In Limbo

I read in the papers this week that the Pope has officially deleted the concept of 'Limbo' from the Catholic Consciousness. Traditionally this was the state of non-being to which souls were despatched that deserved neither to go to heaven nor hell. Interestingly (1) it was where the souls of unbaptised children were supposed to go and (2) there was never any escape from Limbo. Unlike Hell, where the souls could possibly be redeemed at the Last Trump (or whatever), anyone who found themselves in Limbo was stuck there forever. Nice. I've always thought organised religion of any kind was a hateful thing, but for parents who have already suffered the grief of losing very young children to have their religion pile on the agony by declaring that their children's souls are lost forever is (or was) totally wrong. Still, it's over now.

My reason for raising the subject of Limbo is: the Pope might have abolished the concept, but as far as our house move is concerned, we're still there! In Limbo!

It's been a week of mounting stress and frustration. Trying to aim for a moving date of next Friday, but with a short but significant list of snags. Do we really have access to the garage at the bottom of the garden? The "driveway" of the house doesn't actually belong to the plot! Are we likely to have a visit from someone telling us to tear down the conservatory? It doesn't need planning permission or building regulations approval, but there is an old covenant requiring the "consent of the chief rent owner" for any building erected on the property. But the chief rent hasn't been collected for at least 11 years.

It's a nice idea buying an old house, but if you expect it to be simple...think again!