Stephen has discovered a new passion : home decor. He reads interior design magazines. He drops terms like "chenille" and "interesting space" into conversation. He even made me take him to Home Depot, for God's sake, so he could look at carpet samples.

The whole house-buying thing launched him into this new obsession. He's determined that the new house going to look fantastic.

If we get it, of course.

And frankly, both Bobby and I are more than half-hoping that we don't get it. I mean, we don't even really like this place! We like mountains and we like the sea and Orlando has neither. It has peculiar insects and undrinkable tap water and a lot of SUV's with Bush/Cheney 2004 stickers on them.

Of course, if we don't get the house, then we have to decide.

Do we carry on as we have been - renting, and saving as much money as we can?

Do we look for another house?

Do we pack up and go back to South Africa? After all, we were only supposed to be here for a year in the first place.

Or do we pack up and go the to UK?

I wish someone would just tell us what to do. My folks don't want us to go back to South Africa. They worry about the crime, and they think the kids' eventual job prospects are far better over here. Bobby's folks would be over the moon if we went back. Em wants to stay here, Stephen sees pros and cons to both and Sophie is relentlessly cheery in all situations so I think she'll be just fine whatever happens.