After a process of 1 year and 13 days we NOW OWN THE NEW BUNGALOW !!!!!!! :D :D :D Crack open the Ribena and bring out the chocolate ! (And sausages for the dogs!)

Of course, we STILL can't move in right now, because we need to make it animal friendly first. As luck would have it, the Friday we complete at long last is before the ONLY weekend of the entire year when we have 2 solidly booked days at the weekend, so we can't do a thing this weekend. Dog show tomorrow where we are having a puppy get together (4 from last litter will be there) so definitely won't miss that, ad (DRUM ROLL!!! Secret to be revealed!) On Sunday we are collecting  A NEW PUPPY !! (Golden Retriever bitch !) And John couldn't get next week off, so it will be another week before we can even start, but fingers crossed we can then get it done.

We need to: put up stud cat pens in the garage that we are converting into a cat house -it's already been painted and looks great, will be fitted with heaters etc, and it's going to be WONDERFUL to not have to have the boys in normal cat houses were they are affected by the weather!

Fence the property so the dogs can be outside safely.

Remove all fitted carpets and replace with plastic flooring so hairs are easily vacuumed up and accidents easily cleaned!

All wallpaper removed and walls painted, as otherwise the cats will just scratch the wallpaper and the birds will eat it!

Have a toilet fitted in mother in law's bedroom so she doesn't have to share with us -she's almost 80 and disabled so needs her privacy.

And that's about it. (There's more, but that's stuff we can do once we live there.)  Of course, now when we finally OWN it, the wait seems even MORE annoying, LOL! I want to move NOW!!!! :D :D

I can't believe this nightmare is OVER.

Rah! BungalowsRUs!!!

Congratulations Marianne YAY!! 
Sounds like you got a lot of work to do, but it makes all the difference having your own dream place at last :)

Great to hear you've finally got it! :)

That is wonderful news I am so chuffed for you as it has been a long and hard road to get there , well done :D :D

Lucy
xx

Glad to hear that everything is finally coming together.  Feel we need a jumping up and down smiley for this one! :)

Fence the property so the dogs can be outside safely - Better have a word with Isabel on that one :D :D

Congratulations Marianne :) I am so happy for you X

I am so pleased that you have finally completed and are the proud owners of a new home :) And a new puppy as well :) :)

Oh hooray, will wonders never cease. I am so happy for you Marianne! And glad to hear your new little one will be bringing some fresh joy into your heart on Sunday. What do you think, 2007 shaping up a bit better so far? My girl comes home in 2 weeks so we should run into each other at a show or two. ;-)

Congratulations again. :-D :-D

now put your dungarees on and get to work!!! :-D

Going to be great fun to see you at shows Lori!! Now what's yours going to be called??

I'm waffling. I like Caileigh and Caoimhe but haven't really decided yet.

hmm, or maybe Aoife, Sima, Céibhfhionn - oh I can't decide!!

Okay I can only pronounce the first one LOL!! :D :D

My 7 year old son s aid we couldn't call our pup Kiara because he couldn't say it, and I agreed. Then hubby said to  the child "I'll give you a pound if you say Kiara" and instantly he was able to ROFL! :D

Brilliant :D

Great news! Good luck on the move and congratulations for your little pup :)

Ok, you've stumped me Lori!!

I'm generally quite good with Irish names but I'm utterly perplexed by this one:

>Céibhfhionn

How is it pronounced?  By my reckoning, it should be pronounced like Siobhan (sh-vonn) but I could be wrong as I've never studied Irish, just picked up bits and pieces along the way :)

Céibhfhionn is the name of a Gaelic water goddess of inspiration, intelligence, knowledge and creativity, meaning "fair locks." I've seen someone who's named this pronounce it KAY-vee-en. So probably shortened to KAY-vee as she'll be a dog and not so good with words. :-D Caoimhe is KWEE-va Marianne, and means gentleness, beauty. I've seen some sites say KEE-va but I think that's more of an Irish pronunciation. I'm no native speaker so feel free to correct me if you're Scottish or Irish.

A little sad but I've actually listened to this entire site to try to learn how to say things correctly.

Caoimhe is most commonly pronounced KEE-va.  I have several friends called Caoimhe and they'd probably kill themselves laughing if anyone called them Kwee-va

I've consulted a friend who is a fluent irish speaker about Céibhfhionn and, although it's not a name she's come across, she reckons it's pronounced KAY-von rather than KAY-vee-en as there would have to be an -in at the end to make the een sound. 

There are rather a lot of 'made-up' irish names these days as some parents seem to think that the more letters there are in a name the better I pity the poor children when they are learning to spell/write their names!

I've always liked the name Aoife :)

Am I right in thinking Aoife is pronounced Eva?

Close :D It's pronounced EE-fa :)

Close  It's pronounced EE-fa
VICAR OF DIBLEY :D :D :D :D :D :D
Lea :) :)

Thanks ShaynLola, you've saved me from sounding like a plonker! I know there is a lot of dubious information out there and if it were a child I'd never pick anything that would make their life so difficult. I figure there aren't many people who will actually see her name and she won't ever have to spell it out herself. I did find Céibhfhionn on loads of old lists so thought it was legit. I just liked the myth but it's probably too hard for me to spell! :-D

It's a nice name but I just had a bit of a chuckle to myself imagining the receptionist at the vet trying to call her in for her appointment :D :D  Actually, maybe you should call her Céibhfhionn after all, just for the comedy element :D :D

>I did find Céibhfhionn on loads of old lists so thought it was legit.

