Things are happening fast right now, and I'm not completely in control. That stinks.

It was a pretty simple day right up until 5pm. I had managed to get the anti-virus management software on the server before lunch then left it running a 500Mb update on a slow 'net connection. Not a bad day so far.

Just after five I called the estates agent about my apartment. He told me that the last part of the credit check had come back that afternoon so we were ready to sign. One thing remain however before I was allowed to sign, he needed a safety certificate for the gas (butane) supply. That would be done on Monday so we agreed for me to collect the keys on Tuesday morning.

I sent him the £1000 needed for the first rent installment and the deposit, he'll confirm tomorrow that it's arrived in their business account (but it's left mine, sob)

So, I phoned my son and brought him up to date. Bad news. He's changed his mind. The reason given is that he doesn't want to switch schools. The problem here is that he's about to choose his subjects that he'll study until after his 16th birthday, and he's not 14 yet. No two schools offer the same subject choice, so if he changes his mind in 6 months, or so, he might have to take a new subject and play catch up. Not ideal under any circumstances. His grades are good right now and a transfer in the next 6 weeks would be easy.

Oh well.

I had a text from him an hour later asking for some money so he could buy dinner. I don't want to sound cruel when I said no, but I know he's had a decent lunch at school and the aunt gets financial support for him. She could get the Child Support Agency to go after me but they'd get £5 per week and I send her three times that plus the same again in pocket money directly to each of their accounts. I have however sent her a text saying my budget will be stretched by the new apartment. We'll see what happens next.

I've also asked my sister in law to call him. The pressure starts. (but gentle, I promise!)

Since then I have used the budget I'd ring-fenced to order the bedroom furniture, buy insurance and order a phone line and broadband. I already know the new phone number and have an engineer visit booked for next Friday. Those bits went too smoothly! We should be able to start moving stuff on Tuesday so I will have somewhere to sit and the means to make a coffee.

I've also booked a visit to the financial adviser next week to find the money for all of this.

All of that was today. I'm taking the weekend off and going to visit some old friends, many of whom knew me when I went full-time, albeit briefly, in 2008. I will be asked several times why I'm not in a skirt and heels in the next 2 days.

Shiraz