in his blog, charles has written wonderfully and movingly of the tumult of emotions he experienced last week when he went to toronto to help his family close down the family weekend farm, which doug is selling.

the farm has been such a loved place for charles, and he came home (as we both knew he would and as he warned me he would, even before he left) with comments like, "there were so many birthdays and Thanksgivings we missed" and a camera with 803 pictures on it. memories stored.

but truly, no regrets. gratitude for years at the farm, and sorrow that this era has passed.

while charles was gone, i whipped out another security rug from his feet. i took the first step to leave 6a 122 pokfulam road.

you know we have been dickering with the government for months about rent. they set our rent to be $46,600 (exchange rate 7.8 to the usd). and then one month later they went and set the flat above us to be $41,100. that's not right. upper flats get the higher rent.

so i sent off a very polite email saying, "we are delighted to see that the rents are coming down, so pleased to note this, and we are sure that our rent will be adjusted to even lower than $41,100 as your policy is to have the lower rents per floor."

and the government responded with typical marbles in the mouth stuff…."no, at the time we valued your flat it was worth $46,600. one month later, 7a was worth $41,100. your rent will not be adjusted."

how rude is that!

so, we could stay at 6a, three bedrooms when we do need four, OR we could move. to a four bedroom, or to a cheaper three bedroom. those were the options.

then, i was looking on the gpa website, and i saw that in our same building, one of the four bedroom flats had come up on the market, asking price 47,700.

and a lightbulb went on.

i called my girlfriend mel who is a realtor and we got another realtor over to come and see it with us.

it was in good condition. big. the fourth bedroom is a joke it is so tiny, but still. it is something. it is noisier than 6a, the view of the trees isn't so good. but…still. mel looked at me, i looked at her and she said, "what are you going to do?" and i said, "i am going to talk to my husband."

this is the husband who had just lost a much loved weekend home of 35 years. whose father is going to be selling his other home soon as well. charles is losing homes left right and centre, and now his wife calls to suggest leaving our much loved 6a? admittedly, my timing could be better.

but, to give him credit, he agreed. and the next day, i went in and signed for the flat.

we move 1 july.

more soon, i predict a great deal more on leaving 6a, but for now the synopsis is:

we are staying in the building but leaving the flat
the new flat is bigger
charles was an angel
charles is still not convinced
we have already started throwing things away as i have been quite firm about no "junque" coming with us on our petite trek.
the kids aren't so excited, although the girls, upon hearing they could decorate their own room declared they wanted "barbie riding my little pony bedspreads" (like that will ever happen), one wall with rainbows on it, another wall with hearts and two walls with my little petshops playing with dora and princesses.
(my suggestion of green and white hasn't been overly popular. stay tuned for brainwashing techniques and prepared to be impressed.)