The Monkey House

We've been in the new monkey house a year now.  It still doesn't feel normal - the house is not normal - but it's starting to feel... familiar.  And still good.

It doesn't feel like a whole year, but that may be partly because the cold spring means the garden is nowhere near back round to the same stage it was in when we first arrived.

Celebrated with takeaway from Cafe Naz.  We got delivery from there on our first night, last year when musique_monkey was still ill enough to let htem deliver.  Now he insists on collecting it himself.  Tastes good either way.

Spent the day reassembling furniture and unpacking pics and ornaments. People who helped out in the crisis, disassembling and packing, you did a brilliant job. Everything came through unharmed (well, except the one I dropped in the hall). We are grateful all over again.

No thanks at all to Fulchers removals.

Yes, they offered the best service and best price when we were getting quotes last week. Yes, they were friendly, helpful and thorough confirming all the details on the phone today and booking us in for the 3rd. Yes, they even offered to bring round the first lot of boxes today so we could start packing over the weekend.

But they blew it when they phoned again at 5pm to say that, actually, very sorry, but now they come to look at it more carefully, it turns out they can't do the 3rd after all. By which time the other removers have closed for the weekend so we can't book anyone.

With any luck one of the other two (Sheppards and Perry) can still fit us in. But just in case, does anyone know any good, or even just adequate removers in the Cambridge area?

Yesterday was a frazzly day with solicitors arguing with each other, but today we have got to the point where all we are waiting for is our buyer's deposit to clear. Then we can exchange contracts, maybe today, maybe Monday...

It sounds good, but this is exactly the point at which our previous house sale fell through. Three times.

Putting nervous tension to good use, I have made it to level 3 of the 30 day shred. Yay me!

Back from a final visit to what we hope will be the Monkey Mansion. We're all surer than ever that we love it and want to live there. There are only 3 links in the chain (we're the middle). Both houses now 'sold subject to contract' and we're trying to get it all finished by Easter. It can't be that easy, can it? Please keep fingers crossed.

The monkey house is on the market and has had its first viewer - more due at the weekend. It has never been so clean (and I have never been so behind with my marking).

The monkey school phoned AGAIN to ask why they have no monkey boys in lessons. Told them AGAIN that they are on a SCHOOL TRIP. Is it me, or is it somewhat alarming that the organisation supposedly looking after the monkey boys clearly has NO IDEA where they are?

Scuse capslock--put it down to moving stress.

Flood:
So the leak is fixed and the kitchen ceiling is drying nicely.

Freeze:
The trip to London is postponed to Jan 3rd in hopes it will then be straightforward enough to enjoy as it deserves. Granny and Grandpa Monkey may or may not be on their way here from Exeter, via Birmingham. (Where they hope to hand over Great Grandma Monkey to her youngest son and Christmas in Lancaster.) You can see how any leg of that journey could be blocked by snow, but we're fairly confident they'll be here by Christmas, or earlier (which is even better). If they don't set out today, they'll try tomorrow, or Friday...

Lightning:
Woke up this morning to find all the electric sockets were dead. Speedy detective work by musique_monkey  (you can tell he tracks bugs for a living) pinned the problem down to the dishwasher. So now all is working again provided nobody tries to switch the dishwasher on. It's still under warranty and Bosch are coming out on the 29th to fix it. So it's a traditional Christmas round the sink with tea towels for the monkey family. In fact, it would have been much stressier if it had gone at a normal time of year: over the hols there'll be plenty of time and monkeys to get the dishes done.

Wind:
What'll be the next crisis? Well, Humbug has been eating the birds' bread again, so storms and sudden gusts are probable. Hopefully in the litter tray.

Dream
I dreamed we were visiting la_marquise_de_  and the marquis, who were running a cat shelter in a house-sized conservatory. All kinds of adorable cats came to see me as I chatted with la_marquise_de_ , including one made entirely of bobbly knitting wool, with a neat purled section and two chunky knitting needles attached to its belly fluff. Then a tiny ginger and white cat came and plonked herself in my lap exactly the way that Zil liked to in her old age. In other words, she made it clear I wasn't going anywhere unless I tucked her under my arm and took her along.  la_marquise_de_  told me this cat was 45 years old, but apart from rather cloudy eyes, she seemed to be doing fine. I was just wondering how Leicester and Humbug would take to her, and how she'd cope with their bouts of lions'n'wildebeest, when I woke up.

Right. One more assignment to mark, and various bits of monkey homework and shopping to do (all fairly pleasant). Then it's just present wrapping and taking it easy. Phew! (Or is it?)

Flood in cellar: fixed.
It was us. Plumber eventually found a faulty bit of copper pipe under the very middle of the kitchen floor (after he'd taken up most of the rest of the floor). I got quite wet just leaning over to look at the hole.

Spidermonkey's options interview: survived
Head did not bollocks either of us and it looks as though he can probably do his first choices--basically loadsa science plus art and music.  Probably.

Work: frantic
Behind with tutorial prep.  Huge pile of urgent marking arrives at noon tomorrow.  Large urgent translation arrived at 3 today...

Garden: ready for spring
We painted 10 panels of trellis green.  Now we just need Paul to come and fix them to the top of the walls before the plants grow any taller.

Kittens: still cute
They've been exploring the rest of the house and getting trained in helping apes have breakfast, watch TV, answer the doorbell etc.  Have some pics...


Humbug being a computer lapcat


Leicester investigating the zip on my jumper

Nothing exciting really: life has been carrying on pretty smoothly.  But for those who want more detail…

 

 

Over three years into the new house, we finally have carpet in two rooms.  It's nice.  No splinters!  One of the lucky rooms belongs to Squirrelmonkey.  He chose bright red carpet, which he says smells like anchovies.  Apparently that's a good thing.