Buying a flat

We bumped into an old neighbour as he came out of the doctors'.

He's a nice guy, a bit older than us, perhaps, and we got chatting about his bicycle. He has a fine old bicycle that he loads up with all his shopping and rides and tortoise speed round the streets. He got it from the association up the road that collects old, abandoned, unloved bicycles and gives them a new life in their forever home - a kind of bicycle refuge.

He asked about our move and we told him how content we are in our little flat with its little balcony.

You bought?

Yes we bought.

That was when he shared how stressed out he is because he too is buying. "Other people have bought and sold several times, but for me it's the first time."

He's buying what sounds like a super place over the river with a massive terrace - his terrace is bigger than our entire flat!

You've done the right thing! we told him, and gave him the name of the removal firm we used.