Thursday, April 29, 2004
I've been thinking about the pro's and cons of giving up our central london pad for a tottenham 2 bed, I just wanted to write them down:
Pros
a garden
fields, green and countryside close by
cheaper
more space
more cycling
garage space for stuff
Cons
convienience getting home
location
we've just refurbed
i like the bathroom
it's cosy
what I see is that the location is the best part of VC, the rest is recreatable at the new place.
The one I saw last night was really good, i've been thinking about the transport links and I think with the aid of a brompton it will be OK, if we miss the train to northumberland park, there is always white heart lane or seven sisters and then cycle. it's completley doable with a brompton and when the weather's good the ride through the marshes will be really great. Being so close to the railway line will be good from a security angle, noone can get in from behind. It's also 1st floor which means we have the added security with the advantage of the garden.
The loft is massive and I recon there is definate loft conversion possibilities there.
just needed to write it down.
Pros
a garden
fields, green and countryside close by
cheaper
more space
more cycling
garage space for stuff
Cons
convienience getting home
location
we've just refurbed
i like the bathroom
it's cosy
what I see is that the location is the best part of VC, the rest is recreatable at the new place.
The one I saw last night was really good, i've been thinking about the transport links and I think with the aid of a brompton it will be OK, if we miss the train to northumberland park, there is always white heart lane or seven sisters and then cycle. it's completley doable with a brompton and when the weather's good the ride through the marshes will be really great. Being so close to the railway line will be good from a security angle, noone can get in from behind. It's also 1st floor which means we have the added security with the advantage of the garden.
The loft is massive and I recon there is definate loft conversion possibilities there.
just needed to write it down.
I was really on fire yesterday. I managed to get out of work by 4, see 2 properties in Tottenham and get back to Euston by 5.40 in time to eat a whopper meal, get talked to by the sweetest mad person I've ever had the privelige to be talked at by. I was at Landmark on time at 6pm and Jase and I lead a kick ass introduction to assisting where a couple of people signed up for 3 agreements, now that's a good night! It made up for the SELP coaches anyway. I had a great share thanks to my breakthough on Tuesday.
The houses in Tottenham, one was OK the other not, so we are going to see the OK one tonight after a valuation on our own flat. I think it's a good one, no work to do to speak of so we could put the rest of the money into the investment property. It has a small garden, first floor, so added security, an enormous attic and garages to boot!
The houses in Tottenham, one was OK the other not, so we are going to see the OK one tonight after a valuation on our own flat. I think it's a good one, no work to do to speak of so we could put the rest of the money into the investment property. It has a small garden, first floor, so added security, an enormous attic and garages to boot!
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Whoopee! Had a mega breakthrough tonight at landmark. This one makes this whole year's Team Leader Program worth it. I distinguished that I'm pretending that my family are laughing at me and think everything I do is crazy and doomed to failure. I choose to stay with my dad and we didn't do too well - we didn't do badly either but things like dropping out of college, drugs, tattoos and bad gothic punk habits for most of my twenties kind of reinforced that I wasn't going to really do what I wanted to do. Now that I'm going for it, putting my butt on the line, with jobs, buying and selling houses, living in London, hanging out with other crazy fools up to big dreams is really dumb - I'm a failure deep down and nothing can fix that. What I've seen is that yes, I've failed at all sorts of things, I was up to big things, different things, crazy unobtainable things, just because I wanted to and that to succeed at everything you do would mean having a really small life.
I am now free to be a failure, have fun doing it and cause miracles! The life I have now is a miracle, a complete shift from the way it was going. I am loving every minute of it. I just got stuck for a week or so in the thought that this will show 'em! This will make everyone see I'm not a failure. They don't think anything, it's me I have to answer to and not some made up stick to beat myself with. I will be sharing this liberally with many many people.
My puffy eyes have gone down too. I bought some extra sensitive cream for my eyes, felt guilty even before I'd bought it, my eyes puffed up - no connection to the cream. They've been puffy longer than normal. The minute I came clean to Toby and told him I'd bought them with my own money but that I'd stretched my budget, they started to go down. Toby thinks I'm being superstitious but I say the power of make wrong knows no bounds!
I am now free to be a failure, have fun doing it and cause miracles! The life I have now is a miracle, a complete shift from the way it was going. I am loving every minute of it. I just got stuck for a week or so in the thought that this will show 'em! This will make everyone see I'm not a failure. They don't think anything, it's me I have to answer to and not some made up stick to beat myself with. I will be sharing this liberally with many many people.
My puffy eyes have gone down too. I bought some extra sensitive cream for my eyes, felt guilty even before I'd bought it, my eyes puffed up - no connection to the cream. They've been puffy longer than normal. The minute I came clean to Toby and told him I'd bought them with my own money but that I'd stretched my budget, they started to go down. Toby thinks I'm being superstitious but I say the power of make wrong knows no bounds!
Monday, April 26, 2004
I bought some satsumas to eat at work today. Last week the supermarket had clemantines, which are my favorite fruit, but today there was only satsumas or oranges. I'm not a fan of oranges but satsumas aren't bad.
What's that? Stop rambling? Oh, ok. On Friday we saw a 3 bed garden flat in Tottenham - needs decorating and idealy a new kitchen and bathroom and some windows are cracked but it's big for the money and it's got a 100 foot garden. Ok, so it's a jungle at the moment, but that only requires a strimmer to put right :)
Trouble is, there's someone who's put in asking price. The vendor's given them until Wednesday to organise a surveyor, othwise it's ours!
And on our sales front... We've got another valuation tonight, so yesterday we went to IKEA and bought a few bits to make the place presentable - nice curtains, couple of plants, bedside table, lamp etc. There was a flurry of activity when we got back - hemming curtains, fixing drooping curtain poles, putting up coat hooks, potting the new plants and general cleaning and decluttering. Hopefully it should made a difference (a la 'House Doctor'!)
