Callum's 1st Birthday

Friday (16th) was Callum's first birthday. Obviously I wasn't there, but Louise had a little informal party with other mum's and their kids.

We had a present opening yesterday once I'd got back.

Photos later.

Back at home in Sydney

Back in Sydney now - it rained every day in Penang - probably because it is the rainy season!

Hotel was ok - meals were good.

in penang, malaysia

Made it to the hotel - it is now 2.46am Sydney time, 12.46am local time - off to bed I think.

away on business next week

Off to Malaysia on Saturday.

went to see the house

We got temporary access to the house today, to check things like space for beds, where plugs are (not many - very interesting fuse box!) and to see if the utilities work (eg cooker, hob, hot water etc - they all work).

Sat in the sun room and marvelled at the view (considering we are in a suburb, there isn't much to see of the adjoining houses!)

We've exchanged contracts on a house

Well - that was stressful.

Last week (Monday 24th September) we put in an offer on a house in Pymble, and it was verbally accepted on Friday 28th.

All we had to do then is exchange contracts to ensure the property was ours - in the meantime, the agent would continue to progress putting the property on the market (we got to see it pre-marketing).

Then estate agent calls, and wants the contract sent staight away not overnight in the post, as a neighbour was about to put in an offer (apparently we later find out, they had put an offer in a few months ago, but this time went direct to the solicitor).

A bit later Louise gets a phone call from the agent. The neighbours offer exceeds ours. The amount was a figure we had previously discussed and we quickly made decision to match their offer. Now it was case of whom could exchange first.

We got the agent to collect our contract from solicitor, but find out that the other contract is there too, just after ours. The estate agent was waiting upon the vendors solicitor to tell him which contract to exchange with. But the solicitor was in a meeting and was keeping us all waiting

Eventually the agent rings back and...............................

it's ours.

Long Weekend

Well, back at work after the long weekend

• Saturday saw us at one of Callum's playgroup friend's for her 1st birthday.
• Sunday saw us all at Bicentennial Park for a group birthday
• Monday (Labour Day in NSW) saw us back at Bicentennial Park for another 1st Birthday via Callum's playgroup.

all partied out now.

Possibly some house news by the end of the week...