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The sun returned today. This set us up nicely for our trawl through local solicitors in order to find one acceptable to the Family Building Society and willing to witness our signatures on the Mortgage Deed and the Declaration of Understanding.
Starting off at Milford on Sea we hit the jackpot with Dagless and Whitlock. Almost.
For these forays Jackie remained in the car while I tested the ground. This firm were willing, but they only had one Partner. The lenders insisted on two. I therefore decided to phone Garry, our mortgage advisor to see if he could find a way around this. There was no signal. When, a little later, there was one, Garry was on answerphone. I left a message.
Returning to our car I had the opportunity to envy groups of carefree folk enjoying the sunshine on the green.
We drove round to the GP surgery to collect a prescription. A spider sunbathed in the car park. It was then that I remembered Anansi. Was this creature a good omen?
We decided to hedge our bets, and try more solicitors in New Milton.
Outside Roger Cobb’s farmhouse on the coast road, a string of starlings seemed prepared to take off on a murmuration.
Neither Dixon & Stewart
nor Heppenstalls were prepared to witness the signatures, because this would suggest that they had advised us, which they hadn’t.
I was about to enter a third legal establishment when Garry rang me back with the news that a firm with only one Partner was acceptable to the lender. Monogamy rules. Back we went to Milford on Sea where we made an appointment for the witnessing, to take place on 18th.
We had definitely earned a brunch at the Beach Hut Café at Friars Cliff.
Sunlight slashed the ocean,
and was borne by the waves
onto the beach where people walked their lolloping dogs and the red seaweed has almost disappeared.
One canine was keener to get to the water than was its owner.
On leaving the car, I had carried my camera, lenses, and the mortgage paperwork in a hessian supermarket bag. When I had finished taking the beach shots I didn’t have the bag. Thinking I must have put it down somewhere, I retraced my steps up to the carpark. The bag was nowhere to be seen. Back down the slopes and the steps towards the café I trudged.
Then I noticed Jackie, clearly wondering where I had got to.
Then I noticed what she was clutching. Having removed the camera I had handed her the bag. I was definitely losing the plot.
Suddenly I recovered my appetite. Now we could enjoy our brunch.
As we left the café I watched a young man allowing a little boy to be adventurous on a rocky breakwater while keeping a safe closeness.
It was definitely a day for ice creams. Despite his expression in this photograph the concerned gentleman shared his companions’ pleasure at the picture.
Another couple struggled a bit with the breeze.
Only a couple of days ago I had been told that I needed to send the report of the mortgage valuation of the house to the solicitors. The final task of the day was to return home, place this, with a covering letter, in an envelope and post it to the manager of the solicitors in Stockport, by recorded delivery. This involved a second trip to New Milton. At least it means I will know when they have received it, and they won’t get away with pretending it had arrived later.
This evening we dined on a spicy stuffed crust pizza and fresh salad, with which I drank Mendoza Parra Alta malbec 2016.
I hear you, Derrick. I do such stuff all the time!
Thanks very much, Cynthia
What a series of events–it sounds nearly daunting, this signature-seeking and -witnessing! But you have prevailed and what a relief to be soon finished with that. The description of sunlight on water was wonderful. And your “missing” bag–we all can relate! (I have missed your posts while being gone and will miss them again while on another trip.)
Many thanks, Cynthia. I’m sure you are with them in spirit 🙂 Enjoy your next trip
Days like that are frustrating and exhausting, but at least you found an acceptable solicitor, enjoyed the beach, and had brunch. I liked the action shots of child and dog–and Jackie. 🙂
Many thanks, Merril. (And it gave me blog material 🙂 )
🙂
You two do have stamina!! I would look like the opening photo of Jackie!!
I did! Many thanks, GP
You did earn a brunch!
Thanks very much, Lynn
most welcome
A fascinating tale you have to tell, Derrick. ‘Losing the plot’ – goes with the ‘getting older’ territory of course! I’ve been there some time now.
🙂 Many thanks, Roland
Oh how many times have I gone hunting for my glasses when they were on my head all the time…….. Despite all the woes, Jackie’s face still lights up when she sees you approaching <3
Very many thanks, Pauline
Yes, I noticed that, too. Sweet.
🙂
Lost the plot!
Out to brunch!
Tomorrow we are travelling 6 hours to look at a house in a town called Toko – Eric assures me that Toco is the French colloquial words for a dumb twit.
That should suit you fine 🙂 I do hope it works out. Then you could complete the haiku. Thanks a ;lot, Bruce
It would be lovely to complete such a haiku satisfactorily. And even on a date before you get to sign your angst-filled documents! Thank, Derrick.