What's that? Stop rambling? Oh, ok. On Friday we saw a 3 bed garden flat in Tottenham - needs decorating and idealy a new kitchen and bathroom and some windows are cracked but it's big for the money and it's got a 100 foot garden. Ok, so it's a jungle at the moment, but that only requires a strimmer to put right :)
Trouble is, there's someone who's put in asking price. The vendor's given them until Wednesday to organise a surveyor, othwise it's ours!
And on our sales front... We've got another valuation tonight, so yesterday we went to IKEA and bought a few bits to make the place presentable - nice curtains, couple of plants, bedside table, lamp etc. There was a flurry of activity when we got back - hemming curtains, fixing drooping curtain poles, putting up coat hooks, potting the new plants and general cleaning and decluttering. Hopefully it should made a difference (a la 'House Doctor'!)
Thursday, April 22, 2004
This is an example of an email that goes back and forth at lunchtime. This was my reply with bit's of Toby's email and my reply is cc...
I think it speaks volumes...
>you're going to refurb, then painting the living room won't make a
difference if your bath needs cleaning.
cc Agreed
>But even if we got all that, will we RAISE the value of the property (or
rather what people will pay for it)? Or will it just sell faster. If it's
just to sell faster, then it's a bit pointless because we're not on a
timeframe and it will probably go in a week anyway :)
cc Again, agreed although the details like clean walls, windows and tiles will satisfy buyers, especially on 2nd visit when they are looking for flaws.
Options:
Coffee table
I'd go for (b) then (c) I think, depending on if we think it's worth tarting
the place up
cc I think something there to put stuff on is just practical , more for our benefit than to look good, saying that, a small, tall table, or even a/the CD rack could go there. Practical!
I agree to get rid of the one we've got, we've not found a use for it yet apart from putting it out the way.
>Windows
cc The agent won't notice, people on first visit won't notice, second visit - yes. But, if the blinds work, that won't matter, they will understand the windows are less than perfect - they do their job and that's more important perhaps. I don't think it will be a deal breaker, if any one asks we could agree to replace them. For now, just put the blinds up.
>TV stand
cc I like B - I think we should look at a storage thing down the road, maybe rather than your parents to be honest - we would need to hire a van though.
>Here I think (a) is the way to go. It's a big TV and I don't think a stand
would look good, even though it would create space.
We can argue this one...
>Computer
cc I see nothing wrong with the computer stand, it's actually quite tasteful compared to some ot the monstrocities in ARGOS.
I meant purely, coldly, I'd rather spend the money on computers, nothing to do with the flat.
It would look better, deal breaker? No.
>Bedroom
cc I tried to find a bedside table before we ran out of money and didn't really suceed.
If anything a smaller digital clock radio (kidding)
cc De clutter definatley, clean/touch up the pink wall,the rest is fine.
>If we do decide to buy furniture, we should decide what we want (eg glass +
black metal seems to be 'in') then look in Argos, then IKEA.
cc Agreed
even if it just gets an extra 5K then we've got
free new furniture and PC!!!) ARE WE JUST GREEDY FOR NEW STUFF???
cc Yeah, but, yeah but...
cc I think we should see what's going on TCR too in Habitat and Cargo and the like.
CC Decent furniture and a definate design for a place CC gives it soul, I think this helps normal buyers put them selves there.
CC De clutter and make it look nice - if it's obvious we've spent a fortune they might wonder what' wrong with it...
I LOVE YOU TOO!!!
I think it speaks volumes...
>you're going to refurb, then painting the living room won't make a
difference if your bath needs cleaning.
cc Agreed
>But even if we got all that, will we RAISE the value of the property (or
rather what people will pay for it)? Or will it just sell faster. If it's
just to sell faster, then it's a bit pointless because we're not on a
timeframe and it will probably go in a week anyway :)
cc Again, agreed although the details like clean walls, windows and tiles will satisfy buyers, especially on 2nd visit when they are looking for flaws.
Options:
Coffee table
I'd go for (b) then (c) I think, depending on if we think it's worth tarting
the place up
cc I think something there to put stuff on is just practical , more for our benefit than to look good, saying that, a small, tall table, or even a/the CD rack could go there. Practical!
I agree to get rid of the one we've got, we've not found a use for it yet apart from putting it out the way.
>Windows
cc The agent won't notice, people on first visit won't notice, second visit - yes. But, if the blinds work, that won't matter, they will understand the windows are less than perfect - they do their job and that's more important perhaps. I don't think it will be a deal breaker, if any one asks we could agree to replace them. For now, just put the blinds up.
>TV stand
cc I like B - I think we should look at a storage thing down the road, maybe rather than your parents to be honest - we would need to hire a van though.
>Here I think (a) is the way to go. It's a big TV and I don't think a stand
would look good, even though it would create space.
We can argue this one...
>Computer
cc I see nothing wrong with the computer stand, it's actually quite tasteful compared to some ot the monstrocities in ARGOS.
I meant purely, coldly, I'd rather spend the money on computers, nothing to do with the flat.
It would look better, deal breaker? No.
>Bedroom
cc I tried to find a bedside table before we ran out of money and didn't really suceed.
If anything a smaller digital clock radio (kidding)
cc De clutter definatley, clean/touch up the pink wall,the rest is fine.
>If we do decide to buy furniture, we should decide what we want (eg glass +
black metal seems to be 'in') then look in Argos, then IKEA.
cc Agreed
even if it just gets an extra 5K then we've got
free new furniture and PC!!!) ARE WE JUST GREEDY FOR NEW STUFF???
cc Yeah, but, yeah but...
cc I think we should see what's going on TCR too in Habitat and Cargo and the like.
