h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"I just don't want to be here any more" Sorry, I've come into the conversation late, but if you don't mind my asking, where is the "here" from which you're bailing out?

This unfashionable arm of the galaxy- She's looking to move to one of the Andromeda galaxy's more selubrious districts

Thanks for this helpful reply. Not!

JCNS, it's a long story, and rather than getting it wrong if anyone else should try to explain, perhaps let Lucky Star explain. Or, as an alternative you could search her journal for all kinds of entries about moving, children and other things that could be related...

sorry to be of even less help, but if you want, it's all there.

Welcome to my journal, stranger. Don't know how you got here, but anyhoo.

Estate agent called on Wednesday night, I cleaned like mad on Thursday before the photographer called, and then proof-read my way through all the turgid estate agent speak description of the house until it was bearable.

Sign went up in the front garden this morning, and the house is on the website this afternoon.

Open viewing next Thursday so Dai and I have spent all day furiously painting, rearranging (House Doctor stylee), and hole filling.

I've taken to just wandering around with a J cloth and a trigger spray of sugar soap in my hands, muttering incoherently about stubborn stains and mesy teenagers.

Thanks. My original inquiry, several posts back, was a question about the location from which you're departing. Just total idle curiosity, and so I can avoid moving in there after you leave.

Lucky -

really, I haven't a clue what it must be like to live somewhere like that. Here we're a tiny village outside a small town and the biggest 'problem' with the teenagers are the ones who ride their up the road and don't use a pooper-scooper!

and <--- that always helps, I think

Lucky you Sho! And Lucky lives/lived in what most people would consider to be a very good area with lots of expensive housing. Unfortunately in this country (not certain about other places in Europe/the world, but i'm sure we're not alone) it only takes a handful of 'bad' families or unruly kids to move into an area to seriously compromise quality of life and the 'feel' of an area.

I would perhaps tentitivly guestimate that 60-80% of people living in the UK either have similar problems with drunk/violent youths running amok, or have the potential to have those problems- they've just been lucky so far Certainly all cities have major problems. Rural areas are usually calmer, but even remote farmhouses can be subject to crime (Tony Martin case for example)

I do by the way, now live in a 'good' area, but it's only 10 minutes walk from the city centre and despite not having experienced any incidents in the 2 months i've been here (very few kids seem to live here) i'm under no illusions that it couldn't happen.

Like i say. All it takes is one family with 4 undisciplined kids to move into my street, and the intimidation, car vandalisim, noise and graffiti could start over night In this country there is just no deterent to kids to not commit crime. It's very hard to get caught, and even if you do, you are given so many chances and warnings, what with 'human rights', that you vitually have to murder someone to be put away or lose your house.. Even that is no gurantee..

And i'm saying all this with the sounds of my quiet upstairs neighbours moving out today as i write..

I was* considering looking for a job back in blighty. I might reconsider and remain here as "the English family"!

*yep, past tense - I've heard this story from a couple of people I know accross the channel.

First viewer today!

2 lined up for tomorrow, and Thursday night is open viewing evening.

*sprays Pledge on anything not moving*

First offer today!

And 3 more viewers lined up.

And headlines in tonight's Belfast Telegraph that Norn Irn house prices are through the roof (their pun, not mine).

Sit tight girl - and make a killin'

And there was me thinking that HOlywood was the place to move to!

Agreed the sale of mine on Monday night.

And the offer that we'd put on the place in Lisburn was accepted on Tuesday

So now it's full steam ahead costing up kitchens and bathrooms, and seeing how far we can stretch the PC sums.

Felt a tingle in my tummy today as we had a quick lunchtime shufti round a bathroom place (Ooooh! green glass basins. Ooooh! Chunky square taps.) As I was driving through Lisburn I thought, blimey, soon this will be where I live. Where "we" live. Together.

Taking tomorrow morning off to pay a site visit to our new home.

Congratulations! I hope your new place will be all you hope for, and more.

When do you get the keys?

It's not finished yet! Approximately some time in February, all being well.

Waiting game eh? That's a pain.

Meh, could be worse. Moving in with Dai in the meantime. Bit of a commute each morning, but it's only for a coupla months.

(nice Hallowe'en disguise btw )