Wednesday 20 July 2016

Wordless Wednesday: Moving Update




Actually, it's a wordy Wednesday today.

We promised we'd keep you udated on our house move. So here is the story so far.

After putting our house on the market back in late February we were happy to accept an offer from some 'property developer' who was going to refurbish our home and convert it into flats. Mum and Gran were glad the house sold relatively quickly but they had some trouble finding a suitable house to move into that was affordable and at least half an hour's drive out of London. Eventually they found one. A very nice house in Essex and they decided to put an offer in and it was accepted. But then things didn't look so great. Nothing was happening with that house. Mum says she thinks that the sellers probably weren't that keen on selling. In the end, after two months, Mum pulled out of wanting to buy that house. There is a lot more to that story but I won't bore you. Mum reckons someone was telling many porkies (Cockney rhyming slang - "pork pies" = lies)

We found another house which was more perfect than the last one and this time things started to move really quickly. The sellers of this lovely house, which Mum really fell in love with, seemed keen to move and so the ball started rolling in our favour.

Or so it looked that way.

Roll on 5 weeks when every party in the chain (well, three parties - us, the vendors of the house we were buying and the vendors of the house our vendors were buying) were ready to exchange, the idiot buyer of our house (I can think of other words to describe him but I don't want to offend delicate ears) dropped a huge bombshell and shattered our dreams. Well, Mum's dreams, because, being a cat, I don't care where I live as long as I have a roof over my head, food in my belly and lots of love and affection on my own terms, I am happy. But we know humans don't work like that. They want more. LOTS MORE.

So what happened?

The buyer wanted us to lower the price of our house for him. A LOT MORE! Well, we said NO, because he was being very unreasonable and house prices around here haven't dropped that low yet. So he pulled out of buying the property and we can no longer afford the new house so we had to pull out of our purchase too. Mum and Gran are devastated.

I want my Mum to be happy because I know how living in this crowded overpopulated noisy city is making her ill. I was so worried about her yesterday, and the day before. She looked shattered and heartbroken and all I wanted to do was make her feel better. I did of course. I purred and kissed her and curled up next to her. It was too hot to sit on her lap but I stayed nearby until she felt better. The heat also makes her depressed. So we just lay there on the bed in a darkened room with the fan on full. Gran too was upset but she handles things better than Mum and I don't have such a close relationship with her as I do with Mum. Of course I always check to see if she's OK too and give her some meows and purrs to make her better as well.

So what is the plan now?

Because of Brexit, the housing market is uncertain and we have decided to take our house off the market for a while to see how things look once the dust is settled. I know Mum will be OK, she says she is used to disappointments in her life. She knows these things happen and she will try not to dwell on it. She won't let some silly buyer who got cold feet stop her from achieving her dream of escaping this gloomy city. We will find somewhere, probably a cheaper property in a much better location. Mum has her heart set on Essex or Hertfordshire. You will escape North London, Mum. Just wait and see!



23 comments:

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

I am so sorry the house selling/buying didn't work out! But sometimes in situations like this, we end up with something even better in the end. Snuggle with Mum and try to stay cool.

Andrea and the Celestial Kitties said...

Aw, we're sorry. What a mess! We hope things turn around and you wind up with an even more wonderful home!

Basil and The B Team ~ BionicBasil ® said...

Awwww, sorry to hear this, but as Tina said above - there's probably something much better coming in your future!

Stay pawsitive and trust effurything will wurk our purrfectly

Purrs

Basil & Co xox

Three Chatty Cats said...

Sorry to hear that it didn't work out. I can only imagine how buying/selling is a stressful time, especially when so many parties are involved. I'm glad you gave some loving to your mom, though. Sounds like she needs it.

Life with Dogs and Cats said...

Been there, done that, got the scars. I've had sales fall through like that and it's really upsetting. But I like to think these things happen for a reason, and maybe the universe has something better in store.
—Purrs (and wags) from Life with Dogs and Cats

Eastside Cats said...

Having been in real estate in a former life, I sympathize with you and your family! One domino falls, and it takes down everything. Here in the States, we can go after the buyer in the courts, since he signed a contract then broke it. Athena, spread your purrs and warms around!

The Adventures of The Bell Fur Zoo said...

Oh nose sorry about the house! We bets their is gonna be a even better home fur your Mum & Gran once everything has settled.

xoxo,
Matt & Matilda

meowmeowmans said...

We're so sorry to hear that the deal did not work out, Athena and Mum Marie. We think all things happen for a reason, and that good things happen to good people (and cats), so we are very hopeful something better is coming for you all soon. Hugs!

Rosa @ Cat Lady Confidential said...

I'm so sorry things haven't worked out. I'm sure in the future you'll have new opportunities to move to another house!

Summer said...

I feel so bad for your human! All these situations out of her control, when all she wants to do is have a nice place to live with you and her mother, Athena. My human doesn't necessarily believe "all things happen for a reason" (she acknowledges the possibility of a random and chaotic universe), but she does think that sometimes they DO... and maybe this is one of them.

Lone Star Cats said...

It's probably best to wait until things settle down some. Good luck!

Shadow said...

That sounds like a lot of not so great months. Keep giving mum all those purrrRRRrrrs and cuddles.

Sarah and Shadow

Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said...

I am soooo sorry about this chain of disappointment, but....and I know it is hard to hear, I am a FIRM believer in "everything happens for a reason" and that "when one door closes, another opens" and "what is meant to be will be"......sometimes when we are prevented from doing something we have our heart set on, it turns out to be a blessing in disguise.......just wait........you will see xoxoxo catchatwithcarenandcody

pilch92 said...

I am so sorry for all this disappointment, that is so sad. I can understand why your Mum wants out of the overcrowded city. I will be praying things will work out perfectly for you all soon. XO

The Island Cats said...

Ugh! What a mess. Things must be different in the UK. Here, once the person signs the contract to purchase, you can take him to court to enforce the contract or collect damages.

We know this isn't how your mom wanted it, but maybe there's something even better coming.

Kitty Cat Chronicles said...

So Sorry! Buying a house can be so stressful. That's crazy that the buyer wanted you to go down in price after they had already signed paperwork. Like the Island Cats said, here once a person signs, that's it, unless the home doesn't pass inspection. Everything will work out though! Something even better will come!

The Daily Pip said...

OH gosh, that does sound really stressful. I know selling and buying can just wear you down. Hope you can hang in there a little longer and hopefully, when you put the house on the market in the future, things will go smoothly

Anonymous said...

We're sorry for the whole house selling/buying debacle!!! Tell your mom and Gran to hang in there - the right buyer, and house, will come along!!!

Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs said...

We are sorry things didn't go as planned. Paws crossed everything works out the way your Mom wants it to soon.

Connie - Tails from the Foster Kittens said...

that's horrid. I'm so sorry it didn't work out

Unknown said...

Oh, my. Buying and selling a house is stressful even under ideal conditions. This is far from ideal. I am so sorry to hear it's all gone south. I hope things turn around soon.

Jean from Welcome to the Menagerie

Robin said...

I'm sorry to hear that things didn't work out with the sale of your house. Make sure you give your mum lots of purrs. Humans can get very upset about these things. Speaking as someone who lost their house in the biggest housing crisis the US has seen since the Great Depression, I know that things will get better for you. *hugs* We will be praying and purring for you.

Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty said...

Thank you all for your comments. You are all such amazing friends. I feel better already :)

Marie x