CC Decent furniture and a definate design for a place CC gives it soul, I think this helps normal buyers put them selves there.
CC De clutter and make it look nice - if it's obvious we've spent a fortune they might wonder what' wrong with it...
I LOVE YOU TOO!!!
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
It's been many days since I last blogged, but I've been poked into action again :)
What's happened over the last couple of weeks? Well, I've been on two Landmark courses in quick succession - Communication: Access to Power (CAP) and Communication: Performance and Power (CPP). Why? Well I've wanted to do CPP for a while now because I knew it dealt with time and planning, which I thought I could do with! Recently, however, I found out that it's about to be replaced with a different course so I decided to register. Only to do CPP you have to have done CAP first... so I ended up on two courses.
What did I get out of them? I didn't know what to expect from CAP. In fact the biggest things it deals with are (a) the Point of View (POV) of yourself you sentenced yourself to when you were young and (b) the Unanswerable Question (UQ) you ask with everything you say.
I found CAP a hard course, not to understand but to get through! For two days, I was convinced I was going to fail the course and I was almost in tears. Which is ridiculous when you think about it - there isn't any way you CAN fail - there's no exam and whatever you get out of the course is whatever you get and that's what there was for you to get at this time. It was only about an hour before the end of the course that I suddenly realised I was living as if my POV was real. I suddenly saw it clearly - my POV is that 'I'm not good enough, I'm a failure'.
Suddenly I was calm. I wasn't a failure, it was only when I got mired in my POV that I thought I was (The cunning nature of a POV is that when you're in it, you can't see it for what it is and it seems real).
Now that I've seen my POV as separate from me and that it's not me, I've got access to being effective and powerful. When I believe I can't do it, or I'm down in the dumps, I can snap out of it by remembering (or by Christine reminding me) that I'm feeling that way because I've got me and my POV collapsed. Once I separate them again, I feel able to take on life again :)
Ah, I almost forgot my Unanswerable Question (UQ). This is a question that I ask repeatedly. Mine is 'Am I doing it right?'. The thing is, up to now I was unaware I was doing it. I might ask 'do you like my jumper?' or 'is that coffee ok'. These are valid questions but I was asking them for covert reassurance that I'm OK and no matter how many times you tell me I'm doing it right, I'll always ask again :)
"Am I doing it right?", "Yes", "ah, good...is it ok that I think that's good?"
BUT having seen it, I can cut it out! Or at least I can recognise when I'm about to and tell myself that I'm doing it right instead of asking for outside reassurance for everything.
Now, how about CPP? Well, as I said CPP is about time and project planning. It was very good - I created new contexts for various activities in my life, including the contexts of 'incredible adventures' and 'home'.
From 'Incredible adventures' came 'let go, explore life, have fun!' and the possibility of being free. It really supercharged my property plans! I've started planning backwards from my vision of being working full-time in property in 2 years and it's achievable!
From 'Home' came the possibilities of being creative, loving and calm. And that really supercharged our plans to move house - we've made a list of exactly what we want in our next place (2 beds and a garden!) and we're getting another valuation with the view to putting our place on the market in the next 2 weeks!
I'm really excited!
What's happened over the last couple of weeks? Well, I've been on two Landmark courses in quick succession - Communication: Access to Power (CAP) and Communication: Performance and Power (CPP). Why? Well I've wanted to do CPP for a while now because I knew it dealt with time and planning, which I thought I could do with! Recently, however, I found out that it's about to be replaced with a different course so I decided to register. Only to do CPP you have to have done CAP first... so I ended up on two courses.
What did I get out of them? I didn't know what to expect from CAP. In fact the biggest things it deals with are (a) the Point of View (POV) of yourself you sentenced yourself to when you were young and (b) the Unanswerable Question (UQ) you ask with everything you say.
I found CAP a hard course, not to understand but to get through! For two days, I was convinced I was going to fail the course and I was almost in tears. Which is ridiculous when you think about it - there isn't any way you CAN fail - there's no exam and whatever you get out of the course is whatever you get and that's what there was for you to get at this time. It was only about an hour before the end of the course that I suddenly realised I was living as if my POV was real. I suddenly saw it clearly - my POV is that 'I'm not good enough, I'm a failure'.
Suddenly I was calm. I wasn't a failure, it was only when I got mired in my POV that I thought I was (The cunning nature of a POV is that when you're in it, you can't see it for what it is and it seems real).
Now that I've seen my POV as separate from me and that it's not me, I've got access to being effective and powerful. When I believe I can't do it, or I'm down in the dumps, I can snap out of it by remembering (or by Christine reminding me) that I'm feeling that way because I've got me and my POV collapsed. Once I separate them again, I feel able to take on life again :)
Ah, I almost forgot my Unanswerable Question (UQ). This is a question that I ask repeatedly. Mine is 'Am I doing it right?'. The thing is, up to now I was unaware I was doing it. I might ask 'do you like my jumper?' or 'is that coffee ok'. These are valid questions but I was asking them for covert reassurance that I'm OK and no matter how many times you tell me I'm doing it right, I'll always ask again :)
"Am I doing it right?", "Yes", "ah, good...is it ok that I think that's good?"
BUT having seen it, I can cut it out! Or at least I can recognise when I'm about to and tell myself that I'm doing it right instead of asking for outside reassurance for everything.
Now, how about CPP? Well, as I said CPP is about time and project planning. It was very good - I created new contexts for various activities in my life, including the contexts of 'incredible adventures' and 'home'.
From 'Incredible adventures' came 'let go, explore life, have fun!' and the possibility of being free. It really supercharged my property plans! I've started planning backwards from my vision of being working full-time in property in 2 years and it's achievable!
