Flurry #1

Another two weeks – where does the time go?  I’ve promised myself that I will be diligent about updating our blog for the duration of this next Chapter, however long that is.  It’s been so long since I wrote consistently, and I know that it’ll become easier with time and practice.  I liken the feeling to picking up an instrument one used to play regularly, but haven’t for a while.  The notes are familiar, but the melodies take a little while to come easily.  I know that I’m getting there, though, because I find myself composing sentences mentally throughout the day, in the hope of remembering them when I eventually sit down to write.  Naturally, I don’t remember them.  Not a single one.  However, I assure you that they’re brilliant!  Probably.

Anyhoo.

It’s become apparent quickly that this process will be a series of activity flurries, with periods of waiting in between. The waiting is a trial, because we all want to Get On With Things.  Move! Buy! Travel! Build Stuff! Travel Some More! Immediately!  It feels as though a massive weight has lifted off our shoulders, and we suddenly have a kind of energy that’s been lacking for a while.  We’re so motivated to Do Things!

Fortunately, there is one Herculean task ahead of us that can start immediately and be ongoing for at least the next twelve weeks: that of getting rid of our possessions and scaling down what we need in order to live.  Last week I tackled the stationary and Dean got stuck into his garage.  The fact that our house was due its first viewers on the Public Holiday on the 16^th rather galvanised our actions – frenzied tidying in an attempt to make it look as though the house is inhabited by well-brought-up humans, rather than a pack of forgetful, messy Orangutans with material attachment disorders.  The kids made short work of their rooms and then had the good sense to disappear outside while the adults scrubbed, wiped, swept, polished and buffed everything to a high sheen.  The place looked so good come Monday, I wondered for a second if we should keep it!

Too late now though because….THE HOUSE IS SOLD!  We had two viewers on Monday and two offers by Wednesday!  The first was laughable – even vaguely insulting.  The second was right at the bottom of what we’d decided we’d be prepared to accept and I baulked at first, simply because I HATE the fact that we’re losing money on the deal.  However (as my ever-pragmatic husband was quick to point out), that was always going to be the case.  We were never going to get back what we paid for the house or what we’ve put into the house due to the state of the market and the economy and blahblahlotsofboringreasons.  Whatever.  When we weighed up what we would still need to pay to get the house value up (renovations etc) and the cost of our monthly mortgage/running costs etc, it made sense to settle now rather than hold out in the hope of a better deal.  So, it’s gone.  Voetstoets, as well.  For my non-South African readers, that means As Is, which is a bonus.  They don’t want us to do any more work on the place before we leave because they have their own plans.  Not an ounce more window putty or cornice glue needs to go into this house.  Not a single hour of work, not a single day of another weekend needs to be spent in service of this behemoth.  It’s over.

We leave on the 1^st of September, all being well with bonds and banks and conveyancing attorneys. Having a fixed date for the first phase of Operation Off-Grid, and so soon, has put a decided spring in our steps and resulting in a flurry of List Making.  Plans are afoot.  More on that later.

Today, the new owners came over for another wander around to see what they’ve just signed the next 20 years of their lives away for.  They’re excited, and even amused by the fact that one of the cornice sections in the passage detached itself during the night and fell down.  Excited, because the house is the perfect size for them, the perfect shape for them, the perfect place for them.  I’m so glad.  It was never a good fit for us, but it’s still a beautiful home and it’s going to be loved.  It deserves that.