This is where we're at

Still no news on the survey or a mortgage offer. Today is a very big day - the lady at the top of the chain is considering putting her house back on the market. I don't know whether this means she'll withdraw from the chain, or just hedge her bets. If she does pull out, our sellers have intimated that they will take their house off the market. Our buyers remain as they always have been.

There is one possible escape route - at the moment. Our second-choice house appears to still be on the market (you can view it here). There is no onward chain - the buyers have emigrated to France. I would expect to pay less for this property, not just to cover any losses we make should the current chain fall through, but also because there's a fair bit of work that needs doing to it, plus I'm conscious of the results from the last survey.

If we're forced into this second route, we will need extra time to complete the move. Considering that it's our buyers lack of action that puts us in this situation you would think they'll give us a few extra weeks, but knowing them like I do, I suspect there would be no guarantee of that.

Once again I throw my hands up in the air and ask why this fecking government still hasn't introduced legislation to make this whole process safer and less stressful. Bejeezus, the Scots have got it sorted, why can't we?