A moving date for France

I was finally asked today whether we would agree to a completion date on 1st March for the house sale. It's alright for us, though we now have to swing into action to appoint a removal company in time. There are so many other things to organise. I've heard that moving house always turns out to be a high stress process, so I'm gearing myself up for that as best I can.

Car for Sale!

We have put this car up for sale in preparation for our move to France. It is a snip at £2,495. Any takers?

Seat Arosa 

Tory Party survey

I had a call yesterday from a representative of my local MP. I was asked what issue concerned me most. I said that the presence in Iraq was a problem for me, as I felt the duplicitous Blair would not accept it was a mistake to expect the tax payer to fund this activity as the reason proved falacious. I was then asked if I would vote Tory at the next election. I don't expect I'll bother to vote from France as I'll be a permanent exile.