Jonathan Simpkins

Today was supposed to be only a short trip, approximately 2 hours to reach Renmark. Some 15 km out from the destination we passed the Quarantine border station and stood in the queue waiting. We nearly forgot that it meant giving up all fruit and some veggies. After a while we were let into South Australia. At about this time it struck Jonathan that there might be a little stress ahead - he realised that he was running out of time to instruct our conveyancers that we would agree to a price adjustment on Maleny in return for being 'satisfied' about the building report for Maleny. He started emailing them as we waited to deal with quarantine. We passed through - arriving at Renmark at the appointed time (11am local SA time) to see our new Avida Ceduna near Hotel Renmark. We parked nearby and almost instantly encountered our vendors - Jackie and Fritz. An hour or so was spent explaining how the the camper operated. It was pretty much as anticipated - in great condition and clean, but probably requiring some changes to suit our needs in due course. Jonathan and Fritz walked to the nearby NAB branch to deal with the transfer whilst Jackie and I waited...and waited...and waited. As obliging as the local staff were, there were a few glitches but after abut 45 minutes it was done. Great! We all walked back to the motorhome...got the keys (remarkably every opening seems to have its own key!)...and asked for the signed transfer of rego form. Mmmm...problem....where was it Jackie asked Fritz...they looked and talked...and looked and talked...and decided that it must be back in Adelaide (how were they to know it might be required they said...given that they are Swiss?). It seemed all very tense. Money transferred but no signed transfer papers- surely less than ideal. Could we undo the transfer? How could we not? Could we get a replacement Rego form? After googling, we rang the nearest Service SA. Yes, a replacement could be obtained - at Berri, about 20 k's away. We headed off in our both motorhomes...us trying not to lose sight of Jackie and Fritz, in. case they might do a runner!!!! But all's well that ends well...the duplicate rego was obtained...a transfer was signed...and we returned to Renmark.. Exhausted we decided to stay in Renmark. But Jonathan in the meantime had been trying to tie down what was happening with our Maleny purchase. Emails sent whilst we had been dealing with the motorhome had not resulted in the contract going 'unconditional'. Annette walked Josie whilst Jonathan fended calls with the agent (Kate) and the conveyancer paralegal (Erica)...by close to 5pm matter were still unresolved. Friday was the day to determine whether we go ahead with the purchase - absent an agreed extension. . In the closing minutes it became clear that our conveyancer had mucked up and we decided to go with the vendor's version of the deal as it was close enough to what we needed. Phew... So, at Renmark we bought Casita 3 (hopefully our mobile home for the next decade) and also went unconditional on our Maleny purchase (hopefully our green retreat for as long or longer). Exhausted, we collapsed into bed shortly after dinner...Läs mer