Yesterday morning I called the property manager to see if they'd heard from the home owners of the house we wanted.  We'd been directly competing with one other applicant who apparantly also loved the house.  Knowing the luck that Steve and I have had previously, we'd felt sure that we wouldnt get this house, the contract for the other house had been faxed through and was sitting on the table waiting for us to sign.  The property manager, "Yes, its a go ahead."  I couldn't believe my ears!  Apparantly each of our applications had complications - we had a dog and the rent jump for the other people was significantly high, so the home owner felt we were less a risk.  Its actually cheaper than our place in Auckland!  Steve and I were just stunned.  Someone else would be receiving the news that their application had been declined and it wasn't us!!  I can't express how things feel so different for us.  My residency, our current place, the new home.  For once things are easier and it feels like we're not clawing our way thru a run of bad luck.  Yesterday afternoon we signed the contract, so its a done deal!  YAY!  Then we took a drive over to the house.  It sits perched on a hill overlooked the sea and the rolling hills.  I just can't believe that place will soon be ours!

The only stress we have at the moment is STILL that bloody agency back in Auckland.  Its taken ages to resolve this issue of them repaying us.  I feel that our old property manager is delaying and its most unfair.  She's decided that was a 'problem' with our rent and that we owe them money.  All our records and emails show that THEY made a mistake near the start of our tenancy, but its just taking so much time.  Tangi has to report all of this to her, and then relay it all to me.  And as usual, Janeane (property manager) is difficult to get hold of.  I'll be glad when this is all wrapped up.  For now though, I'm going to enjoy this new part of our life!  YAY!