I rang Barry at the estate agents on Friday morning and he told me that the buyer wished to view the flat at 2.30 that day. Not a problem.

I then hoovered and cleaned the bathroom, opened a window to get some fresh air in, then quickly hoovered round the rest of the flat and sprayed some air freshener around before walking out the front door and heading for Mum's.

You maybe wondering why I didn't stay indoors for the viewing. My flat is a studio flat and therefore very small. With two people inside, it's not too bad. But with 3 people inside it, it makes it seem even smaller. I'd originally agreed with the estate agents that for that reason I would not be present for any viewing.

I got a phone call from Julian at the estate agents later in the afternoon saying that the viewing had gone well and that the buyer was still very interested in the flat but he needed to speak to his financial advisor on Monday before he was able to go any further. Julian also informed me that there was somebody else interested in the flat and would like to view the flat today at 12.30

That viewing went ahead as arranged, again I wasn't present for the viewing as previously arranged. I then got a phone call from Julian informing me that the viewing hadn't gone well and that frankly it had been a waste of time. He'd also spoken to the buyer who had been able to see his financial advisor today and is able to go ahead with the purchase which is excellent news but won't be able to complete until mid February which is no problem. Julian formally asked who my solicitor will be and I told him.

On Monday, I need to phone the solicitors and speak to my solicitor. I have also put a letter to my solicitor through their door. I also need to phone the letting agents in Andover about the flat in Mansell Court.

This is a fantastic result, it really is. I still can't believe this is happening. In roughly 6 weeks I finally will be going home to Whitchurch after a wait of over 16 years.

After over a month of absolutely nothing happening, last Monday I got a phone call from Julian at the estate agents to say that the gentleman who is interested in buying my flat had made an offer. I should point out that this gentleman is buying to let. Needless to say I was totally shocked and surprised as it was two days before Christmas. I said to Julian that I would need Christmas to consider the offer. When I eventually sat down that evening to think about it, it took me all of two minutes to make up mind to accept the offer and to be totally honest I ended up in tears as I realised that after a wait of over 16 years, I will finally be going home to dear old Whitchurch. I can't wait to get back.

Was talking to Dad over the weekend and he said that he had been on the rightmove website looking at property to rent in Whitchurch for me (trying to help, bless him) and he had found a lovely flat in Mansell Court which I believe is on Station Road. I checked it out for myself and it's absolutely ideal for my needs. I will be speaking to the letting agent concerned in the New Year.

Today I went into the estate agents and saw Barry and told him that I will be formally accepting the offer that has been made. He then asked me who my solicitor will be and I told him. Mum & Dad know about the offer and that I have accepted it. Had a message on my phone from Barry after I got back. I need to speak to him on Friday.

I can't believe that this is happening, it feels like I'm dreaming. If I am, I'm not waking up.

After I got the phone call from Julian at Bushnell Porter on Wednesday, it set me thinking. If I did nothing about it and left it until after Christmas and New Year, I could lose a possible sale. If I did do something about this, I could be possibly be home and dry a lot sooner than I originally thought. The other thing is that I've seen somewhere to rent in Whitchurch that I rather fancy. I have seen other places but haven't been able to do anything about them and have had to let them go. I know that if I don't do anything about this then I will be kicking myself.

I was thinking about it overnight and throughout Thursday as well and decided that I would take the "out" and go and see Julian on Friday and talk to him.

On Friday I did go and see Julian. We had a long and very productive conversation. I then went over to Mum's as she was keeping me some of the soup that she'd been able to make. I told her that I'd been to see Julian and what we'd talked about. She did put her views across which did set me off and we did have a bit of a bust up, not good. While I was there, Julian rang me. He had spoken to the gentleman and told me that he hasn't discounted my flat, which is good. But he is having a bit of trouble trying to sort out a "buy to let" mortgage. What I hadn't realised (I should point out that I know absolutely nothing about mortgages) that with the interest rate drop recently, it has pretty much knocked out all of the "buy to let" mortgages. They are coming back slowly and the best that this gentleman can do is a 6% mortgage with 2.5% arrangement fee. As I've said I know nothing about mortgages but that's not good at all. I won't know anything more for a couple of weeks as the gentleman is going on holiday for 2 weeks.

When I got back home, I did ring Mum and apologised for going off on one. I have realised that she is going fight me every step of the way. This is because she is being my Mum and that she is worried.

Had a phone call today from Julian at Bushnell Porter. He told me that he'd recently had a phone call from somebody who is interested in buying my flat. The gentleman concerned was buying a studio flat in another part of Totton with a view to renting it out. Now the only other studio flats that I can think of are in Rufus Gardens which is at the back of me.