From 'Home' came the possibilities of being creative, loving and calm. And that really supercharged our plans to move house - we've made a list of exactly what we want in our next place (2 beds and a garden!) and we're getting another valuation with the view to putting our place on the market in the next 2 weeks!
I'm really excited!
I've just got an appointment to see exactly the property we are looking for. Its a 2 bed garden flat on the trainline down to Liverpool street. It's 170k and it needs a bit of decorating. I'm extremely happy. I've just had my best desk picnic yet, left over stuffed chilly peppers wrapped in ham and olives followed by cream cheese and roggebrood with bio yoghurt for dessert. What more can I ask for?
The weather has taken a turn for the mediocre but hey, it's April, what do you expect.
It's really busy at work, record numbers of nips coming back, so much filing to do!!! Back to the filing cabinet.
The weather has taken a turn for the mediocre but hey, it's April, what do you expect.
It's really busy at work, record numbers of nips coming back, so much filing to do!!! Back to the filing cabinet.
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Ah ha!! back again, probably just seconds before Toby is home.
My Landmark agreement tonight was really good, I got two bits done on the computer that I've been putting of for months. I didn't make any calls to my team to speak of , noone home but it was nice and quiet in the office with most of the staff and people assisting at the evening session.
Work is brilliant, we had a team building Mexican buffet and games this lunch time, it was really well done and the atmosphere in our office is really great. I got a call today from the MET about all the repeat offenders I'd picked up on and they've got stuff and new addresses thanks to me! This wasn't in my job spec and that's really good because my job spec is pretty limited! I'd rather do everything in my power before having to NFA an offence, so I do.
I didn't bother with a meal in the evening, I ate so much at work, I'm still not really hungry, I might have a yoghurt.
Me and Toby have agreed that we want a 2 bed garden flat which means most probably Seven Sisters or Tottenham, the rail links are OK. I'm more interested in having space and I'd actually prefer the cycle in, I'm so unfit what with my 10minute stroll to work. I'll always have very little time to go to the gym but this will make me get in sweaty and I'll at least be using the gym to shower!
Toby's home and found the ontbijt koek I bought, cake like yes, and wheat free! I didn't realise, Toby's just extremely happy to have a cake moment.
There's a BBC documentary on the history of BBC2 on bbc2 so I'm going to turn around and watch it.
My Landmark agreement tonight was really good, I got two bits done on the computer that I've been putting of for months. I didn't make any calls to my team to speak of , noone home but it was nice and quiet in the office with most of the staff and people assisting at the evening session.
Work is brilliant, we had a team building Mexican buffet and games this lunch time, it was really well done and the atmosphere in our office is really great. I got a call today from the MET about all the repeat offenders I'd picked up on and they've got stuff and new addresses thanks to me! This wasn't in my job spec and that's really good because my job spec is pretty limited! I'd rather do everything in my power before having to NFA an offence, so I do.
I didn't bother with a meal in the evening, I ate so much at work, I'm still not really hungry, I might have a yoghurt.
Me and Toby have agreed that we want a 2 bed garden flat which means most probably Seven Sisters or Tottenham, the rail links are OK. I'm more interested in having space and I'd actually prefer the cycle in, I'm so unfit what with my 10minute stroll to work. I'll always have very little time to go to the gym but this will make me get in sweaty and I'll at least be using the gym to shower!
Toby's home and found the ontbijt koek I bought, cake like yes, and wheat free! I didn't realise, Toby's just extremely happy to have a cake moment.
There's a BBC documentary on the history of BBC2 on bbc2 so I'm going to turn around and watch it.
Quick one! been really busy, looking at flats, cleaning up our flat to sell, landmark, work and stuff! lunch times have been taken up all too quickly with due diligence.
I have to get off to Landmark now to do my agreement.
I have to get off to Landmark now to do my agreement.
Thursday, April 15, 2004
Having so much fun today, I have an appointment to view tonight and tomorrow and I've found a possible area for investment properties in our reach, Haringay. It's green, has victorian houses, mainline train and tube, 2 beds for about 160k and even some with gardens. I'm really exited. I don't care if this is a dead end or not. I'm getting to see properties!
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Orlando Jones, what do you think? The trouble is, even before Orlando Bloom I liked the name. My Great Aunt's house was called Orlando. I think it sounds very good. This is a blog all day post, cos I feel like blogging between the nips and sips of coffee. It's now 9.30am lets see how long it is before I post this!
Bleh, my coffee's gone cold.
I've got 4 minutes to go until lunch...and I'm quite peckish.
After work I've got loads of stuff to get from boots and I still don't know if we will be getting a second viewing on Hurlock street tonight.
I mustn't forget I'm supposed to be meeting claire if there's no viewing and if there is to postpone our drink tonight. Mustn't forget!!!
I also need to book the final appointment for the 1st of May wedding dress day with Allie. Alfred Angelo, the dresses look really nice and are very will priced.
Lunch time is here!
Bleh, my coffee's gone cold.
I've got 4 minutes to go until lunch...and I'm quite peckish.
After work I've got loads of stuff to get from boots and I still don't know if we will be getting a second viewing on Hurlock street tonight.
I mustn't forget I'm supposed to be meeting claire if there's no viewing and if there is to postpone our drink tonight. Mustn't forget!!!
I also need to book the final appointment for the 1st of May wedding dress day with Allie. Alfred Angelo, the dresses look really nice and are very will priced.
Lunch time is here!
Sunday, April 11, 2004
We've been at Toby's parents since good Friday and finally the sun came out this afternoon. We made the most of it and planted the plants we got from the garden centre yesterday as well as giving the passion flower creeper on the back of the house a really good haircut.
