soops kindly kitcheners and perfect pampered pets.

N&G I am inclined to agree with MawBroon that they had run out of free places to take their GD and what better than to inspect a house and discover that they had an hour's free baby sitting thrown in. A cup of coffee and a further chat would have really made their day, you really did slip up there!

On a more serious note, they did not know you from Adam and should not have been dumping the little girl on you. I would not do it with Tara so I certainly would not be doing it with a child.

No snow here but it is is bitterly cold although dry and dull outside.

I can see a day of cleaning ahead. two out of the 4 men need to return to cleaning school. A tad difficult to wash a kitchen floor when there is a pile of rubble scattered around. My brain is fast forwarding 2 weeks when everything will be finished, my bank account empty but I will be happy- what price is that?

I stroll into the kitchen, all laid-back-like, and am bowled over by the amount of activity of you lovely lot...

Lona That cake is amazing. It looks far too good to cut, let alone eat.

Retrolady My granddaughter offered to give me a pedometer complete with bells and whistles. It would have been wasted on me. I declined. We walk for 40 minutes almost every day. I've often wondered how many steps are involved. I did attempt to count on one occasion. Reached a number in the hundreds and then, thanks to a senior moment, lost track and gave up. You have a goal. Good for you. Keep us nosey lot updated.

Charleyg Your home has been invaded by hunky professional builders. It's good news that they are making a good job...upheaval and mountains of dust are par for the course. Stay sane. Have a wedge of sticky cake and think Zen.
Looking through the window at a beautiful sunny scene. Stepped outside the door and was assaulted by a vicious gust of north easterly wind. I shall possibly hunker down and watch rugby...Scotland v France.

Nana&Grampy Well...after I'd read about the latest would-be purchasers, I didn't like the sound of the chap. He is the type of bod that I try to avoid. Sometimes, pleading difficulty with hearing, has it's advantages.

MawB That lady could so easily have been me.

Izabella You deserve the .

Greyduster I feel for you. I'm hoping that there was no nasty reaction to the cake.

Soop, going by the amount of steps I did in about an hour and a half, you probably did about 2,500. I was surprised quite how many I did just -mooching- engaged in purposeful activity at home.
Not done The Walk yet today, but Himself has said he will accompany me. Not sure how I feel about him -tagging along- keeping me company. That's my thinking time, so I shall try to ignore him. Then he'll know what it feels like being me at home, when he's reading the paper/watching telly.
I've been investigating the smileys, so I hope this all makes sense when I press Ctrl-Enter.

Hello all. Nice to be able to come in to the warmth of the kitchen!

Reading about and viewing those cakes is making me a bit hungry but as I'm no longer getting my long walks, the weight is starting to creep up! So I'll be good and not look around for a slice of either.

CG I don't envy you your clearing up. We have done quite a lot of work to this house since we moved in 9 years ago and the layers of dust is always my bugbear. Just about to start on redecorating the hall and landing to get rid of the water stains left when old water tank burst last year! Well neither of us is doing it. No longer up to climbing wobbly ladders. Getting a reliable man in.

N&G I don't envy you moving house. Having strangers pootling about your home is horrible. I remember once finding that a viewer had used the toilet and not flushed it ? I think those people were totally out of line leaving the little girl for you to mind.

Lona I would like to wish you good luck for your appointment, tomorrow isn't it? Hopefully it is positive news.

Retro well done with your walking! Over 8,000 steps is some achievement! DD3 has offered to come round and dog sit for an hour this afternoon so that we can go out for a walk together. Not sure I want to brave the cold.

Georgie seems to have reached a plateau in her improvement. The walking continues to be non existent on her own. I think she is getting around so quickly on her front legs to be bothered with trying. The incontinence is very wearing. But she is very cheerful.

Oops the strike throughs didn't work - ok: take 2 -mooching-
-tagging along-

Maybe you have to do them as you type, rather than at the end ... ?

Oh dear.

Two hyphens at each end Retro.

Retro You will soon get to grips with the symbols and such. It took me a mere six months week or so.

Jud There is a contraption with wheels that can be attached by a harness to a dog whose back legs are paralysed. I saw a dog romp around the garden whilst wearing one. If Georgie is free from pain and cheerful (in a dog-like way), then that's a blessing.

I'm away to shout encouragement to Scotland as they thrash play France. You may hear me from wherever you are. I can be raucous.

Are we ready for the Six Nations off then, space cleared behind the sofa for when it gets too tense?
Allez les bleus! A bas les rouges ??

NandG Cheeky beggars leaving the little one with you! Are the agents showing people round? I would be having a word with them about time wasters if I were you. I took a large box of chocolate biscuits for the staff at my agents and I got remarkably good service from them
Charley I would leave any major clean ups until all the work is finished, just keep your sitting area tolerable and tell yourself that there is no point cleaning yet!

Thanks jud

I went into a shop which sells very cheap cleaning cloths etc without advertising, each pack cost £1. The selection cost me £6 and when I got to the till I said jokingly to the girl that she now knew what I would be doing for the rest of the day. My walking stick was in full view and she asked me where! Maybe she thought that I was being paid for my skills- I wish.