Now the for reasons best known to the vendor, they withdrew the flat from the market and this gentleman phoned Bushnell Porter asking about my flat. Julian did explain to him that my flat has been on the market for less than a fortnight. He did tell Julian that he wouldn't be prepared to offer the asking price which is fine as I don't expect to get that for the flat. Julian did tell me what the gentleman can possibly go up to as he is looking to buy to rent as we know. He is going to keep an eye on the flat and will possibly make a decision in the New Year. I'm not prepared to give the flat away for peanuts, I do want to walk away with a considerable sum of money in my pocket from the sale.

At the moment, my financial situation isn't good. Mum & Dad know that I'm struggling right now and that's all they need to know. I have told them about Julian's phone call and that they're not to worry. But it does give me an option if I need an "out" fairly quickly.

What a week this has been. Barry from Bushnell Porter came out on Monday morning and did the particulars and took photos of the flat. I signed the sole agency agreement which means that only Bushnell Porter can sell the flat for me.

Tuesday morning I got the particulars together with a questionaire which I had to fill in, sign and return with the particulars which I also had to check and sign.

I returned those on Wednesday after I'd taken the car to Chandlers Ford to be repaired and after I'd had my driving licence and passport photocopied, I was told that the flat was now on the market for £72,500, it is also on the web at www.bushnellporter.com

The man from House Inspect (who are doing the home information pack) came out on Wednesday afternoon to do the Energy Effieciency cerificate for the flat.

Thursday I got the sole agency agreement and a copy of the particulars that will be given to prospective buyers in the post. The particulars look really good, am really pleased with them. Walked over to Mum's as the car was still at Chandlers Ford. I told her what had being going on since I saw her last. I also told why I'm going home to Whitchurch and that it is nothing that she's done or said.

Today the "For Sale" board went up which has confirmed to me properly that this is happening.

I'm well on my way home. When we left Whitchurch in 1992 I vowed to myself that I would return and this is the culmination of a 16 nearly 17 year wait. To be honest it hasn't quite sunk in that I will be going home, when it does I'll probably have a good old cry.

Yesterday, I paid the £10 charge to a company called House Inspect who do the home information pack on behalf of Bushnell Porter. The cost of the pack is £462.63 and has been defered for 9 months. By which time the flat will hopefully have been sold and the cost will be paid out of the proceeds from the sale, if the flat doesn't sell then I'm liable for the cost (ouch!!)

Either Julian or Barry is coming out on Monday morning to take some photos of the flat so that they can market it for me. On Wednesday, Keith from Home Inspect is coming out to do the Home Efficiency Certificate for the home information pack. This is all coming together very quickly now and the flat should be on the market very soon.

Had to phone the Bank Of Scotland in the week because of the letter that I got last Thursday. I did inform them that the flat is going on the market and they've put the arrears to one side and they want to know if I can make this month's payment, it isn't going to happen as I don't have the money. I did ask them if they could give me a redemption figure for the mortgage, they did give me a rough figure of £49,200 and that's with all the interest and charges on the account. I have asked for a mortgage redemption statement from them which I'm still waiting for.

Told Mum and Dad what had happened today, they didn't say anything, not that I was expecting them to. The feeling I get now is that they're just worried that this all might go wrong. It won't, as far as I'm concerned the flat's going on the market soon, it'll sell and I'm going home to Whitchurch.

I did have to clean the windows again today, they were filthy. I only cleaned them on Sunday, how can they can get so dirty so quickly?

I have spent all weekend hoovering, dusting and scrubbing the flat to get it ready to go on the market and I have to say that I'm absolutely shattered.

I sorted the kitchen out last night and turned the cooker back into a cooker again as I'd been using the top of it to keep magazines and other stuff on. For the last year or so I have had two folders of stuff that needs to be shredded on top of the cooker. I did have a cross shredder until I tried to shred a celophane address label in there. I must point out that I was half asleep when I did this and yes it did wreck the shredder.

I did ask Dad if I could use theirs and when he found out how much I had, he wouldn't let me use it. All of my shredding is in a carrier bag in the boot of my car until I can get another shredder and get rid of it all. I also sorted out all of the old magazines that I had and took them up to the recycling bins by Morrisons.

Today after doing the ironing, I washed the windows inside and out, then I hoovered and dusted round. I haven't worked this hard on the flat for ages. Mind you at least it's now imaculate and ready for sale.