🙂
Jackie always looks so happy, even when she might have been feeling quite differently.
🙂 Thanks very much, Gwen
Truth be told Gwendoline, I was actually incandescent! He does have a habit of wandering off in search of a good picture, often leaving me causing a traffic jam or similar,on this occasion having told me he would take a picture and meet me in the cafe, I had saved a table in the crowded cafe for so long that I could no longer face the annoyed looks of the other patrons and had to relinquish said table to wait outside for him, not pleased, but could so relate to his story when I heard it!
🙂
This all seems to have been missed out in the edit Jackie. How about an occasional guest post giving us the “alternative history”view of life with Derrick?
🙂
Good idea. I’ll pass it on. 🙂
Haha, I thought there was another story hidden in there. You are a saint Jackie, always patiently scouting out the locations and waiting in the wings to collect Derrick. Incandescent! Love it! Oh yes! I would have gone off like a firecracker – no maybe I would have just fumed quietly – but whichever, if I’d been left hanging around in a cafe for a no show, I’m not sure I would have been prepared to listen to the reason, much less relate to it; even if I am prone to mislaying things when my attention is elsewhere. You’re a brick!
Wonderful response, Gwen. It seems you are rather alike.
Sweet comment Gwen, you know what they say- ‘Behind every great man there is an even bigger woman!’
🙂
I’m hearing you Sheila!!
🙂
An extraordinary ordeal Derrick. Horrible process to go through.
Many thanks, Frank
Oh I know that moment…when you think and think and can’t arrive at a good conclusion as to where this particular missing thing is. Fortunate for smiling Jackie. Fortunate for me most times. Life serves it up and then we have ice cream.
🙂 Many thanks, Pamela
I can only imagine how you must have felt when the bag went missing. I’m happy Jackie saved the day!
Many thanks, Jill. Emotional exhaustion and sleep deprivation. More relaxed now.
What a day for your adrenaline levels … So glad to hear the solicitor issue is resolved, (at least theoretically) and the bag was found. Hooray for the Head Gardener. 😀
Thanks for all that, Widders.
What a busy, frustrating day! I’m so glad it ended well. I love the seaside photos and the one of Jackie, of course!
Thank you very much, Clare
Aside from your desperate bids to get those papers witnessed and the lunacy if it all, it was quite a page turner equivalent on your blog. Hope, nervous anticipation, despair, intrigue, voodoo, victory… you have managed to squeeze in everything in that post!
Many thanks for noticing and commenting, Uma
Stop grizzling. I have days like that every day with an “a” in it and twice on All Hallows. But really Derrick. in Australia there could never be a firm called “Dagless and Whitlock”. An old sheep that has just been crutched is called dagless. And Whitlock would have been renamed Witless in school so he would have changed his name years ago.
Nice play on the names, Paol. Thanks
That is not losing the plot Derrick! A perfectly ordinary piece of forgetfulness, I do them all the time.
Thanks, John. Just a wee bit stressed 🙂
Sounds like a complex process. You definitely deserved your brunch outside
Thanks a lot, Geetha. Complex is a polite word for it 🙂
😀
I’ve been struggling lately, and my neuralgia is stubbornly lingering on a bit, so I found all your seaside photos pleasing and quietly soothing……
Thanks a lot, Ivor. Neuralgia is most painful
Sounds like you have at last some light at the end of that tunnel regarding you Signatures..
And what a beautiful day.. Here too, today Sunny and blustery, but very warm..
Enjoy your weekend Derrick.. and hopefully things will now be smoother xx <3
You, too, Sue. Thanks very much
🙂
An up and down kind of day, but it sounds as though things might be going your way. 😉
Thanks, Laurie. At least I haven’t had to wrestle with it today
I am glad that you seem close to a resolution at last. I can totally sympathise with the lost bag worry – when you are stressed and break routines all sorts of worrying things happen. but you seem on the home run now.
Thanks, Geoff. You understood well
Sounds like progress may be happening – I LOVE that photo of the 3 ice cream eaters. So great how the cones line up and the colors and the lovely models – great shot.
Many thanks, Jodie. They liked it, too
; )
I am often misplacing or setting things down thinking I’ll remember “where?” The whole post seems like it was a happily ever after story, Derrick. All’s well that ends well. 😀
We do hope so, Robin. Thanks a lot
Sounds like a rough day, Derrick. The seaside photos are beautiful though!
Thanks very much. I was pretty emotionally exhausted.
Ah, monogamy rules. I now understand. 🙂
🙂 Thanks very much, Rose