Natwest: Another Way...

...to rip you off.

As predicted by the personal banker, they can't help on the Mortgage. Or rather they'd love to help, but they'd charge an extra £4000 in Higher Lending Charges. This is a great gimic, basically it covers the _bank_ against any potential loss if they don't sell the house for the mortgage amount if they repossess. However, they still get to come after you.

The offer we've had has no HLC attached and while it's at a slightly higher percentage rate, the numbers still are in it's favour.

In other dental news: It's good. No root canal this time. But an old filling is breaking down and there's a cavity formed under it which needs dealing with. So there is bad news that I've got 40 minutes with the dentist on Friday :(

Still, it beats a root canal and crown.

On the road again...

After a nice calm, stay at home October, the travel season is kicking up a notch in the run up to Christmas.

I'm back to Sweden for 2 days the week after next, followed by 4/5 days in Seattle.

I'll also be back in Seattle for a week or so the week of 12/12.

Then that should be that for 2005, then for 2006 I suspect in January I'll be Seattle, Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Singapore.

Having taken 3 years to qualify for my BA Gold card, it is not necessarily gratifying to know that I'll probably requalify for Gold status before Easter...

A Hunting We Will Go...

We're going to be starting the house hunting process next week. We're registering with estate agents this week. Heaven knows how long this is going to take.

Currently we're still looking at Chiswick (and environs), Shepherds Bush, Ealing and Putney/Barnes areas.

Looking like we'll take the offer from the broker we got Monday as a basis. Now all I need to do is find the rest of the money :(