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I am due to complete the purchase of a penthouse, duplex, four bedroom apartment here in Llandudno. I am at the end of the chain which has only two links in it. The vendors are personal friends. However, they went on the internet and selected their representatives according to price.

Their first letter was in a standard form listing out everything which was enclosed, about six items, four of which were crossed out.

Because I am non-practising they asked who my representative was to be and I said I would be acting. They then asked me to ID myself. I said I have known perfectly well for over 60 years who I am. Still they insisted. i insisted that they get on with their job and send me the rest of the paperwork.

Well, then the saga began. No evidence of the freehold title, of course. At that point I gave up and asked a practising friend to assist. The freehold title turned out to be encumbered by a lease of which we could not obtain details. When we did it turned out not to affect that title. Much delay as they, sorry we, sorted that one out with a visit by me to the local estate office and a rummage through a box of old papers held by the managing agents.

But, fingers crossed, I complete tomorrow. I shall then own an apartment with views from forum room across Llandudno bay and from the lounge across the bay, the Denbigh Moors and Conw(a)y estuary with its three golf courses.

But if it were not for my friend we would still be arguing over the title and if I were having a mortgage refusing even to exchange and this wonderful apartment would be back on the market.

And it is only costing me £125,000 so no stamp duty either.

No online system would or even could have sorted that one (out?).

"A potentially helpful piece of new technology" is an oxymoron.