Brilliant!!!!! In order to meet the higher cost of property in Brighton I called my current mortgage company to see what extra money we could outof them. The long and short of the phone call was that as my wife was now starting up her own business this actually affected our potential to buy a new place.

 

At the very least we though we could 'port' (as the pro's call it) the mortgage with perhaps a few fees thrown in, but no, we're walloped with having to face being assessed for a brand new mortgage. My wife's income doesn't count for anything until she has 12 months of business under her belt. So, rather than get the extra £30,000 we now find ourselves £40,000 short! By crikey!

 

So, now sat in garden having to consider the joy of a) stay put in until next Feb when the mortgage redemption fee expires b)  Pay the £7,500 redemption fee and face having to pay a significantly higher rate for a non-status mortgage c) buy that lottery ticket.

 

So not a great selection there particularly considering the best I've ever managed is three numbers....and to cap it off...some theiving bounder has nicked the ivy we planted in our window box last weekend. That's the third in  2 months. Firstly, what on earth does anyone want to do with an ivy? Secondly does anyone have any deterent tips for plant 'scoundrels' and thirdly, will we incur the wrath of property misdescriptions for no longer having a plant that is shown most clearly in the estate agent's particulars?