Limbo.

From 9am on the dot we're ringing the solicitors to find out what the hell's happening.

Finally at 11am - we've completed (YAY) but the amount transferred is £300 short. (BOO)

To cut a long story short, the solicitor agrees to sub us the difference and pursue it from the buyer's solicitor so we can proceed with our currency exchange and completion this side.

More phone calls to the currency dealers who promise faithfully that they will push very very hard to get the money to the Irish solicitors before 5pm (none of this 3pm banking cut-off here)

Big thanks to Colm at Foreign Currency Direct who is as good as his word, because at 16:45 the money has arrived with the Irish solicitor..... but....

it's 5 EURO and 37 cent short (receiving bank's charges we think)

We can't complete till it's all paid, so after a scuffle round for the massive deficit, we drive off down to the solicitors office and slap the coins on the counter triumphantly. Maureen makes a phone-call and the house is ours !!!!!!!!!!!

Steve rings the vendor who's at the house clearing away the spectacular mountains of beer cans remaining after the farewell party and arranges to collect the keys. It's happened, and it's OURS.