Good morning, where is everyone? Kayz how is DS1? Sorry to hear about your knees.
Lady Paris sounds lovely. You probably didn't have time but L'orangerie at the tulleries is amazing with it's Monet's & is quite good for kids because it is a lot smaller than the Louvre. Ds1 loved it & was reverentially silent in the two oval Monet rooms & luckily ds2 was asleep.
Arti how are you, how are your ankles?
Beans poor little baby bean and her ladygarden. Is the itch gone? I think baby panda had something like that.
Hello Spot. How long now until the interview? Any more sleep? How is DP after his illness?
Rubes any more word on how DH did in the exams. I've always felt sorry for the doctors and their endless work & study. There is a perception that once they get to be consultants they sit back & get everyone else to do all the work. I think the only difference is their workplace is more stable, that's about it. They study less but that time is then taken up with meetings, meetings & more meetings.
Trip to London was quick but useful. Met with a lovely estate agent who I am confident will manage the place well. We have to wait for approval from the bank so that's a bit nerve racking but after that we can give the go ahead for the real estate to get in some people to spruce the place up a bit, redo our floors and give it a good scrub. I was shocked at how filthy the house is, I don't think the tenants have cleaned it since the nice couple who had lived with them moved out a year ago. The white kitchen cupboards were yellow from cooking oil & the bathroom was just grose. But thankfully the estate agent saw through the filth & sees the potential & was quite excited about having a 3 bed in that area. They were very honest about the chances of rental etc & really professional. Not sure if it was that they were female (2 ladies came to have a look as one is pregnant they will share the management) but there was a lot less of the bravado and cockiness of other agents I've had to deal with. Also one was a long term London living Aussie, so we bonded. Although her partner is a Saffa.
I did have a bit of a wobble while over there as with taking money out to buy the derby place & to pay for the major works at the London place we still only own about 25% of the property, with that small amount we are at the banks mercy with the buy to let loan approval & can't remortgage with someone else as we are overseas so seen as a greater risk. I was thinking I need Lady to tell me it's a good thing to have these properties & the money will come one day. The derby place is on a longterm rental but we have to top up all the time. Aahh, I should be grateful that these are stresses, whetger our 2nd & 3rd homes are viable, I probably sound like a spoilt brat, but we currently live in a New tiny house so that we can keep all this going, yoi know trying not to live above our means whereas if we took the combined cost of all the houses we could have one lovely big house which wouldn't attract any capital gains tax when we sell.
Right that was a boring paragragh, must go gotta pick the boys up soon. They each have a friend coming back after school today so it's gonna be hectic. But then I'm dropping them with other friends tonight for a sleep over and dh & I are spending the night in Amsterdam for a gig. The cost of not having to get a babysitter has payed for a nights accommodation. Nice.