Success at last. Signed an agreement on the flat in Maida Vale. It's a lovely Victorian apartment on Elgin Avenue and has a large sunny reception/dining room that will be perfect for entertaining. It has two bathrooms, one which has a bidet, and a large bedroom. The commute to work will be reduced to 15 minutes, and it's on the tubeline that hits Soho, Oxford Street, the Heathrow Express, and Eurostar. I'm much relieved.