It's been all go so far, dinner at Gillian and tom's super size 70's dream house time warp taste free home of strange taste enormous orange kitchen place with AGA. It was a lovely evening rounded off with pass the pigs and meringues.
Yesterday, we went to a huge garden centre, I managed to find a nice big rosemary plant for the kitchen windowsill and some organic plant food (I'm not happy about eating the herbs if they're being fed on baby bio somehow). Then we played pitch and put, which isn't my favorite sport, golf gets in the way of a good walk but it was OK and quite fun and was a bit of fresh air and exercise.
This morning was very nice, we did the Easter Sunday morning at Ely cathedral. The music was excellent, it's an amazing cathedral and we got to sing 'thine be the glory' which I don't think I've sung since I've been at school. I enjoyed that. We then came home and had a big Easter cooked brunch with bacon and eggs, and hot cross buns!
We looked at some new builds but since we were put off living and working around the Cambridge area because the prices are so similar to London. The new builds were kind of small and we aren't sure whether they are really worth what they are asking. They've made a huge mistake and not put any other infrastructure in, there don't appear to be any plans for shops or schools or bus stops. That's a big thing I miss about Holland.
I've got to do some roasted veg for the special Easter Sunday roast. Yum.
It's been all go so far, dinner at Gillian and tom's super size 70's dream house time warp taste free home of strange taste enormous orange kitchen place with AGA. It was a lovely evening rounded off with pass the pigs and meringues.
Yesterday, we went to a huge garden centre, I managed to find a nice big rosemary plant for the kitchen windowsill and some organic plant food (I'm not happy about eating the herbs if they're being fed on baby bio somehow). Then we played pitch and put, which isn't my favorite sport, golf gets in the way of a good walk but it was OK and quite fun and was a bit of fresh air and exercise.
This morning was very nice, we did the Easter Sunday morning at Ely cathedral. The music was excellent, it's an amazing cathedral and we got to sing 'thine be the glory' which I don't think I've sung since I've been at school. I enjoyed that. We then came home and had a big Easter cooked brunch with bacon and eggs, and hot cross buns!
We looked at some new builds but since we were put off living and working around the Cambridge area because the prices are so similar to London. The new builds were kind of small and we aren't sure whether they are really worth what they are asking. They've made a huge mistake and not put any other infrastructure in, there don't appear to be any plans for shops or schools or bus stops. That's a big thing I miss about Holland.
I've got to do some roasted veg for the special Easter Sunday roast. Yum.
Saturday, April 10, 2004
We're at my parents in Ely! Today was garden centre and pitch-n-put (in a village called Pidley!) and we're now waiting for an indian takeaway yummy! (I ordered something I have no idea what it is... let's hope I like it...)
Yesterday my parents drove us two two new-build sites in Ely and we got to put our new lingo into practice. Incredibly, as soon as I said we were thinking of buying 2 or 3 houses, we were offered a 'bargain' property that had fallen through and which they wanted to shift. They didn't do DP (deposit paid) but it was simple to get them to swap from 'housebuyer' to 'investor' mode. Up to now I thought this might be hard, but I'm begining to think it might not be that difficult...
But, we're looking at another route at the moment. Christine found a 2 bed ex-la flat, ground floor of 4 story block, for £179K. It needs work (floors, kitchen, paint) and there's a delay because it's let for the next three months, but we're thinking of asking for 10% off (ie £161K) to compensate. Wonder if they'll go for it?
Of course, if we're going to buy something else, we'll have to sell our flat. We've decided on a timeframe - by the 31st May, we're going to have accepted an offer. As there's nothing on the market at the moment in our area that's less than £250, I think we'll be going for that!
And once it's done up, if we're going to let it, we'll have to find something for US to live in! But after that, we'll look at new build again :)
Indian has arrived!
Yesterday my parents drove us two two new-build sites in Ely and we got to put our new lingo into practice. Incredibly, as soon as I said we were thinking of buying 2 or 3 houses, we were offered a 'bargain' property that had fallen through and which they wanted to shift. They didn't do DP (deposit paid) but it was simple to get them to swap from 'housebuyer' to 'investor' mode. Up to now I thought this might be hard, but I'm begining to think it might not be that difficult...
But, we're looking at another route at the moment. Christine found a 2 bed ex-la flat, ground floor of 4 story block, for £179K. It needs work (floors, kitchen, paint) and there's a delay because it's let for the next three months, but we're thinking of asking for 10% off (ie £161K) to compensate. Wonder if they'll go for it?
Of course, if we're going to buy something else, we'll have to sell our flat. We've decided on a timeframe - by the 31st May, we're going to have accepted an offer. As there's nothing on the market at the moment in our area that's less than £250, I think we'll be going for that!
And once it's done up, if we're going to let it, we'll have to find something for US to live in! But after that, we'll look at new build again :)
Indian has arrived!
Thursday, April 08, 2004
That time of day again, I've been looking at the property market and I recon we could get a quarter of a mil for our place without too much problem. We need to get it valued again and on the market without a doubt. I really want to get moving and move into a cheaper place so we can get the ball rolling, so does Tobs. I think I want to spend the next fortnight putting our place on the market, I think getting top wack should be our first priority and finding something else can come next, even if we have to rent for a little while it would be worth it. It would also get us out of debt and we can get rolling without that in the back ground. The wedding is going to cost a fair amount and I'm committed to generating that cash before summer 2005 as well as a few properties along the way. Its so simple but we've just got to get it moving.
The flat on Tower Bridge road looks promising too, the only thing is the 87 year lease. I don't know if that's a shortish lease, alright or a no no. It's probably alright.
We are seeing a property in Finsbury Park tonight, this one is our first ex-local authority viewing. This will probably be the way to go. It's a two bed and an area I know little about, lots to learn. Back to work...