Then to Waitrose which did not have a bereavement card, 1st class stamps or envelopes for A4 paper. A fat lot of use they were. I stocked up with 4 microwaveable meals as I could not be bothered to do what was necessary, do a slow cook today and freeze.

It is not so cold as it was, the NE wind has moved elsewhere.

We had an arrangement with the first agent to show people round - they almost insisted on it. I painstakingly made out a full list of all the info they would need to answer any questions, only to have them ringing up saying "oh the viewer wanted to know about so and so.... could you let us know?" "But you had the list!" "Oh we didn't have it to hand". Shorthand for "we've lost it". They also left a couple who had an appointment waiting for so long they ended up asking us to show them round ourselves. At which point, we sacked them!

What a horrible day; I'm absolutely sick of this weather.

I am scuttling into the kitchen having had my head bitten off x2 in Media of all places. It was my genuine mistake but also I do make GNHQ rules.

My extra insulation is fabulous, I switched off the heating when I went out hours ago and have not switched it on since.

Ex neighbours of mine who were selling their house refused to show anybody around making sure that they were out when the estate agent was bringing punters to view. They correctly stated that was why they were paying the estate agent.

You can see exciting 2 out of 3 of us are finding it!
Who's been biting your head off charleygirl? I'd set Grace on them but she would have to wake up first

Maw is there anybody awake in your house? Similar to this, Tara has taken to my bed. I would not disturb Grace for anything.

Lona I hear what you are saying and I sort of agree but the dust on my shoes/slippers and Tara's paws is being carried upstairs. Admittedly it is either tiles or laminate up there. I think that even if I only tackle the rubble it will be a help. Good luck for tomorrow.

oh, Maw, that's a lovely photo!

N &G, I may have a suspicious mind, but it struck me that they might have been using the little one to keep you busy while they were stealing stuff from upstairs!

I think I am awake (for once!)
I was very sad yesterday as I really feared Gracie was on the way out. She was panting, whimpering, restless, generally unhappy and her back legs looked very stiff and wobbly - think Naomi Campbell on her vertiginous platforms. A bit better on her bedtime walkie , but I was still worried. I know the day will come when I have to be brave but I am not ready for that
However she is much happier today, no panting, eating normally and moving reasonably easily, given her great age. So we breathe again!

Maybe Grace had a slight tummy pain which she could not tell you about. Luckily she appears to be back to normal today. I know that the day will come to all of us re our pets but enjoy every hour you have with her. She has a lovely home with you and her sleeping buddy. Which one snores the loudest? I would not think that it was the lady!

Screams from our house are disturbing the balance of the environment, Come on Scotland...

Sob! France have just this minute pulled ahead. Oh dear me...this is a brutal match. Our man, Greg Laidlaw injured.

Back shortly to catch up with all the happenings since I've been absent,

Just typed in a long post and it refused to send - dont think it was rude! Oh well, if at first you don't succeed.

Sorry n&g can't help as that's not our part of Somerset, but fortunately mawbroon has insider information. We had similar viewing ecperiences. Two little boys with their parents, three viewings before they decided it wasn't for them . Fingers crossed for your second viewing later in the week. Love the sound of your holiday home and your getogether, should be fun.

Georgie and Grace sound to be causing some worries, hoping Georgie can progress jud and pleased Grace has recovered maw. I remember the worry well.

Good luck with the dust control charley, I agree with lona and think you are unlikely to win but can understand the desire to. Sorry you have experienced head biting, Just rise above it.

Wondering how your walk went retrolady, did you leave your stalker husband behind? I'm of all walkers at the moment back down to my baseline which is 10 minutes, was up to an hour, will get there again.

I know there was more, but can I remember? What do you think? I know I wished lona well for tomorrow but the rest has escaped me

We've taken three more bags of 'stuff' from the car, it's been hoovered but not washed as it's flipping freezing. Feel a bit embarrassed by it as it's hard to tell the colour. I noticed there were no offers of mediation. I'm disappointed . So far very little has been earmarked as surplus to requirements, if you don't hear from me again would someone please check the back garden for freshly dug earth? .

Keep warm and well everyone.

Lona Wise words. I'm with you. Dust will wait. I've yet to discover otherwise.

MawB That is a winning image of two comfortable, relaxed members of the family. Grace looks very much younger than her years. We all have off days.
Rory was offered dog food...MacSporran had picked it up mistaking it for R's favourite feline gourmet fodder. Before we had time to remove it, Rory had scoffed it and was waiting for seconds. I hope that he doesn't have a poorly tum as a result.

wot I thought that the couple who happily left Nana babysitting, were extremely rude. It's a wonder that they didn't bring the dog/parrot/goldfish with them. After all, Nana had plenty of free time on her hands...

An amusing few moments were shared with MacSporran as we enjoyed our early morning cup of tea in bed. We sat back against the pillows resting on the headboard ...and, due to the floor being wood, not carpet, the bed rolled forward a few paces. Chocks away!!!

Scotland lost the match. The team gave their all. It wasn't to be their victory.