Another Bump in the Road (and a tearful goodbye)

You know that feeling when you’re cruising down an open road, singing to a favourite song and bam!, you hit an unforeseen speed bump? Well, that was the week that was. One great big bump in the road. On Wednesday night, I got a phone call from my would-be buyer to say that he was pulling out due to imminent unemployment and my little happy bubble burst. Nobody’s fault (other than Covid’s of course) but no-one could blame me for the feeling that the universe was out to get me yet again, “What did I do to deserve this?” I tearfully mumbled into Callum’s big hug. Just so unfair. Yet, maybe because I’m getting used to this, I didn’t fall apart. Nope, I pulled up my big girl pants and went into practical mode. Ring family, check. Ring estate agent, check. Ring removals, check. Ring motorhome chap, check. And after a wonderful video chat with a couple of girlfriends, both of which have had their fare share of universal mud-slinging, I am back and ready to take on the challenge.

Since that crushing phone call, we’ve already had 5 viewings. The estate agents tell me that because of the difficulties with social distancing, they can only show people around houses who are already in a position to buy which helps with my optimism. It’s an odd situation showing prospective families your home bleached up to the rafters whilst all are dressed in masks and gloves and carefully moving through rooms at the required distancing. Once the first party leaves the house, I run round with the Flash, wiping down any surface they may have touched lest they might have inadvertently left something behind. I don’t know if it’s just my grasp at hopefulness but people do seem to be lingering longer and making all the right noises about chez Knollys. One couple had had to cancel their wedding in Italy last week which must have been incredibly stressful although her comment about deciding to buy a house instead had me laughing out loud. How much was the wedding?!

So onwards and upwards we must go. There is little point in getting all maudlin about the situation, after all we have our health (touch wood, cross fingers, look out for black cats), we have a house and the Chancellor has kindly given me a little bit of money to pay the bills for a couple of months. I’m back working again although in a limited capacity (handstripping only) as almost all my grooming equipment went off to Surrey on Wednesday morning. You couldn’t make it up. Our move across the pond may be delayed a little but perhaps the universe wanted to wait until the dentists opened up again. But we will get there, that I am sure of.

On a different note, I just want to take a little moment to remember our Chrissie who died very suddenly at the grand old age of 13. Family dogs are always special but Chrissie, who was Macgyver’s little sister, was truly one of a kind. A fiercely protective but exceptionally gentle German Shepherd, she loved nothing better than having the whole family down at L’Horte where she could keep an eye on everyone. Although we had bought her as a present for my Mum, she adored walking over the land by Pop’s side and I have no doubt she is right up there with him. I suppose it’s only right that she passed away at the home she adored and as Mac’s ashes are scattered there, hers will be too. Right alongside Pop.

“No, when the love that lights up in your eyes goes out, It will come back to life somehow, somewhere in Heaven” (Alphonse Marie Louis de Lamartine. French Poet)