The flat on Tower Bridge road looks promising too, the only thing is the 87 year lease. I don't know if that's a shortish lease, alright or a no no. It's probably alright.
We are seeing a property in Finsbury Park tonight, this one is our first ex-local authority viewing. This will probably be the way to go. It's a two bed and an area I know little about, lots to learn. Back to work...
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
I just blogged (i've just had my desk picnick too!) and I see that I was pipped to the post by 1 minute, I'm impressed! it certainly made me smile. I love Toby so much!
I had a landmark agreement last night with claude, it was a really good laugh, plus the perfect opportunity to show off my ring, there were a fair few faces who I was very glad to show that it's official now plus a very beautiful ring. On the one hand I felt like I was bragging but the other, I never saw myself as the type and this really has been a breakthrough in my predictable certain future. Alot of them new me when I first came to London and I've come a long way, so have they. It was good to see Eamon too, haven't seen him for ages still loads to catch up on. We do go back a long way, he was in my Dad's FIA team and now he's leading FIA's! Roland was still going on about how happy he was that he talked to me about his speeding offence (what with me working for the police) and he took the points and is happy to drive within the limit, his wife is apparently much happier with his driving now too. He also said that engagement couldn't of happened to a better lady, now that's nice! We are off to landmark tonight too for the Centre Assisting Meeting. That should also be a good opportunity to show off.
Toby was only a little bit grumpy thismorning, more down in the dumps really, with his beany on and one ear sticking out he looked like dopey. I know that we have loads going for us but because Toby's sentence is that he's not good enough and that he's always asking if he's doing it right it means that he's almost certainly going to get triggered every time I do something really great or I'm being really powerful. It's no big issue but I am going to do what I can to bring that into perspective and with any luck the trigger will get less and eventually transform into a whole new way of being. I'm up for doing my absolute best and I'm not willing to compromise that to save Toby feeling not good enough. He is good enough! He's more than good enough, he's wonderful! It's also that we have loads of fabulous people around us, it gets to me too sometimes.
It's Wednesday already, no big deal but this is a short week, Friday is Thursday this week!
Toby was only a little bit grumpy thismorning, more down in the dumps really, with his beany on and one ear sticking out he looked like dopey. I know that we have loads going for us but because Toby's sentence is that he's not good enough and that he's always asking if he's doing it right it means that he's almost certainly going to get triggered every time I do something really great or I'm being really powerful. It's no big issue but I am going to do what I can to bring that into perspective and with any luck the trigger will get less and eventually transform into a whole new way of being. I'm up for doing my absolute best and I'm not willing to compromise that to save Toby feeling not good enough. He is good enough! He's more than good enough, he's wonderful! It's also that we have loads of fabulous people around us, it gets to me too sometimes.
It's Wednesday already, no big deal but this is a short week, Friday is Thursday this week!
I've been prodded again...
Well, Allie came in this morning so we had a catch up meeting - she's happy I'm on top of things, which is good. I was really tired last night but stayed up watching the series end of 'Nip-Tuck' then I read a bit, which was a bit dumb. So I'm a bit washed out today but holding it together!
I'm having a 'desk picnic' while I write - DIY sandwiches made at my desk (cheese+tomato). Not as impressive as my 'picnics' at the FT though - I need to get in some pickle, mao, jam, yellow peppers etc... :)
Well, Allie came in this morning so we had a catch up meeting - she's happy I'm on top of things, which is good. I was really tired last night but stayed up watching the series end of 'Nip-Tuck' then I read a bit, which was a bit dumb. So I'm a bit washed out today but holding it together!
I'm having a 'desk picnic' while I write - DIY sandwiches made at my desk (cheese+tomato). Not as impressive as my 'picnics' at the FT though - I need to get in some pickle, mao, jam, yellow peppers etc... :)
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
Christine's discovered she has to prod me to blog - I'm not a naturally public person! Southend was lovely. It was grey, windy, rainy and there was sea spray in the air but we declared it to be romantic and so it was.
For some reason I was nervous all the evening last night: not knowing what to do with the wine, attempting to change my order and getting wound up by Christine mentioning Cambridge when it's really only a 'what if' speculation.
I suppose it's because I've just been left on my own for a month to finish the current project off and I want to impress but I'm worried if I'm good enough... I am, but it doesn't stop me worrying!
Off to my parents for Easter. Should be nice. CC can show off the ring and my parents have got a few things planned like 'pitch-n-putt', a visit to a medieval village and looking at new builds in Ely :)
Spoke to Sarah, my coach today and we caught up on all the things I've achieved since we last spoke (over a month). It really got me to see that I've been busy and that we're making progress towards our goals - it's too easy to think we're not getting anywhere just because we haven't bought/sold yet, but making a plan, for example, is a huge step!
For some reason I was nervous all the evening last night: not knowing what to do with the wine, attempting to change my order and getting wound up by Christine mentioning Cambridge when it's really only a 'what if' speculation.
I suppose it's because I've just been left on my own for a month to finish the current project off and I want to impress but I'm worried if I'm good enough... I am, but it doesn't stop me worrying!
Off to my parents for Easter. Should be nice. CC can show off the ring and my parents have got a few things planned like 'pitch-n-putt', a visit to a medieval village and looking at new builds in Ely :)
Spoke to Sarah, my coach today and we caught up on all the things I've achieved since we last spoke (over a month). It really got me to see that I've been busy and that we're making progress towards our goals - it's too easy to think we're not getting anywhere just because we haven't bought/sold yet, but making a plan, for example, is a huge step!
