Thought for the day:"Hive Mind.. Anyone know how to sort noisy Dishwashers? I’ve tried flowers, wine and chocolate and she’s still moaning .." (my life expectancy has now become limited!)
So, last day of waiting for the house sale. It seems to have come quickly as well as having taken a long long time!
Of course, the decision in England to cancel the Stamp Duty for up to £500K purchase was a teaser for those of us in Scotland or Wales, as we have watched the news avidly all day to see if there are any indications - but as we get to 6pm it is clear that there will be no statement today. Indeed, looking at the Welsh Government I cannot see them deciding that this is an area that they wish to follow England. They never included first time buyers as an exemption and I cannot see the pressure to open up the housing market.
So, all being equal we should be owners of a new property tomorrow.
Listened to the Welsh News this evening, and there is no indication that there will be an announcement within the time period... Just a fight between England and Wales
So a thought for us all !!
In my feed today I saw this example of workmanship ...
And while I clear the warehouse this is the sort of stuff I have been finding..
So - One more Night !!!
On to Number 75 .... Baby Driver - for a lively non-character song..
And so this morning we confirmed that we are exchanged on contracts for Ffynnon Wen. There was a stage when we were going to complete at the same time but that reverted to Friday in the end, though I transferred the money by CHaPs - never spent so much money ion one transaction !!
Seems a bit like Monopoly Money.
Meanwhile, back at the shops Susie bought herself three rugs for the living room and a Cordless Dyson which cost as much as a car - but it is light weight and easy to use and will probably last us until our dotage when we probably wouldn't care whether the floor is dusty.
And so it all gets a little real .... Money has disappeared from the Bank Account but we seem to be on the verge of being owner of two houses... One of which is scheduled for sale later in the year when empty...
Hands up anyone who had Angry Volcano Otters on their card for 2020 !!
A late start to the day today. Quick trip to the warehouse to pick up two bags of assorted candles and wax for the Community farm at Carmarthen so they can remake candles for use and for sale.
Then off to Newcastle Emlyn to pick up forms for the local Doctor Surgery so we can change practice.
Then to Ffynnon Wen by which time it was raining! So we had a socially distanced cup of tea on the Veranda and a quick look around parts of the house and barns. Failed to go and find where the water source is - we need to find the main stop cock which is a long way away from the house and in a hidden location!!! So we will have to do it all again :)
Timing all up in the air. English Chancellor is announcing an increase in the Cap for Stamp Duty up to £500K, meaning that there would be no tax on house purchase. Sadly - Not in Wales !!!! Here we have the Wales Land Tax at a different rate ! We are hoping for an announcement from the Wales Government but sadly they are normally a few weeks behind everything ! But it could mean a saving of about £8K so well worth looking at.
The off to Llanybydder to look at the complex where we are hoping that Vic will be able to move to. Didn't go in. It was wet! But picked up a form from his future Doctor Surgery for his transfer as well.
Ordered some rugs for the bedroom - purple theme!
On to number 73 in the Shut-Down Serenades... They call me Vollsanger the Bard
While at the TATA Tiffin back on our last Curious Pastime Event as the Crimson Moon the Black Company took a song by Karienne "Last of the Bards" and changed the words a bit, and sang it to me there .. Forgot the whole thing after a few years but found it still in my "learning" section on Youtube and decided to record it. Came out quite well I think.
So finally - popped into the studio to make a quick recording of Ally Bally Bee. Needed a quick song for tonight on Facebook/Twitter Channels. Will need to do a few tomorrow .
In first news, I have decided to try to work in collaborations with some friends in Germany on a German Drinking Song about the end of the World. On 30th May is the end of the World!! "But which year?" it asks... As we don't now which year we could be around for a long time and so we'll drink to that !!!
I approached the Trunkenpolde - or the Drunkards with whom I had recorded a small cameo in the chorus.... Die Krüge Hoch - (Lift the glass high)
But I put together my own little version of the Weltuntergang (end of the world) for their consideration... which is an unlisted piece other than for this blog and the use by the band.
What I had not expected was the degree to which the band are fully professional. As well as agreeing that it would be a nice idea to work on this over the next couple of weeks, Sebastian has already started orchestrating!!
Will keep everyone informed of the progress..
In other news ...
Nope - Plague was not on my cards for July!!
In other news today - had some fashion shots for my daughter and granddaughter...
In other, other news.. Trip to the warehouse this morning to look at moving some of the choir storage out of the warehouse as we downsize.
Ont he way back decide to pop into the Bank. Well I thought that the trip to the shops on Saturday was strange with all the one way systems and sanitising and distance preparations which were, to be fair, quite impressive.
Today I had to put some cash in from one of the Lodges into HSBC as the cheques were about to expire being almost 6 months old. 20 minutes in the queue outside and then manged to do the business.
On to Nat West and we were once more queuing across the road - all socially distanced.
Another 25 minutes and I was inside to get some cash out for incidental expenses relating to house sale.
