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"Romy, what the fuck have we done?"

Well, The call came just after lunchtime to go and collect the keys, which sent me into nervous overdrive and for hours afterwards going "Oh my god." This soon turned into "what the fuck have we done?! How much work?!"

The house smells quite stale, but we opened the windows and got some air through, and it started to smell better.

We couldn't start work on the house though, as there's not only no power, hot water, or actually any water to speak of, but also The Fella had got the letter through to inform him of his hospital appointment for his cystoscopy - on the day of completion. Oh, and work phoned to tell me my classroom is ready to be put back together. Never rains, eh? If you are wondering what a cystoscopy is, I will explain in the Fella's words - it's a camera up the knob. Ouchie.
Thankfully the camera revealed nothing to worry about in himself's weeing parts, so all is good on that front. It felt like I was releasing a breath that I didn't realise I'd been holding for a very long time, and there was nothing nicer than having a big enormous cuddle outside my parents' house.

Yes, it was back to the 'rentals for stage two of the operation - Operation IKEA. We both own fairly compact cars, not the sort that one can easily load with flatpacked bookcases and dining room furniture. Also, if you take the 'rents you can tap them up for cash at the checkout ;)

Stopped at the house briefly to drop off a stepladder so I could read the electricity meter (had spent an amusing phonecall trying to sit on Chris's back and read the meter and press the button several times for the nice man on the other end of the phone. After coating Chris in plaster dust and spectacularly failing to reach the right buttons, I decided to phone back when I had a ladder.) My dad had a quick look at the plumbing and decided it was safe to switch the water back on, as the system had been drained when the house was empty. One out of three ain't bad!

Off to IKEA, had a good wander, bought lots of lovely furniture, and then back to the house to drop it off at approaching midnight.. At this point, in the dark, my dad decided he would put the new batteries in the smoke detectors and put them back up (as it's obviously been rented property at some point, they're hardwired detectors, but due to lack of power, have been beeping incessantly since our first visit to the property way back in.. some month or other.

Then it was home to bed, read for an early start tomorrow when lots of shiny kitchen bits are being delivered!