The meal with Allie and Si last night was good, Toby and I argued on the way home about my mentioning future possibilities of moving out of london when Allie's toby's line manager. It wasn't that they were founded plans, I wanted to talk about the differences, pro and cons etc of country or city living but all of them changed the subject due to it's apparent inappropriateness. I barely noticed and let it drop but it made Toby quite uncomfortable he revealed on the way home. I admit that my relationship to tact and appropriateness stretches to dealing with other people and their stuff, I can keep someone else's secret. I find it impossible have secrets, I want to share everything so I get feedback, the trouble is it's now our life so I've got some getting responsible to do. Toby's future and mine are linked so i also need to take this into consideration. I couldn't get my head round that last night, I knew I'd crossed the line, he'd asked me not to mention it even if they weren't serious plans and i did anyway. No matter how innocent they seemed to me they could have lost Toby the chance of a position of responsibility at Lambourn.
I don't know where we will be in a years time, i hope well on the way to financial independance. At the moment I feel like our confidence is still low and even lower while we don't have any portfolio yet.
Time to look for some more properties.
I don't know where we will be in a years time, i hope well on the way to financial independance. At the moment I feel like our confidence is still low and even lower while we don't have any portfolio yet.
Time to look for some more properties.
Monday, April 05, 2004
bling bling. Well yes, we went to Southend on sea on Saturday and braved the wind and rain to sit on some steps next to the pier, underneath the rollercoaster and toby popped the question between sniffs and sneezes. It was very romantic and I don't mean that sarcastically, we had a lovely day. When we got back to Fenchurch street, we had just enough time to jump on a number 8 and go to the west end for our meal. Toby had a 12oz steak and I had luxury fish pie, followed by ginger pudding and I had bread and butter pudding. After a couple of pints we were whittering away, Toby mostly but it was lovely just to listen to him. He talked about stuff that I hadn't heard before, not so important but it was kind of the sort of stuff that now we are somehow officially committed to each other he felt I needed to know. I can't even remember what most of it was about apart from a bit about Valerie and Moroccan cooking and Turkish sausage. When we got home we watched Pirates of the Caribbean under a blanket in our undies. Really good film
On Sunday we worked out our money situation which is pretty much unworkable, we have to sell and buy cheaper for lots of reasons. Our lifestyle is an expensive distraction from the life we are inspired to create.
About 5pm we trundled off to Kari's to rescue her computer. We were late and Toby was really grumpy because he was making us late because he'd forgotten to download the anti-virus software in time to leave on time. It was OK in the end, we had a really lovely time cosied up at Kari's Mum's drinking wine and talking. Abra's 16 now! It's amazing. She looks the same but she's just older somehow. She's also and inch taller than her mum which was a shock to dear Kari!
I don't think I've really gone on about the ring enough. It's beautiful and exactly like the design I picked except I have the fancy diamond. It's a light, yellow/cream tint that sparkles all colours with the light. It's quite chunky too which makes it rather heavy. I'm getting used to it though, every once in while I notice I'm wearing it which also implies that most of the time I'm comfortable wearing it now. Nikki at work asked to see it but I've been showing it off to those I think might like to see it. It's funny how something so wonderful is difficult to show off, especially knowing that it did cost. It's a symbol first and foremost.
It's too quiet at work which has given me longer than normal to write this. I don't like being sneaky, I'd rather have a pile of work to do. I already worked out the percentage of cars that have been untraceable in the past 12 months by make and colour. The largest proportion were blue, then red, then silver and either Honda or ford, closely followed by Mercedes and vauxhall. None of it was necessary but I wanted to give myself something to do. I'd already suspected that blue came up the most, well now I know!
On Sunday we worked out our money situation which is pretty much unworkable, we have to sell and buy cheaper for lots of reasons. Our lifestyle is an expensive distraction from the life we are inspired to create.
About 5pm we trundled off to Kari's to rescue her computer. We were late and Toby was really grumpy because he was making us late because he'd forgotten to download the anti-virus software in time to leave on time. It was OK in the end, we had a really lovely time cosied up at Kari's Mum's drinking wine and talking. Abra's 16 now! It's amazing. She looks the same but she's just older somehow. She's also and inch taller than her mum which was a shock to dear Kari!
I don't think I've really gone on about the ring enough. It's beautiful and exactly like the design I picked except I have the fancy diamond. It's a light, yellow/cream tint that sparkles all colours with the light. It's quite chunky too which makes it rather heavy. I'm getting used to it though, every once in while I notice I'm wearing it which also implies that most of the time I'm comfortable wearing it now. Nikki at work asked to see it but I've been showing it off to those I think might like to see it. It's funny how something so wonderful is difficult to show off, especially knowing that it did cost. It's a symbol first and foremost.
It's too quiet at work which has given me longer than normal to write this. I don't like being sneaky, I'd rather have a pile of work to do. I already worked out the percentage of cars that have been untraceable in the past 12 months by make and colour. The largest proportion were blue, then red, then silver and either Honda or ford, closely followed by Mercedes and vauxhall. None of it was necessary but I wanted to give myself something to do. I'd already suspected that blue came up the most, well now I know!
Saturday, April 03, 2004
I picked up the ring this lunchtime (Fri that is... it's now gone 12...). It's beautiful. CC's going to love it :)
The flat on blackstock road was too small. I've been surfing the property sites in Cambridgeshire and the 3 bed housed for a 100k look very appealing I must say.
The letter with the free flight arrived from my mum. I bought my grandma an Easter card too. That's a first.
I had an email from Erik too which was a nice surprise. Rosa is 1 year old now. It's funny unlike Maaike who seems to be growing up really quickly it seems like ages since Erik and Jose had Rosa but it's a year. I'm looking forward to a visit in May, which is probably when we'll get over. I'll have to fill in the voucher for the flights. End of April doesn't seem likely.