Then down to the Pharmacy where they had managed to forget my prescription again. Luckily no queues here but a 5 minute wait at the telecom to ask for a prescription and for them to agree to pass it through to the Pharmacy so I could pick up my tablets tomorrow morning (I am on my last ones today)
And as I get home I see an email from my solicitor telling me that I have to transfer 10% of the purchase price to their client account so we can exchange contracts... £36,900. So I go on-line and find out that £20K is the maximum you can transfer in one day.. So guess what - Off I pop down to Nat West again where they were pleased to see me (of course) but managed to do the transfer.
Ho hum - I may lose weight in the end !!!
So - a bit more adulting and I cancelled the water and drainage in Barton on Sea. Can't think of much more to do down there but I am sure that I will have forgotten something. Telephone, Sky, Broadband and TV all arranged for mid July and telephone cancellation for New Road.
Hoping to visit the new house tomorrow as the five mile restriction has been lifted today ....
So - today's shut-down serenade - we are up to number 72 - Cows with Guns...
Read this about the song,,,
VISITED BY THE GREAT COSMIC COW
I awoke at about 5:30AM one August morning in 1994 from a strange dream. Bovine revolutionaries had just taken Omaha in the most significant defeat of the US military since Red Cloud dusted Custer. The story was told in a simple countryesque tune with an over abundance of weak rhymes and low blow puns. I immediately rose to scribble down the 14 or so verses I remembered from the dream.
Several hours later my girlfriend found me in the parking lot writing in my notebook. We were about to leave on a trip where I was to meet her folks for the first time.
"Are you OK?" she asked.
"Oh, yeah, just writing a new tune".
"Let me hear it, perhaps you can play it for Mom and Dad this afternoon."
I sang her the tune.
"Maybe not."
I worked on the lyrics of COWS for several weeks and had a lot of difficulty with the ending of the song. At one point I had the US dropping nuclear weapons on the cows, but my friends quickly rejected this ending as "not positive", and "too sad". Which was true. But how could a bunch of poorly armed bovines defeat the greatest military might on Earth?
My old friend Robbie Liben was visiting from New York City. He is one of the worst punsters I've ever met in my life. When he gets on a role, it can be a real punishment. (groan). Anyway, he was hanging out with me up at the treehouse where I live, and we decided to go over into the neighbors hot-tub and work on the COWS WITH GUNS ending. Four hours later, a pruned Liben lept from the tub exclaiming "Whoppers, coppers, shoppers, choppers!" a quadruple rhyme capturing the entire Western experience of malls, meat, military, and a Hollywood cavalry rescue all in one neat double verse. COWS WITH GUNS was complete.
Seems that Kanya West (the rapper) has decided to put his hat into the ring for the election of President.. Also seems that he is quite well connected with the Kardashians - of whom I know nothing other than they are on TV the same as the Simpsons...
We shall keep an eye on how that all develops...
meanwhile Randy came up with another great song...
Cover up your freaking face
And talking of songs.. I am a little mystified... I decided to add a song to my list - Whisky in the Jar - a good old traditional song that has been made a little more famous by Thin Lizzie and Dubliners, and get a copyright "Hit" on it ...
Apparently Sony music have copyrighted it as one of their bands has made a parody called "Whiskers in the Jar" and thereby claimed the melody!!!
Well - I though I could challenge that - but did not realise that it is not Youtube that arbitrates - rather it just sends my challenge through to the big Company in question. So hoping that they look at my small challenge with kindness and do not take out my whole Channel !
My statement ..
This song is a traditional irish ballad. The copyright claim is from someone who has made a parody of this traditional song, and then claims the melody as their own. Mine is the based upon the traditional original (with minor folk based word variations as is common with live performers). It is not in any way based upon the parody, I refer to the WIKI entry for the song: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiskey_in_the_Jar " "Whiskey in the Jar" is an Irish traditional song set in the southern mountains of Ireland, often with specific mention of counties Cork and Kerry. The song, about a rapparee (highwayman) who is betrayed by his wife or lover, is one of the most widely performed traditional Irish songs and has been recorded by numerous artists since the 1950s." If anything my version is more closely based upon the variation by the Dubliners though I would claim my own arrangement and presentation. I have no wish to monetise or take dispute other than it seems to me that a "parody" of a traditional song cannot claim the copyright for that melody and I would be grateful if you would look into this matter sincerely - Iain Sewell - Performing artist..
We shall see the result in due course...
Hopefully... Exchange tomorrow
We shall see..
On to no 71 today Cambleton Loch - a good Scottish favourite..
Sunday !! Sunday Dinner and I am stuffed ! Sitting down for the evening I think...
So, fourth of July and the USA is celebrating. Trump holds an open air, non socially distanced meeting at Mount Rushmore. Leicester is shut. Various spikes around the world. Flights to restart and people flocking to the travel agents to book holidays. wales ready to release the 5 mile limit on Monday.. meanwhile the roads to Cornwall and Devon are grid-locked with caravans apparently.
UK opens the pubs...
Here, it is raining and fairly cold. No-on in their right mind would be going out. Was almost tempted to put the heating on last night - at the start of July!
Looks like we will be completing on Monday and the completion on Friday is due to the ongoing chain, as there is seller who need to vacate the house by completion. Plans are for the current owners to move out on Wednesday 15th July and for us to start moving in on the 16th July - a week Thursday!!
Counting the days...
And we reach Day 70 of the Shut-Down Serenades - and onto a shanty from Nova Scotia.
