Plan B

Morning spent searching the internet for suitable local building plots - if something was available, we could always design and build our new house.

Nothing really available - though with a substantial lottery win, it may be possible!

All change

Well it appears that the Gorse Fox and Silver Vixen have started something. Beloved Aunt has just written to tell us that she has managed to sell her house in Toronto and is moving into a lovely-looking condo not far from Cousin Claire. Meanwhile, closer to home, Badger and Mrs Tiggywinkle have put their "chocolate box" cottage in Devon on the market.

Eggs in baskets

With the impending arrival of significant funds from the sale of the house - and the fact that they will not be called upon immediately, the Gorse Fox and Silver Vixen have to consider the safest way in which to hang on to and protect said funds in the somewhat volatile market.

Some Premium Bonds are called for, but that only scratches the surface.

With the Government guaranteeing the first £85,000 of savings for each person in each institution - it was clear that we may need some additional accounts in order to spread our nest-eggs in a variety of baskets. To this end we trundled into nearby Goring-on-Sea and opened a couple of extra accounts (one each) with another institution. We almost have the coverage needed, but may need one further backstop - a spreadsheet is imminent.

Lists

Gorse Fox spent much of the day going through old papers and brochures - ensuring that we do not cart a load of unnecessary junk with us to our home. He also spent time scanning some the older material so that the paper versions could be shredded.

It's interesting when you start to think about who you need to inform of your change of address - obviously you look through your address book and let friends and family know - but who else? Well so far, the Gorse Fox had identified 51 separate organisation who need to be informed, and keeps remembering additions to the list.

Mac the Knife

As we lurch towards a moving date the pace of clean-up increases. The Gorse Fox stood by his shredder for much of the afternoon feeding old papers into the jaws of oblivion, whilst ditching the less sensitive papers  in the recycle bin. It seems clear that a lot of time could be saved if GF attached a shredder to the letter box - there are so few important items that actually arrive as atoms rather than bits nowadays.

GF also got the forms filled in for the rental of a new property - but will not actually release them until we have exchanged contracts on the house.

Heading home

Another good day at the office with meetings and calls which kept the Gorse Fox busy. Unfortunately, Gorse Fox wanted to download some software to enable him to gain access to a database where his new team has been storing data. Not a very successful exercise. The software downloaded ok, but will not install properly. Will have to try again when he gets home.

Gorse Fox is now sitting in Edinburgh Airport waiting for the plane home. A nice long weekend awaits.

Snow

It seems to have snowed in Edinburgh, over night. At least GF's twisted knee seems to be improving.

Starfleet

The Gorse Fox has spent the morning in the Edinburgh offices of Starfleet. Finally briefed he is ready to head down to the client office.

On the Bench

Somehow the Gorse Fox seems to have twisted his knee in the last 24 hours. He was hoping it would settle over night, but clearly it had different plans. Had the Gorse Fox not been in Edinburgh, he would probably have given Roy Hodgson a selection problem for tonight's game against Montenegro. Clearly the Gorse Fox couldn't play - but practically he may not even have made it to the bench.

Better go and do a day's work instead!

Houses

Working at home for much of the day and catching up on a lot of contractual mumbo jumbo. The Gorse Fox has now hopped on his airbus and is ensconced in his Edinburgh hotel ready for the morning.

We have let the estate agents know we liked the rental property we saw at the weekend. Now we just need to wait for exchange and agree to take on the rental.

Dreams, again?

Continuing the theme of dreams, Gorse Fox was confused by the appearance of the BBC Technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones in last night's epic. He emerged through the trees at the side the property (incidentally, there are no trees at the side of the property) and demanded we put in a car park large enough for five vehicles. Questioned why, he explained that everyone had to do this to provide space for their own private BBC correspondents.

Friends

Despite the weather that was affecting much of the country, it was only chilly and grey down here in the South. We headed off across the rolling hills of West Sussex and through the eastern limits of Hampshire in order to spend the day with Betty and Barney Rubble.

As usual we had a lovely day, and popped out for lunch. We, again, visited the Hoddington Arms in Upton Grey but were greeted by a full car park. This posed a problem as the overflow car park was a sea of mud and was consequently unused. The Gorse Fox dropped his passengers and, picking his spot, ventured into the quagmire. The only question was whether he would get out after the meal.

The menu was similar to that seen on our last visit - the pub, however, was much busier. This may account for why the meal didn't quite reach the levels of excellence we experienced last time. Don't misunderstand - it was fine, just not quite excellent.

Back in the car park the car had settled and the first attempt to move saw wheel spin. Some judicious rocking back and fort, however, and GF manoeuvred the vehicle out of the field and onto solid tarmac to pick up his companions and head back.

Eh?

Now the Gorse Fox should explain - he is one of those people who dreams (and remembers fragments thereof) most nights. There are some mornings when the residual images from the dream take a while to disperse and he sits and asks himself "Que?"

Last night he was struggling to get across a large lake, accompanied by a dog, in a flotilla of shoes. Yes shoes! He tried several of them and by the middle of the lake had plumped for a large motorised tennis shoe with a padded ankle collar. This proved to be the fastest and most comfortable vessel.

Losing it !

Hunting

The day started well with a an online chat with Cousteau-cub - and getting the summarised gossip from the wedding. This seemed to feature fits of the giggles and good time for all.

Back home it was another day of house hunting. The first viewing went well - nice house, but spread over three floors and though each of us liked parts of it, neither liked all of it. I think this disappointed Urban-cub, as it was quite near to where she lives.

The next house, in Rustington, was a possible rental rather than purchase. This was a much better prospect - and the Gorse Fox expects that - should we not be beaten to it - we will try to move in there, for now.

Contracts and Admin

The day was spent with background reading of the contracts for the new project and going through the documents that have already been developed. Gorse Fox also chatted with the colleague who will be his "number two" and helped him get his head round the problem we will be trying to solve.

Then it was a matter of getting the authority to travel - and needless to say Starfleet have come up with a new online toll to replace the last online tool. It took a stupid amount of time to fill-in, but at least it was completed and all the authorisations received by the end of the day. (Good job really as GF had already booked his flights and hotels).

First photos of Cousteau-cub's wedding started to trickle out on Facebook. She looked stunning. Can't wait to see some more.

Crash

Starting the day with laptop crash does not bode well for a productive day's work. - Just saying!

Busy

Finishing off the old project and transitioning into the next project has been fun but the Gorse Fox has been distracted, thinking of Cousteau-cub and the Coventry Hobbit on their special day. If only we could have been there with them. Never mind. We'll see them in the summer.

Wedding

Today is a very proud day for the Gorse Fox and Silver Vixen. Cousteau-cub and the Coventry Hobbit are getting married. Clearly, we are not in Thailand with them - but we will be thinking of them throughout this very special day.

Satisfying

A very satisfying day in town. Gorse Fox met up with some colleagues at the London offices of the current client. The objective was to complete a read through of the document he has been working on with his team. It was also his valedictory meeting with this client as he moves on to a different project for the same organisation.

All in all it went very well. The document needs some work - but the content is all there. The main thrust of the changes will be stylistic. GF's team will pick those up.

He joined a conference call as he left the building and headed for the station - it appears that Starfleet has been asked to extend the work of GF's new project through several further phases. Edinburgh is likely to become like second home.

Around and about

It's been a day of bits and pieces and trips around and about.

The house hunt continued with a viewing of a property at lunchtime. Lovely flint-walled house, built only 4 years ago. However, it was too small and required more maintenance than GF was willing to invest. Then there was a trip to another development - but they had nothing that would suit us in a location that we would accept.

More to see on Saturday