Billy and Lily's innuendo-free post

Well, so far anyway...

We're home. We survived. Billy may wish to add his own impressions but from my perspective it was rather drab, very no-frills, perfectly civil, and strangely like the boarding process for EasyJet. (You pays your money, you takes your choice.) My hands were trembling but, as several people had warned me, it was actually pretty obvious that although this was a life-event for me and Billy, it was just another rather dull day at the office for all those working at the court.

For those about to do it: the people are polite, no-one makes you feel stupid for asking questions. At no point are you made to feel like a criminal. And you are, in our court, up with people challenging parking offences and all sorts of small claims stuff. It isn't like anything on telly or in the movies. Nobody swooshes around looking dynamic and authoritative and as though they're about to create radical precedents in British law, and I didn't see anyone who looked like they were hiding a yacht or who hadn't eaten for a week, except a rather confused-looking gentleman who kept saying (unnecessarily) "I'm an alcoholic, you know!"

So I'm glad it's over, but to be totally frank, it isn't a yippee moment or even a phew moment. At least, not for me. (My phew moment came when we knew the LL was ok with us staying here.) It's more like one stage of a longer process. I think the next phew moment will come when all the details of the budget have been hammered out with the OR, and when we've sent the keys to the house back to the mortgage company. Actually, perhaps there will be lots of little muted phews? Certainly I am very much looking forward to an end to the stream of calls from various creditors.

Incidentally, for those who care about such things, white shirt, black wide-legged trousers, black ballerinas, minimal make-up, clean hair.

And no pearl necklace!!!!

Lily x