It's gone midnight, Toby's washing up and I get my go on the computer. I've got 42 emails in my inbox that I've for the most part read and replied to but there's a handful from the wealth creator course that need proper scrutiny as well as an email to the ITA team to confirm the dates for April and May and to get the gaps filled. I think I know where I stand.
Time for bed or we'll never get to the sea side!
The letter with the free flight arrived from my mum. I bought my grandma an Easter card too. That's a first.
I had an email from Erik too which was a nice surprise. Rosa is 1 year old now. It's funny unlike Maaike who seems to be growing up really quickly it seems like ages since Erik and Jose had Rosa but it's a year. I'm looking forward to a visit in May, which is probably when we'll get over. I'll have to fill in the voucher for the flights. End of April doesn't seem likely.
It's gone midnight, Toby's washing up and I get my go on the computer. I've got 42 emails in my inbox that I've for the most part read and replied to but there's a handful from the wealth creator course that need proper scrutiny as well as an email to the ITA team to confirm the dates for April and May and to get the gaps filled. I think I know where I stand.
Time for bed or we'll never get to the sea side!
Friday, April 02, 2004
Its Friday! Fish and chips! yum. I've just read toby's posts and I'm proud of old squidgy sides. I had a wonderful bath last night while Toby sat next to the bath on a pillow and we talked and talked about the numbers! Oh the numbers. It looks like the best numbers wise is to sell VC and buy for about 175 else where. I was looking on the net last earlier in the evening and found rather a nice pad on blackstock road for just that with a big enough bedroom so we are off to see it tonight.
I've got a number of things to look forward to at this moment...the ring (my precious), the seaside, shopping arriving Sunday morning, the meal in Covent garden Saturday night, the meal with Ali and Si on Monday night, Easter in Ely with Toby's m&d, plus time to look at new builds there, and a letter from my mum with a free flight to Holland!
I'm glad that the air has cleared, it's been an onnit week relatively speaking what with our stuff about Toby assisting on the TLP days. Toby cooked a curry last night, even that didn't pollute the atmosphere!
time for a yogurt and I think I should email Sparky in Holland, just to see what's new.
I've got a number of things to look forward to at this moment...the ring (my precious), the seaside, shopping arriving Sunday morning, the meal in Covent garden Saturday night, the meal with Ali and Si on Monday night, Easter in Ely with Toby's m&d, plus time to look at new builds there, and a letter from my mum with a free flight to Holland!
I'm glad that the air has cleared, it's been an onnit week relatively speaking what with our stuff about Toby assisting on the TLP days. Toby cooked a curry last night, even that didn't pollute the atmosphere!
time for a yogurt and I think I should email Sparky in Holland, just to see what's new.
Thursday, April 01, 2004
2nd post ever.. woohoo! Well, David called me and I cleared things up with him, then Emma called me and I cleared things up with her too (basically by taking responsibility for how the conversation went). I've committed to assisting at the last 4 TLP workdays... either I'll be there or I'll find someone to replace me. I'm glad it's all cleared up - I won't be up till 1oc fuming like I was last night.
Hello! Toby's first blog post ever, anywhere. And I did it after only 3 days of this blog being set up, lol. Chris is right, I was really on it with Emma yesterday and today, but I've come to realise that the conversation went how it did because of what *I* said and didn't say, rather than it being Emma's fault. I want to have a conversation with her to set some things straight but coming from I wasn't powerful in the first conversation rather than making her wrong. (If you haven't done the Landmark Forum some terminology might be a bit strange, sorry). So, Chris, if you're reading this (and obviously you will), I'm going to stick with my assisting agreement but make it clear that if I do need to replace myself then I'm going to need help.
Anyway, I thought this blog was all about getting married! I rang the jeweler's today and they're going to have the ring ready for me to collect tomorrow lunchtime at 1.30. Considering that last week they said it would be ready on Monday, I think that that's a bit slack... but as long as I have it by Sat, I don't mind.
Anyway, I thought this blog was all about getting married! I rang the jeweler's today and they're going to have the ring ready for me to collect tomorrow lunchtime at 1.30. Considering that last week they said it would be ready on Monday, I think that that's a bit slack... but as long as I have it by Sat, I don't mind.
Yesterday we managed to forget almost everything, I missed my dentist's appointment and left the oven on when I left for Landmark, Toby lost his jumper, left his bag on the bus (got it back) and something else I forgot... it's definatley preoccupation causing the destraction, one that will be resolved by 2 phone calls to Emma and David Bell. I've not helped and used my expectations of David to confuse Toby even more than he was I fear.
Work is good, busy and motivated. I've sent an email to the PC in charge of role play training with the probationers about voluteering as a 'monster' well that's what I'd be doing if it was an LRP event anyway.
The CAP evening session was really good, the acknowledgement exercise at the end was a joy and I was really present to how many distinctions from CAP are still present in my life, 4 years after I did it in summer 2000, which is ages ago! Apart from being a Dart Team Captain, which I did for 5 years, Landmark is the one thing I've done ongoingly for year after year. It's so nice not to be an onnit, stressed, insecure bag of complaints and unfilfilled expectations. phew. at least when the urge returns I know exactly how to transform it.
Time for tea with one sugar.
Work is good, busy and motivated. I've sent an email to the PC in charge of role play training with the probationers about voluteering as a 'monster' well that's what I'd be doing if it was an LRP event anyway.
The CAP evening session was really good, the acknowledgement exercise at the end was a joy and I was really present to how many distinctions from CAP are still present in my life, 4 years after I did it in summer 2000, which is ages ago! Apart from being a Dart Team Captain, which I did for 5 years, Landmark is the one thing I've done ongoingly for year after year. It's so nice not to be an onnit, stressed, insecure bag of complaints and unfilfilled expectations. phew. at least when the urge returns I know exactly how to transform it.
Time for tea with one sugar.
