On Friday we received a gift-wrapped box of goodies from you and Expert Lending. I just wanted to drop you a line to thank you very much indeed! The mortgage was enough of a pressie from you guys, and then to receive the gift was really excellent! Chris was especially impressed with the chocs, and I've given the wine a nudge!

We are thoroughly enjoying being home-owners again...this one's a keeper! Loads to do, but we've already got one room fully decorated and ready to move in...then we can start on the second, and thus unpack the third! Probably sanding the floors over the Xmas hols...oh goodie! The garden is a jungle and will need TLC for a whole year, but the compost bin and veggie plot will be going in before Xmas...Chris's Xmas pressie will be 3 chooks (live ones)! 5 years vacant before we moved in...lights circuit didn't work, gas water needed purging and then repairs, garden infested with ticks ($300 vet bill 1st week!), so it's an event, that's for sure!

One particular thing we have already noticed is that all the neighbours are nice...quiet, friendly and helpful...makes quite a lot of difference, and the neighbourhood is really quiet; after about 6pm even the distant traffic rumble drops away and it's like being in the country!

Oh, and financially, we are fine...even saving a little and planning to up the repayments even though they are dropping slightly thanks to the RBA. And my inheritance sounds like it should arrive with Santa...just a couple of months’ salary, but bloody handy for a new kitchen early next year...and a trip back to Blighty!

All up, we're doing fine, and enjoying ourselves immensely! Many thanks indeed for all your great work in getting us to this place, and please forward this to everyone in your office who played even a small part in our success!

Aaron and Chris