As promised, a longer blog..

Good news... and other news.. 
We've been accepted onto the books of the house-sitting agency. 
They find sitters for several people in David's company, and two other local businesses as well. 
Just over a year ago, I didn't even know this kind of thing existed, now it turns out there's lots of it about. 
Within hours of that news, and with Philippa finally climbing down from the tenterhooks on which she'd been spending life, we heard from Becky in Hong Kong. There is a chance that they may stay out there for another six months, and if they do, would we consider staying on in the house for a bit longer? 
Philippa wants to say yes, because she hates saying 'no' to anyone (apart from me, when I'm feeling amorous) but I pointd out that we've booked a holiday in the Summer, and part of the deal with David and Becky was that we wouldn't bugger off anywhere and leave the house empty. So there'll be a few discussions in the next 48 hours or so, as Becky wants to know by Monday, even though they haven't said 'yes' to extending their stay yet. 
Confusing, no? If this is the kind of chain that affects you when all you're doing is house-sitting I hate to think what it'll be like if we ever try to buy. 
And the other piece of life-shaking, earth-shifting news to reach us in the past 24 hours - our estranged mother has contacted Hannah via facebook, asking if she can add her as a friend. 
I'll give you one guess what the answer was....

RC 8-3-13