I think it's legit alright, just not commonly used as a girl's name :)

I think Saorlaith (SEAR-la) and Orla (Orlaith/Orlagh) are nice girl's names too that would suit a GR :)

>It's a nice name but I just had a bit of a chuckle to myself imagining the receptionist at the vet trying to call her in for her appointment  <

Oh you've discovered my alterior motives. Hee hee. I am just evil. :-D :-D

Oh I like Saorlaith. :) I did think Orla was perfect for a GR but wasn't too keen on the sound. Hard to beat for meaning though ;-)

Ah now here's obviously the person to ask! :D How is FIONN pronounced? A pup I bred is called that but I haven't SPOKEN to his owner sicne he was named, only e-mailed, so I don't know how she says it! She is Irish.

Here you are:-

http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Fionn

Margot

>How is FIONN pronounced?

I think it's just another spelling of Finn (the Irish are very fond of extra 'silent' letters :D ), as in the legendary Fionn MacCool.  I wanted to name Shay 'Finn' but, as far as I can recall, it means fair-haired (or something like that) so not really suitable for a jet black dog. Perfect for a Malinois, though :D

Thanks both! :)

Yahoo!  Congratulations Marianne! :D

The wait will be over before you know it :) and congrats on the new puppy too!

Glad that you have finally made it :) I am surprised that you are still sane :D :D

Daisy

WHEY HEY :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
I thought it would never happen!!!!
Now this HAS to be the longest running, house buying saga ever!!!!!!!
I am so Pleased for you :D :D :D :D
By the sounds of it, it will be the most used to noise puppy ever!!!! All the things need doing, will certainly be used to Bangs and caos :D :D :D :D
So whens the bungalow warming ;) ;)
Lea :)

P.S> i hope you can leave something for the vindictive b**........ next door to remember you by :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Now this is definitely something worth celebrating!!!

Fantastic news Marianne and proof that good things come to those who wait ;)

Congrats on the puppy too :D :D Does she have a name yet? Photos on the website ASAP, please!! :)

Her name is going to be KIARA. That was the name of Simba's daughter in the Lion King (so my kids inform me!), and of course I already have a Simba -who is her uncle. :) Watch out for updates to website next week I dare say. :D She was born on Christmas Eve.

Yes we told the solicitor we'd thought of contacting the Guinness Book of records! His reply "Um that would look rather bad for me I think". :rolleyes:

I have some plans for both sets of neighbours... :D

I have some plans for both sets of neighbours... 
Looking forward to hearing about the outcome, by Pm of course ;) ;) ;)
Lea :D

WOOHOO!  the bungalow and new furry beast too - What a huge relief at last!

What brilliant news and a fantastic relief for you all! :) :) :)

It is so good to hear some good news......and I do think that you are due for a large lump of luck now, Marianne!

Good luck to your new home - lang may yer lum reek!!!

Margot

YAY!!! Way to go Marianne!!! :)

I'm so happy for you, it has been a long journey to get your new home, I really do wish you great happiness and joy,

when's the party? I've a bottle or 2 chilling!!

How exciting on both counts, Marianne - I hope your new home is worth the wait, and that your luck will take a turn for the better now. May 2007 be your year!

M.

HURRAY....
Karen ;-)

WOW at last!!!  CONGRATULATIONS!

hope this year is better for you than last, it's off to a great start!

Congratulations - I'll have a glass of sparkly to toast....

Maxine

FANTASTIC :) :) :) - and I'm kinda excited by the furby addition too :D

Congratulations on getting the home front sorted out after such a lengthy saga, well worth waiting for I'm sure. 
best wishes, Teri :)

Thanks ALL. :)

Yes I'm definitely excited.:) This puppy was actually planned BEFORE we lost Rambo, so it's in no way anything to do with that, but boy will it give us something nice to concentrate on now which I think I REALLY need.

How lovely to read some good news, Marianne.  Enjoy your new home and your new baby.
Carina

>This puppy was actually planned BEFORE we lost Rambo

Don't fret Marianne - nobody worth knowing would think otherwise!  I know Rambo would still be with you if it was what was best for him and I'm sure everyone else thinks likewise :)

Enjoy your new erm, challenge .... LOL, I'm just getting broody can't you tell :D

At last! That has got to be the longest wait to move ever, so glad at last you can escape your neighbours and have a new home and life to look forward to.

Add some champagne to that Ribena, and very pleased for you. :-)

Oh, and yes, big congrats on your new family member, nothing as sweet as a GR pup. :-P

WOW ! - what fantastic news - just shows that you should NEVER give up your dream - I hope that you, John, kids and all the furry and feathered beasties have a wonderful life in your new country home :D

(Hugs to the new arrival too !)

Yvonne

At last! It's been a long haul, hasn't it? :) Enjoy your new home, and the new puppy :)

Great news on both fronts! Can't wait to see puppy pics!

oh brilliant! so pleased for you on all counts