See what I did there? Welcome to my Valentine’s Day post! As I wrote last week, I am using these Friday posts to document the stages of England’s house purchase and moving processes. Let’s hope that it all goes smoothly. This family could do with a break!

1) Identification

So where are we towards the end of Week 2? I seem to have spent a large part of the week trying to identify myself in the eyes of the law! Seriously! Our solicitor has asked for proof of identity for both me and Lovely Husband, in the form of a driving licence or passport, plus a utilities bill in each name (or joint). This was perfectly straightforward for LH – he has retained his driving licence even though he cannot drive at the moment, and all of the household bills are in his name (for very good reasons which I won’t expand on here). But my situation is not straightforward at all. Let me explain…

I have written quite often that I had a stroke back in 2019. This left me with issues affecting my vision. In addition, I also suffer with chronic cough. This is not a normal type of cough, but a frightening and uncontrolled coughing attack that can come on with no warning and result in choking, inability to manage movement and total collapse. These attacks can also affect bladder control and cause vomiting. Imagine trying to drive a car in this condition!

So, I gave up my driving licence, thinking that I would never need it again…

BIG MISTAKE!!!

Added to this is that I don’t have a passport! LH and I last went on a holiday abroad in 1989. It was absolutely lovely and we planned to have many such vacations and adventures in the future. But Life decided otherwise for us and we ended up taking most of our holidays in the UK and at the same hotel complex. Having a son with Autism meant that we could enjoy holidays at a familiar place, but if we tried to go anywhere else we would “struggle” (that is putting it mildly!).

Anyway, this is why I don’t have a passport.

What about the bills? Well, these are all in LH’s name for personal and historic reasons, which I won’t go into. No, LH is not a controlling spouse. In fact, I manage all of the bills and finances via my trusty (I hope) iPad with various apps and websites, but using his details because he is not at all techie. Now, this situation also “bit me on the bum”: I haven’t got a bill in my name for the solicitor!

So, I was able to use the app as asked by the solicitor for LH, but when it came to doing it for me I was stumped!

ANOTHER BIG MISTAKE!!!

So, where are we now? As I write (11.00 14/02/25) this still has not been resolved. Emails have been flying back and forth between me and the solicitor, and her with her own advisors. It seems pretty daft to me that the whole situation has arisen. I can’t be the only person like this! Can I? I will update either this post or next week’s when we have more news on this issue.

Another Edward VIII Post Box by Simon on Flickr

2) Paperwork

The other issue of the week has been sorting out all of the paperwork from the solicitor. She sent me a huge stack of stuff by email, which was fine by me. But, would it be fine for everyone in this situation?

• Some people might need a printed version as there are a lot of sections to fill in and signatures needed.
• I have a printer, so could have simply filled in hard copies the “old fashioned” way.
• I was also able to work out how to fill in the forms using my iPad.
• So, what I did was a two way process. I filled in all of the complicated stuff using my iPad, then printed everything and signed the hard copies.

Then, there are two ways of actually returning all of this to the solicitor:

a) Scan everything back into my laptop and then attach to an email and send to the solicitor.
OR
b) Put it all in an envelope, walk to the Post Office (I can just about stagger there with Elder Son’s support), and send it to the solicitor by registered mail.

I am going to do b) this afternoon. I do hope it doesn’t rain!

3) Other new house stuff

Apart from making my poor brain ache with all of this, I have been spending every spare moment obsessing over furniture, curtains, bedding, equipment, storage, tumble dryers, dishwashers, and so on. I remember when I bought my first house back in the 1980s (i.e. before home computers) that I did all of this on paper and by trudging from shop to shop comparing prices. To be honest, I rather enjoy this part! Am I some kind of masochist?

Right, I had better leave this post and get on. There will be another update on the situation next week.

Until then, please wish us good luck and keep your fingers crossed 🤞!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

💕💗💖💗💕

Image

Another Edward VIII Post Box by Simon on Flickr