Almost there but not

I have tidied my sock drawer.   Always good therapy when feeling stressed; pairing up socks, and lining them up in the drawer, plus having a good clear out is very satisfying.   While I was at it I tidied up the plastic container shelf too, matching up the lids with containers.    I am convinced that the washing machine eats socks and the dishwasher eats plastic lids.   Where do they all go to?

We are still waiting on contracts to be signed, for those that are buying houses.    This consists of the two young women buying the man's house, and the man buying our buyer's house.   I am amazed at how much stuffing around there is, the quantity of paperwork and the number of people involved in the process.    I have decided that proactive decision making and completing tasks quickly is not a high priority in this country.   

In the meantime we have been out and about.    We went into London to watch Emma run in the Half Marathon which was very exciting.   It started in Pall Mall so we waited in The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace.  Wrong place!  How long have we lived here?   We wondered why the runners were walking towards Trafalgar Square, and no sign of a race anywhere.   By the time we realised our mistake we managed to catch a glimpse of Emma as she ran towards The National Gallery.

After waiting in the wrong place for more than an hour we decided that coffee was needed at this point.   And the perfect place was the cafe in St James'  Park.    Such a beautiful spot, with comfortable chairs, a lovely view and excellent coffee.    We also ate a Pain au Raisin each.   Delicious.

Walter standing in front of Admiralty Arch.   Most of the people had left The Mall by this time.  

After a respectable length of time, we made our way to Whitehall where the finish was in front of Downing Street.    It was great watching all the runners finish, but unfortunately we did not see Emma run past, which did she did easily.   I think we need some training in following people running in marathons.

Emma and all her supporters.

We have had many walks around Danson Lake with Karen and Kathy.   Such a beautiful park.

But back to the cleanup here.   The shipping company will pack everything, so all our bits and pieces stay in the cupboards.   Of course the important thing is to make sure that all items in the cupboards are to go, and that there is nothing that will cause us to get a fine.    Such as lavender bags in the drawers or heated wheat bags.    Bio security is tight in Australia as they do not want people importing anything in that will have an impact on the environment in the country.

We had a metal decoration hanging on the wall outside, which has been cleaned, disinfected and sprayed with gold paint.   Will look very good on an outside wall in our Australian house.

We were not going to take our shade umbrellas but then changed our minds.   The sun is very strong in Adelaide for sure.    At first I tried to hose the dust off the umbrellas but then realised that the top unscrewed and the cloth part came off.    I put them in the washing machine, and all three shades are perfectly clean.    I have learnt something.

Everything that has been in contact with soil has been scrubbed, and soaked in disinfectant, Jeyes Fluid to be precise.   Jeyes Fluid comes with many health and safety warnings and can only be used outside in the fresh air.    I can remember when Jeyes Fluid used to be used liberally to clean school toilets and hospital floors.    Times have changed. 

Some of our outside items on the table, cleaned and ready to go.   The table is now full.

Two weeks ago we had a day or two of brilliant weather, but alas it was not to last, as the cloud came over and stayed for ten days.    Grey, grey and more grey.   Sometimes the cloud was so low it became fog with moisture dripping from the trees.   So very depressing. 

Bobbi enjoying the brilliant sunshine, even if it was brief.

It is now Sunday evening, and the blog that was meant to be posted last week will now be posted in a few minutes.

And we still have no final date for completion of the sale of the house.    I wrote an email to the solicitor this evening outlining our problem with the continuing delay.    Three weeks ago I was told by the progressor that the contracts were ready to be signed.    Was this the truth or not?   Who knows.   Last week I was told the delay was due to some of the buyers and an agent being away on holiday.   Truth or not?

All I know is that enough is enough.