Before the Frost

The Magnolia in our front yard just a week ago..... Now the flowers are yellow and falling of.

"The Money Pit"

Yesterday morning, after the gashob got delivered (!), I noticed a puddle of water in the livingroom. Looking up, we concluded the water came trough a crack in the doorpost, from the upperfloor where the shower was located.
Immediately my imagination ran wild: Moldy rotten floors under the vinyl; bursting pipes in the walls; contracters coming in to break away pieces of wall and ceiling..... I took a chair and checked the rest of the ceiling to see if there was any dampness. In my mind I saw the bathtub crashing down to the floor beneath...
Ever saw the hilarious 1986 movie "The Money Pit" with Tom Hanks and Shelley Long? Yesterday I had to think about Tom Hanks cracking after they filled up the bathtub, it seemed to be the last straw for him.
It made me feel better to think about that scene, luckily this house is not our own little money pit, but we are dependent on the infamous management company to get on top of this and I have lost all faith in that. The plumber who came out to install the gashob took a look at the leak for us, and suggested we not shower for a while, or take very short showers, untill he got approval and a time to come in an fix it.
HaHaHAAAHaHa

(Almost) Two Weeks After the Move

- Still no gas hob
- Electric gates not working
- No inspection report
- No contract
- etc.

In short: a lot of promises, and no results.
I just typed up a 4 page report of just the chain of events starting January 20th, when I first responded to the ad of the house we moved into about two weeks ago. On Januray 22nd I first viewed the house, and already noted the missing control knobs of the gashob. The real estate person indicated to me that this issue should be fixed before moving in because of safety issues. It is now already March.

If you ever have to deal with Howarth Homes regarding property management, Run! Run as fast as you can!

You may have heard what the definition of Insanity is? It is when you keep trying the same thing but expecting different results.
I had to think about this, every time the aftersales manager promises to call me, and I actually expect her to call! Or when she says I can expect the inspection report in the mail the following day, and I actually walk up to the mailbox hopefully! What am I thinking? If they didn't follow trough on their promises yesterday or last month, why would I expect today things will be any different?

I have to conclude now that just because I'm dependable and honest (most of the time anyway), doesnt mean I can expect the same from others. But the thing is, I still do, I still trust people to call when they say they will. Maybe I am becoming insane.....

Eclipse

~By Martin~

Settling In

On Sunday Martin was unloading the company van at the house. When he wanted to drive off, the electric gates would not open, they did not react to the remotes or the phones inside.
He just grabbed his toolbox from the garage and loosened the bolts and together we hauled the heavy iron gates out, and they still stand to the side of house.
"It's getting better all the time", I thought....but we kept working and everything is now hauled over.
The house we left behind is cleaner than it's ever been, since I hired some professional cleaners. To bad we have to leave it behind, as the new house still has a sticky kitchen and cobwebs everywhere, but I guess that is how it goes usually.
Still waiting on the gashob to be replaced though, so microwave dinners every night!
But we're getting there, and if everything that needs fixing will be fixed, we believe this place might not be as bad as we suspected last week.
It's been an emotional rollercoaster these last two weeks, and I'm still recovering from the sleepless nights, but as I said to Martin "If we can make it here, we can make it anywhere". 'Here' being England...