Exchange!

So one thing is now definite: we will be completing and moving out of our Abingdon house on 23rd April. A week today!!

The solicitor phoned this afternoon to say that the buyers were ready to exchange contracts, and then called back about 10 minutes later to say we have exchanged.

It would be rather nice to have some more certainty on the Italian side of things - at the moment it feels like we are leaving our lovely Abingdon home with no certainty of having anywhere else to move to! Needless to say, we haven't heard any more about the possible hold-up/problem since last Friday, so we're still none the wiser as to what the problem is, how serious it is, whether there might be a delay of a few days or a few weeks, or even any delay at all.

I experienced my first farewells today - Ana & Jenny at the dojo, who are off on holiday to Thailand next week, so may not see me before they go, and Monika, who I visit for my daily coffee from the Sophos restaurant, who is off to Poland to visit family and won't be back until the start of May. It feels very odd, and slightly surreal!

Stuart is having the first of his farewell drink get-togethers this evening in Birmingham, with as many of his Birmingham-based buddies as can make it.

As I said - surreal.

~ Helen